820 Triplets

This was just a fun little exercise where I added slivers of old postage stamps and thread to the painting.  I think it would be fun to add a secret message to the nest for someone special. 

"820 Triplets"
acrylic - 6x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/820-triplets/508552

dianecampion.blogspot.com

819 Hibiscus Buds

My neighbor Vicki has a beautiful yard with many gardens, and giving her much pride is a giant hibiscus tree.  It has stunning dinner plate sized flowers, but I loved the buds.  I'm afraid I didn't do them justice.

"819 Hibiscus Buds"
watercolor - 8x8 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/819-hibiscus-buds/508274
dianecampion.blogspot.com

818 Heliconia

  

The reference photo for this beautiful tropical flower was taken at the Lincoln Park Conservatory in their Tropical plant house.  It is one of my favorite photos, and I painted it years ago in acrylic paints, but need to freshen it up a bit. 

"818 Heliconia"
watercolor - 10x7 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/818-heliconia/508102

dianecampion.blogspot.com

817 Connemara, Ireland

As I mentioned in my previous post, my niece recently visited Ireland, and this is one of her favorite scenes.  The reference photo was taken in Connemara, Ireland, and we both love the mossy rocks and trees.  I am happy that she likes this painting, so it will be framed and gifted to her.

"817 Connemara, Ireland"
acrylic - 16x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/817-connemara-ireland/507277

dianecampion.blogspot.com

815 Somewhere in Ireland

I hope you have all had a wonderful summer so far.  I have been very busy with different "rounds" of company, and yes, I am still painting almost every day, except on company days.  I have a number of paintings in progress, and am using this summer to experiment with new ideas.

There is so much to say about this painting.

My niece/goddaughter recently visited Ireland and sent me a few photos.  This and another were her two favorite scenes, and beautifully photographed, however, Ireland is...... so.....so.... g r e e n.  Lots of different shades of G R E E N.  Any good artist knows there are many, many ways to make various greens without using green out of the tube, but still, it seemed sort of (I hate to say it) monotonous to have SO much green in a painting, SO I tried to add some variation with blues, and purples and yellow.  Please note, this is not my usual style of painting, nor my preferred medium.  This canvas was toned with bright colors ( to add a little punch)  contrasting with the end result, as opposed to being toned with black gesso (my favorite) and was painted with oil paints, which admittedly I am not comfortable with, but am giving it the old college try.

To show how committed I am to learning, prior to this I painted this landscape in watercolors....a real bomb.  I won't even show you that one.  yikes.

So...I will continue to work on this particular landscape by painting it in my most comfortable style next.

I am much happier with the painting of my niece's second favorite landscape, which I will post another time.  I wonder which she will like.

"815 Somewhere in Ireland"
oil - 12x16 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/815-somewhere-in-ireland/506570

dianecampion.blogspot.com

814 White Phalaenopsis (Orchid)

One of my very favorite places on the planet is the Lincoln Park Conservatory, which is on the same grounds as the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.  Both have free admission, so it makes it very easy to visit.  The Conservatory is a beautiful glass dome building and has three "houses" for different types of plants.  There is a Palm House, a Fern Room and an Orchid House, my favorite.  I took the photo reference for this painting there.   Although it is probably the most popular and certainly most familiar of all orchids,  it is one of my favorites.  I particularly love the white ones which are so elegant and last a very long time.  I have painted them many times with acrylic paints, but this is the first with watercolor.  Painting "white" is tricky as there are many colors to "white."  I hope you like it.

"814 White Phalaenopsis (Orchid)"
watercolor - 8x10 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/814-white-phalaenopsis-orchid-/505520

dianecampion.blogspot.com

814 The Color of Citron

The reference photo was in my stockpile of floral photographs, unfortunately I don't know what kind of flower it is.  I really like the greenish tint to it. 

"814 The Color of Citron"
watercolor - 8x10 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/814-the-color-of-citron/504651

dianecampion.blogspot.com

813 Parrot Tulip

It has taken me weeks to finish this painting.  After several days away from it, I returned today with fresh eyes.  I am finally happy with it.  I enjoyed experimenting with the white ink.  I hope you like the painting.

"813 Parrot Tulip"
watercolor - 8.5x10.5 in
Price: $250
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/813-parrot-tulip/504197