1298. Formation

 

We visited Saugatuck, Michigan and stayed at a lovely bed and breakfast.  I was captivated by this stunning view of trees carefully planted on an angle.  I knew then I had to paint them to try to capture their essence.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1298-formation/1225971

1297. Winnie the Wonder Dog

 Winnie is a good family friend's dog and has become our unofficial Grand dog, winning our hearts from the very beginning.  She was rescued along with her brother, full of ticks.   She's the smartest dog I've ever met.  She has taken basic "sniff" training, behavior training and knows lots of tricks.  We see her often and she never ceases to delight, making her a great candidate for therapy dog.  She is particularly cute when her one ear flops.  We love her.  This was a gift for her Dog Mom's recent birthday.

1296. Max

 

This sweet pup crossed the Rainbow Bridge in February.  Max was a Cavachon who left a very big void in his loving family but assure me that his portrait brings them solace.  

1295. Family Gathering

 1295. Family Gathering is a redo of a previous painting.  I am much happier with this one.

My husband bought me a large bunch of beautiful tulips and I photographed them from above for a different perspective.

24 x 24 " gallery wrapped canvas

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1295--family-gathering/1220549

1294. Encore Performance ( Pears in a Blue and White Bowl)

 Paintings of pears seem to be classic.  I've painted them many times, but I think they look absolutely smashing in this Jean Wells Smaglic blue and white bowl.  This painting is going to beautiful Door County, Wisconsin to hang on a kitchen wall.  The new owners are very pleased and so am I.

My Year in Review

 

2025 was an interesting year with some good things happening and some not -so-good.  Through it all, my commitment to creating was strong, in fact I painted 364 out of the last 365 days, which I'm really proud of.  

One of the highlights of the year was a very nice commission for 6 paintings of cacti and their flowers. I had no prior knowledge of cacti and certainly not much access to flowering cacti here in Chicago, so I had my work cut out for me in the form of research.  It was very rewarding to see my client so happy with the results and the suggestion that I now qualify to be a cactus garden docent.  (big smile)

I made some of my favorite floral paintings with new color palettes that stretched my usual.  I made advances in my comfort with abstraction, which continues to be a challenge for me since I've painted objects I see for many years.  

I worked on the concept of not having to cover every single little white spot (sigh) of the surface of a painting.  I did so with a series of collages leaving lots of white space, hoping to transcend that composition practice to canvas.

Pet portraits for two close friends who lost their dogs brought comfort to not only the recipients, but to me in my continued sadness after losing my little Oliver a year ago.  

I reacquainted with my old friend, Bernina (sewing machine) and obsessively made cute little pouches from sample upholstery fabrics.  I lovingly started making a memory quilt comprised of my late brother's wacky clothes, which is still in progress. I have plans for 6 pillows for my nieces and nephews.

Although I posted fewer completed paintings this year, I feel I made strides in my learning through discipline and practice,  still hoping to be more comfortable with "busting loose. " I have joined a group of really nice "art ladies" here in Chicago who meet virtually once a month and occasionally in person to share our love for art and artist comraderie.

My wishes for all of you are good health, happiness, a family of friends and/or relatives to share life with, and at least a sprinkling of creativity in your day to day lives.  And please don't tell me you don't have a creative bone in your body, because you just haven't looked hard enough for it. 

Happy New Year with love,

diane

 

1293. Sheffield

 This was a Christmas gift for a friend who recently lost her dog.  Sheffield had been her much loved friend for many years,  I hope this portrait will remind her of pleasant memories.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1293-sheffield/1197152

1292. The Secrets of Silence

 https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1292-the-secrets-of-silence/1194218

The Sunset Trail in Door County is one of the most peaceful places I've experienced.  I love to hear the crunch of the path's carpet and the serenade of the birds.  Occasionally, if you are lucky, you will see a beautiful deer or doe in the stillness.  In springtime, you may be lucky enough to catch the beauty of the tiny wild irises carpeting a blanket of blue.  You will come to the still water of a stream, and possibly an old cemetery if you veer off a bit.  One can best experience this while being silent.  Words are a distraction from the quiet moments in nature.

1291. Spur of the Moment

 Today I was planning to work on an abstract but I before I got started I came across an unfinished painting that was tucked away for another day.  It's good for me to be flexible.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1291-spur-of-the-moment/1192905

1290. Group Chat

 This arrangement by LaTerre Flower Market had more neutral flowers in the brown family of colors.  It was beautiful but I just can't get used to the idea of brown roses so I took artistic liberty to change the colors.  One of the great things about being an artist is that we can make subtle or drastic changes to any person, place or thing.  It's so powerful! ha ha

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1290-group-chat/1192466

1289. Flirtatious

This is a painting of one of many beautiful floral arrangements from La Terre Flower Market in Mequon, Wisconsin.  My friend's daughter graciously granted me permission to use their photos as reference.  This arrangement has all the components of HAPPY with its bright and cheery flowers.  Our Autumn has been beautiful here in Chicago, so HAPPY is the feeling of the days.

 https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1289-flirtatious/1191142

1288. In the Blink of an Eye....

 In the blink of an eye life can change, so make the best of each and every day.  Flowers make everyday better!

This painting is available for purchase.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1288-in-the-blink-of-an-eye/1190268

1287. Roll Out the Barrel

 This is the final painting of six cactus paintings for a home in Scottsdale, AZ.  These are Barrel Cacti, which are either small or quite large.  I REALLY got carried away with the prickles.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1287-roll-out-the-barrel/1189200

1286. Purple Prickly Pear

 I find the color purple to be "difficult" along with its compliment yellow.  It can be warm or cool.  This cactus has both.  I love that the buds look like little toes.  HA!

1285. Elusive

 

This is the fourth commissioned painting of a Saguaro Cactus for a home in Scottsdale.   Its blooms are the Arizona state flower and they only last one day, so one must be in the right place at the right time.  

I especially enjoyed painting this challenger.  It took concentration to get the ridges correct, and I guess I got carried away with the prickles, but that was fun too.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1285-elusive/1188315

1284. Cactus Beauty

 This is painting number 3 of 6 in the commissioned series of cactus flowers.  They will soon be traveling to their new home in Scottsdale.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1284-cactus-beauty/1188063

1283. Desert Beauty

 This is the second of six paintings commissioned for a family for their Scottsdale home.  It's one of my favorites.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1283-desert-beauty/1187611

1282. Hug Me Not

 This is the first of six large paintings commissioned for clients for their home in Scottsdale.  It was an exciting challenge because I knew nothing about cacti, had no exposure to cacti, and cacti with flowers aren't anywhere to be found here in Chicago.  Spending hours upon hours looking for images without copyright restrictions was definitely a challenge. Drawing the specific flower to match the specific cacti was also a challenge.  I found it sometimes frustrating, but often exciting.  I don't really think most people know what goes into the work even before the brushes hit the paint, and therefore you can't really appreciate the joys upon completion.  

  https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1282-hug-me-not/1187421

1281. Red

 

This is a re-do of an ugly painting I made years ago in an attempt to paint an abstract.   It is an acrylic 40 x 40", which is a challenging size.  Sometimes we need "company coming" to nudge us to complete projects like this.  Its in a room with lots going on and this is perfectly subtle addition to the room.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1281-red/1185688

1280. Did Someone Say Rabbit?

 Our dear friends and their adult kids have had several Golden Retrievers, and have been involved with Yankee Golden Rescue for many years.  Goldens are such great dogs, and Odie was no exception.  He was loyal, very well mannered and certainly well loved.  He would sit in front of the glass patio doors patiently waiting for rabbits to hop by.  Odie had a seizure disorder and left this world too soon.  He will be missed along with all the others this family have had as part of their family.  Rest in peace, Odie.

Many artists I know cringe at the thought of painting pet portraits.  I enjoy them, possibly because I am a dog lover and treasure the memories of the animals I have loved.  I've painted approximately 55 pet portraits, mostly dogs, many of whom have died.  The paintings are treasures to the people who have lost their loyal friends, including mine.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1280-did-someone-say-rabbit/1180867