978 Powerful Forces

If you have been following my painting journey, you know a few things about me.  Surely you must know that I am not a portrait artist and that I am self taught in that genre.  You also must know that I passionately paint Palestinian refugee children's portraits to bring awareness and attention to a non-profit, non-political organization, ANERA,  American Near East Refugee Aid.  This is my 27th portrait in the series of The Innocence Project.

I was prepared to write about women and girls in Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria being a powerful force in their communities as breadwinners, providers, and role models---areas that ANERA serves.

But if we think we have it bad here in the United States, it is absolutely a walk in the park compared to Palestinian refugees in any of these countries, particularly in Lebanon.  Here is a quote from ANERA'S blog about the conditions in Lebanon:

"All of Lebanon is now on two hours of electricity per day. Randomly coming on and off. It used to be more scheduled. Morale is down in the whole country. There continue to be demonstrations in the streets. The army is more visible. The value of the Lebanese pound continues its downward slide. There are shortages in basics, like medicines. Many shops are not even selling items because they don’t know what price to charge. It’s chaotic. People are rushing to buy stuff and stock up in their homes."

The situation is worsening every day for the 1.7 million Palestinian and Syrian refugees in Lebanon.  Conditions have been terrible, unemployments rates are high and people have very little access to education and health care.  The ANERA Country Director in Lebanon reports that despite the resiliency of the people, there is a sense of despair, fear, and hopelessness.  The World Food Program estimates that 83% of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon are living in crushing poverty.  

Thankfully the virus hasn't spiked in Lebanon but the numbers are rising.  ANERA provides valuable disinfection kits with bleach, soap and laundry detergent, as well as hygiene kits.  They also provide food, and important medicines like cancer and chronic disease medications.

There is SO much more I could tell you about ANERA and the great work they do to bring dignity and improved living conditions, education, educational programs, etc. but I know you would gain much more by looking at their website, www.ANERA.org.  I know you will be impressed.  If you are so moved, please make a donation to ANERA and I promise you it will be well spent.  If possible, mention The Innocents Project 

Thanks for your consideration.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/978-powerful-forces/812905

837 Shining Light

The Campion home was filled with warmth and joy at Christmas and Chanukah.  We had a house full of family--many from a warm climate who loved the cold (go figure) and frolicking in the snow.  We were all bundled up to endure snowball fights, building forts, and the highlight-- snow tubing.  Food and drink were plentiful, and laughter filled the air.  Santa visited and left many gifts for the children after filling his belly with cookies and milk.  We are all so fortunate to have so many blessings.

Painting over the last few weeks was at a minimum, but I was too busy to make it a priority.  I was a little worried that the dreaded painter's block would slip in, but thankfully it didn't.  A giant antique door knob painting called out from the easel, and a beautiful amaryllis gift from a friend is blooming and stirring potential painting ideas.

But at this time yesterday and today, I felt compelled to paint another refugee child pictured on ANERA'S "#Shine Your Light" year-end fundraising campaign (www.ANERA.com) as part of The Innocents Project.  This little girl stole my heart with her big brown eyes and bowed lips.  This will make my 10th portrait in this series,  and I will continue painting until I have a body of work to display and raise awareness (and funds) for the refugee children in Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan. American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA) has a great track record for providing education, shoes, warm clothes, medical supplies, improved water systems, and whatever else is needed to give refugees some dignity and the tools needed to make a better future.  It is very cold in that part of the world, perhaps you didn't know that, and heat is not plentiful even in regular homes, let alone in tents and makeshift cement structures. Imagine sleeping in 40 degrees without heat!  I hope you will check out ANERA's web sight and their Facebook page.  Their focus is on providing better lives for the refugees, NOT politics, so I hope that will further encourage you to read about their good work and to consider a donation.

I would like to express my gratitude to you for following my work and for all your comments, suggestions and encouragement.  I am grateful for the two galleries who represent me, Edgewood Orchard Gallery in Door County, Wisconsin, and The Leigh Gallery in Chicago.  I wish you all good things for 2017--good health, happiness, a heart full of love, and whatever prosperity means to you.

"837 Shining Light"
acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/837-shining-light/542711

I would like to expand the reach of my blog so please pass it on to someone who may enjoy it.
www.dianecampion.blogspot.com

803 I Deserve More

 From all outward appearances, this darling little girl looks normal, right?  She's clean,  her hair is combed and she is wearing a nice big smile on a sunny day (not that all of that makes "normal).  But her life is far from normal.  She is one of too many refugees living in makeshift camps devised from tents or old barracks in Lebanon and Palestine.  In the many photos I have seen of the camps, they appear to be cement walls with a tarp used as a "roof" to connect them.  It's very sad for me to think that this is how this little girl lives and it is the only way she knows to live.   Her family has to beg for clean water to cook, drink and bathe in a bucket.  

ANERA is working very hard to help these children who have faced war and displacement in their very short lives.  They have renovated schools, improved on water systems, and provide shelter, medical supplies, clean clothes, blankets, playgrounds and done everything within their power to make the lives of the displaced Syrians and Palestinians more comfortable and "normal."  

This painting is part of my series of refugee children that I am calling "The Innocents Project."  I am very committed to try to raise awareness of the horrific situations that the children face, with the hope that you will check out the good work that ANERA does (American Near East Refugee Assistance) and consider making a donation to help these children.   This project came about for me because I wasn't satisfied with just sending donations to this worthy cause.  I felt I needed to do more.  I sincerely hope you will go to ANERA's web site to see the reality that these people face and will make a donation.  www.anera.org 

"803 I Deserve More"

acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/803-i-deserve-more/483851

dianecampion.blogspot.com

798 Marwa

Marwa is an outgoing seven year old Syrian refugee who has lived in one of Lebanon's tent camps since she was two years old.  She and her family left their home in Homs, Syria after it was heavily shelled.  She doesn't remember much of her early life.  Marwa has become an "ambassador" or sorts to visitors, particularly to the ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid) folks who bring supplies to her camp.  She goes to school near the camp, and readily admits she isn't fond of school, however she plans to be a teacher one day.  When asked to draw a  house, she replied, "I cannot draw a house.  I will draw a tent instead.  I don't know what a house looks like."

"Marwa" is the fifth refugee child in my "Innocents Project" series.  She is the first and only child whose name I know so far.  It is important to me to see these children as real people with names, not just falling under a heading called "refugees."  I get an idea of what this spunky little girl is like from other photos showing a gap in her big bright smile where two bottom teeth used to be.  She is seen carrying her little brother, and has boasted that she does better in school than her siblings.  How typical for a seven year old, yet her life is far from typical or normal.

ANERA works to improve the lives of all of the refugees, but particularly for the children.  Please consider a donation to anera.org in honor of a special mother, or "just because" and please mention The Innocents Project.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you!

"798 Marwa"
acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/798-marwa/477195

dianecampion.blogspot.com

796 Shy

This is the fourth portrait in my series called "The Innocents Project" in which I am painting the refugee children living in camps in Lebanon and Palestine.  I am hoping to raise awareness and money for the children through ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid) in Washington, D.C.

There is no "normal" for a kid living in a refuge camp.  Most people don't realize that it gets quite cold in the Middle East during the winter, and heat is unlikely in the camps, and often in homes.  ANERA has distributed over 100,000 pairs of shoes and boots to keep the children safe and warm in Lebanon's refugee camps and in Gaza.  Tom's has been very generous in donating the shoes and boots for the children, who otherwise might be barefoot.  According to ANERA's recent newsletter, they have also distributed millions of dollars worth of vital medicines and supplies to clinics and hospitals in Lebanon and Palestine during the past year, 20,000 relief kits (school supplies, blankets, quilts, hygiene supplies, and clothing) in Lebanon, and as mentioned previously, 12,200 parasite treatment kits to prevent lice in the overcrowded camps in Lebanon.

Aside from all of the physical abnormalities of living in a refugee camp, imagine the psychological affects of living in a refugee camp where children see death from illness, violence or electricution all too often.  There may not be places for them to play, or clean water to drink.

Please consider a donation to ANERA   www.anera.org   and please mention "The Innocents Project."

"796 Shy"
acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/796-shy/475823

dianecampion.blogspot.com