639 President's Dinner

The Garden Club's official year has come to a close, and on Tuesday night we had our President's Dinner at the beautiful Lynden Sculpture Garden.  I was in charge of centerpieces and favors for guests and I was delighted to find beautiful flowers at a local farmers' market.

588 Retail Therapy

Why the title "Retail Therapy," you ask?  One of my favorite stores, Crate and Barrel in Lincoln Park/Chicago carries beautiful fresh flowers, the only C and B to do so.  Their arrangements are always unusual and delightful to see amidst all the cool stuff.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/588-retail-therapy/367947

406 Cheer

338 Welcome Spring

304. Shy

I was a little hesitant about painting the spider mums.  This is the third attempt.  In one other painting, they ended up as hydrangeas (ah, the freedom we have),  the other was gessod over.  I'm fairly happy with the way these turned out

303. Grateful

301. Free Spirited

My sweet husband came home with two bundles of mixed flowers this week.  I decided to paint from my own little arrangements rather than the fussy arrangements from the floral department of the grocery store.  I enjoy that so much more.  This is a simple arrangement of white mums and pink alstroemera. 

300. Fickle

I have come to the conclusion that I am not fond of the color purple.  Maybe it is because I look hideous in it and I have transferred my distaste to the palette.  I don't mind other people's use of purple, it's just that I don't like painting purple flowers.  This painting has gone through a variety of changes because I couldn't make up my mind, hence the title.

299. Encouraged

My trips to the grocery store floral department have been productive.  Every time I visit, there are new arrangements to photograph.  Lately the designers have been getting a little tight and fussy with the flowers, and it's throwing me off as my goal is to loosen up.  I am making every effort to avoid translating their fussiness into my paintings.

298 Cheerful