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

1276. Lady in Red

 

If this painting looks familiar, it's because I painted a smaller version (12 x 12") a couple of weeks ago and it sold right away.  I really loved the colors and wanted another go at sizing up, which is not as easy as one might think it would be.  I'm very happy with this one and hope it finds a home soon before I decide I want to keep it.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1276--lady-in-red/1164602

1270. Tulips in a Blue Vase

 Did you know that tulips actually grow after they are cut and put in water? You really notice it when tulips are included in a florist's arrangement of mixed flowers.  The tulips reach for the light and in a couple of days will tower above the other flowers.  

I scored big at a friend's garage sale where she was selling this vase for sale for $1.  It is a perfect vase for tulips as the top allows them to droop over the side, which I love.  It's my favorite.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1270-tulips-in-a-blue-vase/1161370

1268. Feelin' the Love

 I had a birthday this past Saturday.  Everyone who knows me knows I'm a Birthday Brat.  I love my birthday because I hear from family and friends, all who shower me with love.  It's the greatest feeling in the world--to be loved.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1268--feelin-the-love/1160856

1267. Company's Coming

 Nothing welcomes guests like fresh flowers!  This is part of a series of floral paintings I call "Flowers Make Everything Better."

This painting is available for purchase.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1267-companys-coming/1160581 

12664. Dreaming in Color

 

I absolutely loved painting this.  A happy accident was that I grounded the canvas with  the pinks and reds left over on my palette and when I finished painting the image, I decided to keep it, definitely a practice I will continue.  This painting is for sale, unframed, but shown here to give an idea of how it would look framed. Gratitude to LaTerre Market for use of their photo for inspiration.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/12664-dreaming-in-color/1157711

1263. On a Whim

As you can see, the bottom painting has had a major overhaul.  I kept looking at it and wishing I were happy with it, but in the end I was not.  I'm much happier with this version.

              https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1263-on-a-whim/1157456 

 Of all the colors on my palette, yellow gives me the biggest headache.  It is such a happy color and I love painting yellow sunflowers, but I find it very difficult to get the correct color in photographs.  In this photo, the yellow in the photo is brighter than on the canvas.  This painting was fun to paint, but a little challenging for the largest flower.  

Thanks to LaTerre Market, Mequon, WI for permission to use their image for inspiration.

This painting is for sale at the link below.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1263-on-a-whim/1157456

1256. A Gentleman and a Scholar

 I've been working on this painting for a couple of weeks, but until today, I couldn't come up with a title.  Today, I knew the title had to be in honor and memory of my friend who passed away yesterday.  He was both of my kids' fifth grade teacher.  I was his first parent volunteer in the classroom beginning in 1993, even though he had been teaching for many, many years, and I stayed there long after my kids graduated high school until he retired.  He was a most loved teacher who literally changed lives, according to the many kids-now-adults who credit him with that honor.  His peers at school loved and respected him.  I was privileged to witness him in action in the classroom.  I never heard him raise his voice, but he knew how to approach the unruly fifth grader.  In spare time, he showed his students classic movies like South Pacific.  He had a period every so often where he read from books to the kids, complete with the characters' voices.  Also memorable,  the kids were told they could NOT work on schoolwork, but were encouraged to doodle.  And then there was the green couch that everyone wanted to hang out on.  After some time, I was trusted with correcting some student work.  He treated the kids with such respect and high expectations and they rose to the occasion.  

Every year on my birthday, up until this past February,  I received flowers from this generous man.  My kids and  husband got cards with a little something included and this message: "Have a drink on me."  After Thanksgiving I would receive a poinsettia.  EVERY YEAR. 

I was so lucky to know this man and I will miss him.  "You're a real prince, George Hanneman, a gentleman and a scholar"  J.D. Salinger, Catcher in the Rye.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1256-a-gentleman-and-a-scholar/1143732

1255. Just Peachy

 I painted this once before in a different color way and more realistic.  I'm happy with this one.

It's available for purchase.  Contact me if interested.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1255-just-peachy/1142987

 

1252. Personality Plus

 

This painting and the one prior, 1251. Bright Spot were both inspired by the same photos of a bouquet my husband recently bought.  I like this interpretation more and hope to continue on this path.  

My natural method is to paint what I see realistically (a "police report").   But I want to paint a "poem."  I think this is a little closer, somewhere between complete whimsy and realism.  

"Police report/poem" analogy courtesy of Chicago artist, Steve Puttrich.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1252-personality-plus/1140967

1251. Bright Spot

 My husband recently bought an unusual bouquet of flowers for me.  The sunflowers were picked early and hadn't unfurled.  It was really challenging to represent them, and I wasn't successful, so I pretended they were open.  I was trying to loosen up, but the more time I spent, the fussier I got.  The title refers to the flowers, not the painting!  (smile)

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1251--bright-spot/1140507

1246. Juliette and Friends

 This was a real struggle.  I gave up.  There is no way to adequately represent the stunning Juliette rose.  It surely is one of Mother Nature's masterpieces

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1246--juliette-and-friends/1117020

1243. Adoring Spouse

 The daughter of a dear friend of mine recently became the owner of a lovely flower shop/market in Mequon, Wisconsin, La Terre.  Sally, who I've watched grow up and blossom, has an unbelievable talent for flowers and is one of Milwaukee's most gifted wedding florists.  She recently granted me permission to use La Terre's photos of floral arrangements as inspiration for my paintings.

This is Adoring Spouse, one of three floral arrangements sold as a group to celebrate three significant occasions, for instance Mother's Day, Birthday, Anniversary, etc.  I struggled with this painting because the arrangement was simply so beautiful that I felt I just couldn't do it justice.  I struggled because I didn't want to do it an injustice by reducing the detail of the gorgeous blooms, despite that being my goal.  I'll keep trying.

You can visit the website at:  https://www.laterremarket.com/ 

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1243-adoring-spouse/1109179

1242. Birthday Confetti

 My birthday was a few days ago, and in between calls from family and friends, I was able to do two favorite activities on my birthday--paint and read.  The splash of white paint or "confetti" was an afterthought to bring good luck in the coming year.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1242--birthday-confetti/1108175

1237. Blissful

 This painting is a combination of summer garden flowers and imagination.  It's a little different for me, looser and more free style, and fun to paint.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1237-blissful/1100735

1106 Afternoon Stroll

 I wanted to give another shot at the white and yellow flowers, as I wasn't thrilled with 1105 Morning Walk.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1106-afternoon-stroll/951015

1104 Forget-Me-Not

 Forget-Me-Nots are one of my very favorite flowers.  They are small and humble, but their beautiful blues capture my heart.  This summer, I grew Chinese Forget-Me-Nots in my rooftop garden, and they brought a beautiful compliment to all the pinks, oranges and yellows of the other flowers.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1104-forget-me-not/948213

1103 Let's Sit For Awhile

 Here is one last painting of zinnias from my garden, painted from life.  I struggled with the chair color, auditioning several different colors.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1103-lets-sit-for-awhile/947198

1097 Mum's the Word

 These teensy little mums have outlived all the others in the mixed Fall bouquet my daughter gave me,  and I couldn't toss them before painting them.  This was another opportunity for me to stay loose.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1097-mums-the-word/939497

1094 Solar Power

 I almost felt guilty buying sunflowers at the farmers' market when I grow them on my roof, but I couldn't resist the unusual colors of the red ones and the mauve/white ones, which I don't grow.  Unfortunately the only sunflowers flourishing that I could (barely) reach are the little yellow ones on the top of the arrangements.  

By the way, I have had many inquiries about note cards featuring my paintings.    I will have two sets of six of my Strada Easel Challenge paintings bundled together for a very reasonable price.   Also, most any of my paintings can be featured as note cards, as an alternative, in case you have favorites.  Please contact me via email if you are interested in more details or would like to place an order.  My email address is:   dianecampion@gmail.com

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1094-solar-power/936829