693 Golden Nuggets

The golden tomatoes are from Springdale Farm and the red bowl is from the museum in Lebanon.  Basil is from my yard.

"693 Golden Nuggets"
acrylic - 6x8 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/693-golden-nuggets/413743

691 You Look Lovely Today

The eggplants from Springdale Farm were so beautiful that I wish I had painted a different view of them so that more of the color showed.  One of them is gigantic and the other much smaller, so they looked like Mutt and Jeff, whoever they are.

The complementary palette is my favorite.

"691 You Look Lovely Today"
acrylic - 7x5 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/691-you-look-lovely-today/413340

677 Was It Something I Said?

When these tomatillos showed up in the farm box, I had no idea what to do with them other than to include them in a still life.  The farmers sent a recipe for salsa verde, but I haven't made it yet.  They are part of the tomato family, but I have a feeling they taste very different from tomatoes.  I know this isn't my best work, but I really liked the title.

"677 Was It Something I Said?"
acrylic - 5x7 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/677-was-it-something-i-said/407938

666 Competition

Another still life, complements of the weekly TSA farm box.  This onion is gigantic.

"666 Competition"
acrylic - 6x8 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/666-competition/404219

664 Farm Fresh

During the summers, we purchase a box of vegetables from Springdale Farm, and we are never disappointed.  Not only do we receive organically grown produce which is so tasty and fresh, but I am supplied with an abundance of still life material.  I love the way the vegetables (yes, I know tomatoes are a fruit) look on this MacKenzie -Childs platter, which I won in a charity raffle.  I may have to someday paint this in larger format.

"664 Farm Fresh"
acrylic - 6x8 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/664-farm-fresh/403768

Off to Door County

It's official.  My paintings are now on the walls and one in the calendar of my favorite gallery in Fish Creek/Door County, Wisconsin.  The second batch of paintings shipped to them yesterday is shown in the first photo, framed with my favorite floater frames from Franken Frames.  The first batch, framed with gilded frames as shown in the second photo, was delivered by the kindest of friends to the gallery. All in all, there are 26 paintings from my blue and white bowl series.  I hope they will be well received.

I didn't finish my painting of Mama Owl today, hopefully tomorrow.  It was thrilling to see Papa and the two babies, who are nearly as big as Dad now, posing for me this afternoon, third photo.  Pretty cool, isn't it????

560 Sprite

My second (really the third) painting of Lake Fanny Hoe, Copper Harbor, Michigan is (surprise) painted in oil paints, my first real oil painting.  It is too wet to move and photograph, so maybe tomorrow it will appear. 

In the meantime, I continue with the blue and white bowls with endless possibilities, and so far, I have not tired of painting them.

"560 Sprite"
acrylic - 6x8 in
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/560-sprite/337372

555. Man Overboard

We love tomatoes at our house, and there seem to be many options.  This was a box of mini heirlooms from the grocery store and they are much tastier than the rock hard, mealy larger tomatoes.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/…/d…/555-man-overboard/336130

550 Suspicious

I originally had a different title picked out for this painting, but changed my mind at the last minute.
These "on the vine" tomatoes are so perfect and uniform in size and shape that it certainly raises my suspicion.  In the middle of winter, tomatoes are almost always a disappointment.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/550-suspicious/334122

488 Nestled In

These peppers came in yesterday's farm box.  The green peppers are changing color by the minute, so tomorrow I may have a completely different still life.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/488-nestled-in/275601

478 Capanata in the Making

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/478-capanata-in-the-making/273328

476 A Delicate Balance

An odd pairing, I know.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/476--a-delicate-balance/272976

453 Gems in a Morning Glory Bowl

A few years ago, I got good advice which I have tried to heed with each and every painting:  What are you trying to say?  Don't just paint a pretty picture, make it mean something.  The message may not always seem obvious, but I assure you, there is something I am trying to communicate.
What, you might ask, am I trying to communicate with all these blue and white bowls filled with fruit or vegetables?

Yesterday, I received a comment from Carol A. Ball, another Daily Paintworks artist, regarding my painting "451 Better Than Candy," which is similar to this one.  She wrote, "What a lovely painting.  It just makes me happy and reminds me of home and food and cooking and family.  Good work."
BINGO!!  That is exactly what I want to communicate.   I couldn't wait to paint today.

Here is a link to Carol's Daily Paintworks gallery:
 http://www.dailypaintworks.com/artists/carole-a-ball-4878/artwork

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/453-gems-in-a-morning-glory-bowl/256921

451 Better Than Candy

Some critter has nibbled nearly every large red tomato in my garden.  I see a tomato that will be ready tomorrow, and when tomorrow comes, half of it is eaten on the vine.  Thank goodness, the critter has left a few small tomatoes for me.  These are so sweet and I love to eat them fresh off the vine. 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/451-better-than-candy/256487

429 Fresh From the Farm

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/429-fresh-from-the-farm/249100

428 Two Left

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/428-two-left/248897

427 For Caprese

I hope you are not bored with extent of this series.  I still feel like I have more to learn so expect to see these bowls and more fresh produce.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/427-for-caprese/248664

417 Variety With a Jean Wells Bowl

I made some modifications to the original painting and the title.

This is another favorite bowl by local artist Jean Wells.  I didn't do her oak leaves or the bowl justice in this painting.  Jean uses a technique called "sgraffito" or slip-carving, which is very different from so many other pottery you see at art fairs.  She carves the slip to make the design, and the effect is so interesting and unique.  I really admire Jean for her work with the Empty Bowls project here in Milwaukee, which is designed to place hunger-awareness in the forefront, and to earn money for those in need.   You can visit her site at: www.jeansclaystudio.com.

416 Tomato Duo

I have enjoyed this series of paintings and have learned a lot in the process.  It has been enlightening to set the objects in many different compositions to see what works and what doesn't.  This bowl, the only consistent object,  has gotten a lot of "press."  The artist is Jean Smaglik Wells and her work is beautiful. 

415 Locally Grown and Perfect

This beautiful tomato was locally grown at Springdale Farm, and part of our weekly CSA box of vegetables (yes, I know tomatoes are technically a fruit).  It was delicious.