1272. Sand Between My Toes

 

I am on vacation at a beach community.  I am happiest when near a beach and all it entails.  This mini series focuses on my happiness with these bright, happy colors.  Here's a preview of all the paintings in this series.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1272-sand-between-my-toes/1163133

1154. Primavera

 

I started this painting as an experiment using alcohol as a reductive solution, which was fun.  I made the circles out of a radish dipped in the alcohol.  From there, I didn't know where to go with it, but with my new bravery, I dug it out of the pile of incomplete paintings.  I love the freshness of the colors, so springlike, so I named it Primavera which loosely means Spring.

The beauty of an abstract s that it can be hung in different orientations.  I painted it as above, but  there are other possibilities.  The second image below would be my second choice.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1154--primavera/995565

1132. Shimmer

 When the sun hits the leaves of the palms at just the right angle, the brightest bits just seem to glow.  

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1132-shimmer/979148

969 The Gift of Friendship

I have a dear friend--also named Diane, in Milwaukee who was my neighbor for 29 years before we moved to Chicago.  She and I would use this same box, ribbon and tissue inside to pass gifts to each other at birthdays, etc.  The gift was always quietly left at the back door,  welcomed with a warm smile.  I sure miss her, but ha ha, I'm the one who ended up with the box.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/969-the-gift-of-friendship/802220

950. Pucker Up

Second go around for this set up since the first one sold right away.  I learn a lot from painting the same scene more than once.  This one is headed to Edgewood Orchard Gallery for their upcoming season.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/950-pucker-up/793130

826 Russian Olive

I saw this tree in a garden tour of a beautiful property overlooking Lake Michigan, and was attracted to its graceful limbs and soft whispy leaves.  Little did I know until recently when I asked the question, it is an old Russion Olive tree, Eleagnus angustifolia.  It is difficult to find in nurseries because in some states it is considered a "noxious weed," and therefore cannot cross state lines.

I love learning new things during the process of painting.  In addition to learning about this lovely tree, I continued to learn about the color green.  I did not use any green paint in this painting, rather mixed a variety of greens from different blues and yellows.  It was lots of fun and amazing to learn how many combinations there are!

"826 Russian Olive"
acrylic - 15.75x20 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/826-russian-olive/515994

www.dianecampion.blogspot.com

822 Inner Conflict

As you may recall, I have been working on a large quilt for a friend/client/collector.  She is a person who appreciates handmade quilts, and in this age when you can buy a cheap quilt at Marshalls/TJ Maxx for your guest room, she is willing to have something beautiful and hand made.  I could not appreciate her any more!  My Left Brain (analytical) has taken over in this process, temporarily displacing Left Brain (creative), despite my efforts to keep both parties engaged.  I keep dreaming of quilts and plans to use the piles and piles of highly organized fabric (according to color).  It doesn't help that my Garden Club is organizing our first garden tour, "Quilts in the Garden," for July of 2017.
SO, quilts are on my mind, which means Left Brain is highly active.

My client requested NOT to see any images of the quilt before completion, so I will not post until it is back from the quilter and then bound.  I finished the piecing the quilt and took it to Patched Works to be quilted on Friday.  I am hoping my Right Brain will take over and allow me to paint freely.

I have always felt an internal conflict in who I want to be as an artist.  Part of me LOVES realism and painting what I see, and the other part of me wants to bust out and go crazy, but I find that much more difficult to do.  So this week, I slapped some oil paint on some canvases without paying attention to anything (Right Brain). Then I went in with my compass and pencil and divided into shapes (with my Left Brain).  Hence the title of the painting, "Inner Conflict."  I have a new rubber tipped tool that I used to remove the paint in the triangles and circles, leaving the neutral grey visible.  I am curious to see what this looks like with white or black in the triangles/circles.    Although this painting is only 6" x 6", I think it could be any size.

665 Changing

The hydrangeas which used to be pink are now changing to a muted green, which was hard to capture.  I didn't really think this painting through, and I think it shows.  I just love the hydrangeas.

"665 Changing"
acrylic - 6x8 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/665-changing/403973

540 Mixed Company

This is most likely the end of the Meyer lemons.  I like the combination of the limes with the lemons in my favorite bowl.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/540-mixed-company/330377

425 Two Grannies

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/425-two-grannies/248315

343 Pears on Plaid

139 Farmer's Market Bell Peppers

A trip to Chicago's Division Street Farmer's Market is one of my favorite past times.  There are so many farmers from near and far with colorful and unique things to sell, and it is a great place to take pictures and to people-watch.  I'm a sucker for the flowers.