748 Lakefront Sculpture

I am fascinated by trees of all sorts.  I consider them Mother Nature's sculptures.  I wish I knew the name of this conifer, but there are several of them at our Lake Michigan lakefront and they are so interesting and beautiful, especially the graceful nature of the branches.  I used white and black ink on this painting and made shades of grey.

The frame shown is optional and available for a very good price.

"748 Lakefront Sculpture"
ink on canvas - 8x10 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/748-lakefront-sculpture/434831

745 Welcome to the Gullah Grub Restaurant

Chef Bill Green prepares a menu filled with Gullah family recipes that will make your mouth water.  Choose from barbequed ribs, fried chicken, seafood gumbo, shrimp and grits, corn bread, peach cobbler, with lemonade and swamp water to drink.  Anthony Bourdain visited the restaurant several years ago and that put  Gullah Grub on the map.  Not only does he cook, he welcomes you at the door, and may even serve you your food.  He's quite a character and I enjoyed painting him, except for the teeth.  His salt and pepper beard gave me a little trouble, but as I have said many, many times, each new day brings a new lesson.

"745 Welcome to the Gullah Grub Restaurant"
acrylic - 6x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/745-welcome-to-the-gullah-grub-restaurant/434300

dianecampion.blogspot.com

608 Certain Teed

My neighbor came across this house sparrow nest with three little eggs in it, and called me to see it because she knows I love to paint all things bird-related.  You may wonder why the title "Certain Teed."  We are having a new roof put on our house and the sparrows included in their nest a very long piece of plastic packaging material from a Certain Teed product being used on the roof.  The roof project just started five days ago, so it didn't take long for the nest builder to forage for interesting materials.  Two scraggly feathers are also included in the nest.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/608-certain-teed/373616

604 Great Horned Owl Primary Wing Feather

My neighbor found this feather in her yard along with the tail feathers of a wren.  The GHO male has been seen perching on this neighbor's chimney and he always seems to be facing in the direction of our house.  I saw a fluffy white cotton tail the other day in the vicinity.  hmmmm.....

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/604-great-horned-owl-primary-wing-feather/372570

596 Retired

A long-time Garden Club member is a landscape architect and she has the most beautiful property overlooking Lake Michigan.  It is all simply magnificent.  In the Fall, she so graciously gave us a tour of the gardens and pathways.   On our way up the beautiful lannon stone steps from the Lake was this little vignette.  I knew I would paint it someday.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/596-retired/370253

594 Reflections

I was thrilled to see this rippled reflection in the water of a boat in a marina at Captiva, Florida.  As artists, we are encouraged to look at shapes, not articulating or thinking of exactly what we are drawing or painting.  That was no problem for me since I don't know a thing about boats, so I wouldn't know what to call it in the first place. 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/594-reflections/369533

584 Pier at Big Bay

Big Bay Park at Lake Michigan is one of my favorite spots to go any time of the year.  There are two paths down to the beach area, one with at least a million lannon stone steps, that completely immerses you in nature, and the other is a gentle winding slope.  The beach is fairly small but that's where I like to go to pick rocks and the occasional bit of sea glass.  I never come home with empty pockets.  The pier is a favorite place to sit on a calm summer day.  During the summer months, there are quite a few visitors there because it is easy to manage, but during the winter is when you see the dramatic ice that has formed on the lake and the pier.  Here are pictures I took this winter of the pier and the winding steps to the beach. The reference photo for the painting above was taken a week or two ago.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/584-pier-at-big-bay/366229

568 Plymouth Beach, Massachusetts

On Sunday, my friend took me to Plymouth Beach where I was so happy to see the grey sky and roaring sea.  I took hundreds of photos, catching every wave and frequent changes in the sky.  I even chased a few sea gulls off the cliff walk.    I have been influenced by artist, Roos (Rose) Shuring, who paints en plein air in the Netherlands, and am motivated to learn to paint the sky and sea in a new way.  Although she has inspired me, I am not willing to paint outside in the winter weather because  I hate the cold.  I have been visiting the Lake (Michigan) frequently since I have been home,  and realize there is not much difference between our Great Lake and the ocean.  I have always loved being near water, (hmmm, wonder if that's the Aquarius speaking) but learning through observation is very exciting to me.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/568-plymouth-beach-massachusetts/351865

531 Palette Knives on an Ampersand Hardbord

I have missed my regular routine, but travel and household projects have prevented me from painting.  I don't like looking at all the paintings on Daily Paintworks each morning when NOT seeing one of mine.  It felt good today to paint this still life, even though all the shadows and reflections were a challenge.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/531-palette-knives-on-an-ampersand-hardbord/313929

529 Lineup

I thought I'd take a little break from painting animals.  I really enjoyed painting my 500th "Tools of My Trade" so I thought I'd give it another whirl.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/529-lineup/311380

499 Hideaway

Since it is such a cold, ugly grey day here in Milwaukee, I thought I would take myself back to the warmth of summer.  August 20 was the day of my first official organized plein air experience.  It was hot and I was comfortable on a very small foot bridge overlooking a lovely scene.  I saw my first woodchuck swimming in this shallow stream, and it was all so peaceful and beautiful.  But at some point I got that uh-oh feeling.  What to do with all this GREEN?  In the nick of time, my friend and I turned in our two pieces, called it a day, and chalked it all up to experience.  I felt like I wanted to tackle the painting again today.  It's better than it was on August 20, but not something I want to tackle again.

492 Pepper Caps

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/492-pepper-caps/276478

400 Overimprovement

My friend Ann gave me this beautiful nest, egg and feather.  It has so much going on in it--clever builders used a variety of interesting materials, including insulation (styrofoam).
I enjoyed painting it and may attempt it again in a more abstract way.

Click here to purchase or to be directed to the Daily Paintworks site:
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/400-overimprovement/241178

185 In Between

184 Autumn Berries

Autumn's color palette seems so much more vibrant than other seasons',  and oh how I wish we could keep this beautiful weather until Spring.  Winter will be here much too soon.  I must learn to paint snow.

183 Mountain Fence

This is a scene from a mountain in Lebanon, overlooking the Qadisha Valley near Beshari, the home of Kahlil Gibran. 

181 Autumn Trio

180 To Everything There is a Season

179 She Married Her Prince

Some titles come easier than others.   I bought this little pie pumpkin yesterday at a farm stand on my way home from a friend's mother's funeral in the country.  The orchids are from a table centerpiece that was given to me after a wedding we attended.  The bride was so beautiful and elegant, and while painting this little piece, my mind's thoughts floated from the happy life the couple has ahead of them to the long marriage my friend's parents had.  Amy married her prince, and so did Mary Alice.

178 The Odd Couple