1233. The Last Hurrah

 Unfortunately, there are no more onions grown in my rooftop garden, which is not to say that there won't be more onion paintings. (smile)  I really enjoyed painting this series.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1233--the-last-hurrah/1097450

981 Freshly Picked

It is very exciting for me to grow my own vegetables in my garden.  In this case, these went directly into my studio for my still life set up.  I couldn't dawdle because the fresh vegetables don't stay fresh for very long.

Gardening and painting are my two favorite pastimes, as if you couldn't tell.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/981-freshly-picked/817548 

916 What's Up Doc?

These multi-colored carrots are so delicious that I couldn't resist eating them.  I had to buy more from Whole Foods to complete my still life.  The inside of the burgundy ones are such a bright, beautiful color.  Yum.

I've been learning so much about color from Patti Mollica's online class, which just finished.  She is one heck of an artist and an excellent teacher too.  I will try to post a few of the paintings I made during the five weeks.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/916-whats-up-doc/728074

909 Dance Party

These radishes were from the last of the farmers' markets here in the Chicago area.  I love the many varieties of radishes that are available now, and grew a few of them in my garden.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/909-dance-party/711008

711 Abundance

On Tuesdays, I look forward to receiving a box of fresh produce from Springdale Farm.  It is fun to see what's in the box, and I really enjoy setting up and photographing several still life possibilities.

"711 Abundance"
acrylic - 11x14 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/711-abundance/420901

643 Neighborly

We have THE best neighbors across the street.  They are so kind and loving, and I have become quite fond of their two children.  Every year, they go strawberry and sugar snap pea picking, and always bring some for us to enjoy.  There is nothing like a fresh picked strawberry!  The peas were eaten within 10 minutes and the painting was started right away.  I miss the days when we would go strawberry/apple/raspberry/peach picking with our kids and good friends.

"643 Neighborly"
acrylic - 6x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/643-neighborly/394077

614 On the Outs

This is probably the last of the Indian eggplant paintings.  I hope to make a visit to Whole Foods this weekend to look for cherries as I will soon be in Door County to celebrate my acceptance at the Edgewood Orchard Galleries,  and cherries are very important to Door County.

There is a "rule" in painting that objects should not 'kiss," but I love the negative space created by this kissing thing, and in the case of objects leaning against one another, I think it's got to be "legal" and if not, I'm breaking the rules anyway.  So there.

"614 On the Outs"
acrylic - 8x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/614-on-the-outs/385239

612 Aubergine

The little Indian eggplants still interest me.  I love their color, shape and sizes.  Unfortunately, by the time I finish with them, they may be past their prime of freshness.  Maybe I will make baba ghanouj with them tomorrow. 

"612 Aubergine"
acrylic - 6x8 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/612-aubrgine/374772

564 Misunderstanding

I

Yikes.  I just realized I painted this once before, but I thought I was painting a different view.  I guess you can paint the same thing several times and the paintings will never be exactly the same.
To me, the onions look like they are at odds, perhaps there was a misunderstanding. 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/564-misunderstanding/348639

558. Combover

I had a difficult time naming this one, but I think it's perfect.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/558--combover/336863

557 Overcrowded

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/557-overcrowded/336622

552 At Attention

I put off painting asparagus but it seemed to be the only vegetable we had around that I hadn't painted.    It was a little challenging, but I would like to try again.  This is a new blue bowl, the smallest of them all.  My husband named this painting. 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/552-at-attention/335114

551 Outnumbered

Today I spent the better part of the day experimenting with a new set of water soluble oil paints.  I loved the juiciness of the paint, but I had no idea what to do with it.  I have read other artists write that they "wiped off" and began again and now know what they mean, having done that FOUR times.  I still have three very pathetic attempts waiting to dry so I can try to learn from them and move on.

I love acrylics because they dry quickly and I can accomplish many layers.  With the oil paints, the "many layers" turned into a dirty mess. 

I will try again, but perhaps I should keep my day job.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/551-outnumbered/334432

548 Flaunted

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/548-flaunted/333315

546 Hanging Out Together

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/546-hanging-out-together/332353

545 Cultured

In this blog post, on my monitor, the colors of the onions look a little too purple.  They are more subtle than appears here.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/545-cultured/331848

543 Backbend

Today I visited with a gallery owner I know and while I was there, a very disheveled looking man--- a presumably unlikely gallery visitor---with several plastic grocery shopping bags entered the gallery, removed his shoes, and approached the owner.  She greeted him by name and went to the back room where she retrieved a bag, and handed it to him.  There was a nice, yet short conversation, which included him telling a joke.  He thanked her, and then left.

The lesson that I already knew but was reinforced today is "Don't judge a book by its cover."  Turns out this man is an art junkie, and spends a LOT of money in her gallery each year.

What followed was a discussion of how people discriminate against one another because of appearances or other perceived differences.  It was a very nice visit with the gallery owner today, as usual. 

I am reminded of an experience I had at another art gallery several months ago.  I went expressly to see an exhibit of still lifes, and was barely acknowledged by the gallery attendant when I entered and when I asked a question about a painting.  At the end of my visit, she was rude and dismissed me when I asked a question about the process for acquiring new artists.  I felt so terrible when I left that gallery that I don't want to go back.

I just don't understand why people can't be nice. 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/543-backbend/331311 

542 Polka Dance

Get it??? Polka dance??  (I had to explain it to a certain someone here. )

The new Penthouse is very comfortable and my buddy, Oliver likes it too.  The leaves of the radishes went kaput so I ate all the radishes.  No more radish still lifes this week.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/542-polka-dance/330871

541 Underestimated

I am delighted to report that with this painting,  I have officially relocated my studio from the basement ("The Dungeon") where I painted without a window, to the attic " Penthouse."  Today is the first day I painted there.  A dear friend helped me haul and reorganize and it is a dream space, freshly painted, heated, carpets cleaned, and with a real window and a bathroom.  What more could I ask for? 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/541-underestimated/330628 

492 Pepper Caps

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