980 Up On The Roof

Without her knowing it, my daughter shamed me into painting outdoors today.  "It would be a great plein air painting day, Mom.  What's stopping you?" to which I replied with a number of excuses.  I have a new easel and I'm just not ready to paint in the city since I'm  (enter any one of many excuses here).  So I decided to paint on the roof to ease on into it.  My little flower garden on the roof is in full bloom and it wasn't too hot up there today.  There was a nice breeze and only once did my canvas blow off before I bungie corded it down.

My Art Ladies group went on several painting trips to beautiful places--New Mexico, California, Door County, Hilton Head----all were wonderful experiences.  That was many years ago.  Plein air painting is "NOT for sissies" as someone in our group described it, loads of fun but really hard work.  

I will promise myself to scope out places I am comfortable with to paint.  I have my eye on a charming little yellow house with a nice garden and a white picket fence not too far from my home.  There is an active group of Plein Air Painters Chicago, so someday maybe I will join them one day.  I did signed up to paint at the Chicago Botanical Gardens in late August, so I better get busy preparing so as not to embarrass myself.  

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

898 Crazy for Cherries

Cherries are a very big part of Door County's image and certainly its economy.  Door County is a peninsula and its unique climate and soil conditions make it perfect for cherries to grow.  The Door County website features a cherry report, tracking the progression of blossoms to the various stages of cherry growth. I borrowed the title of the painting from this website.

Here are a few health benefits of eating cherries, according to orchardcountry.com

Tart cherries offer these potential health benefits:
• Relieve the pain of arthritis, gout and headaches
• Up to 10 times more effective in fighting joint and
muscle inflammation than aspirin
• High in natural melatonin to improve sleep patterns
• Helps lower cholesterol
• Protect heart against disease, attacks or strokes
• Helps lower blood pressure
• Protect brain and neuromuscular systems
• Inhibit the growth of colon cancer tumors
• Helps fight and prevent certain chronic diseases
• Supports your immune system


https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/898-crazy-for-cherries/671512

419 Nectarines

This painting has sold.

300. Fickle

I have come to the conclusion that I am not fond of the color purple.  Maybe it is because I look hideous in it and I have transferred my distaste to the palette.  I don't mind other people's use of purple, it's just that I don't like painting purple flowers.  This painting has gone through a variety of changes because I couldn't make up my mind, hence the title.