787 Still Sunny

Sunflowers are universally loved, I think.  There are so many interesting varieties
that everyone should be happy.  Sunflowers remind me of two special friends who love the cheery flower, one of them being from Kansas, where sunflower is the state flower.

Sunflowers also remind me of Van Gogh's iconic paintings.  This past weekend, I visited the Art Institute of Chicago and the "Van Gogh's Bedrooms" exhibit, where a life-sized mock-up of his bedroom in his yellow house was featured.  It was wonderful and I'm happy I had the opportunity to see it. 

"787 Still Sunny"
acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/787-still-sunny/464141
dianecampion.blogspot.com

735 Fifth Grade

There are some people who will always bring warm thoughts to you.  My kids' fifth grade teacher, Mr. H. will always be that person.  I was his first parent volunteer in 1993 and worked for him until he retired many years later.  For all these years, he has remembered me at Christmas with a beautiful poinsettia plant.  He is the type of teacher who adults credit with their success, having had him as a teacher in the fifth grade.  Although he is retired now, he still substitute teaches.  He is a master teacher, and a dear friend.

"735 Fifth Grade"
acrylic - 6x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/735-fifth-grade/431692

720 Opportunity

Some days I have a set plan, other days I have no idea what I will paint, hoping something will present itself to me.  Today was one of those days.   I had homework to do for my portrait class, but wasn't sure I would want to post that.  Then an opportunity presented itself.  Oliver and I were taking our morning walk and we passed some guys doing fall cleanup in our neighborhood.  In the pile of leaves were several gorgeous hydrangeas in a variety of colors.  Since my hydrangeas didn't produce a single flower this year (why is that?), I couldn't resist collecting them and bringing them home.  They are so lovely floating in this lovely aqua bowl.  There is opportunity everywhere.  You just have to look for it.

"720 Opportunity"
acrylic - 6x8 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/720-opportunity/426209

717 Rescued

These flowers were in with garden waste at the curb in my neighborhood.  The marigolds were such a beautiful vibrant color---difficult to achieve, but irresistible.  

"717 Rescued"
acrylic - 6x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/717-rescued/423528

701 Free Spirit

This is the second painting started after the visit to the Taos Farmer's Market.  I purchased the hand made vase from a cute store called something like Taos At Home or At Home Taos.  I wish I had paid closer attention because I always like to give credit to the artist.  I worked on this painting and yesterday's post simultaneously, but this was finished here at home.

I'm not sure this qualifies as a legitimate "floral arrangement" but the flowers had a mind of their own, so they were "free spirits."

"701 Free Spirit"
acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/701-free-spirit/417838

700 Simple Joys

Two Saturdays ago, the Art Ladies visited the Taos Farmer's Market with the mission to purchase items for our still lifes, which we later set up at the Hacienda del Sol courtyards to paint.  It was interesting to see what the others purchased and even more fun to see their set ups.  My stash consisted of these flowers, two eggplants and a beautiful bunch of green onions, some of which made it into this still life.  Ha!  I bet you thought they were leaves of some sort.  The black and white dotted table covering is my scarf, and the container for the flowers is a sturdy coffee mug I purchased for my husband.  Even more fun to see was that all of our veggie purchases made it into the next morning's breakfast, prepared by Chef Gerd.    All in all, it was a glorious day.

"700 Simple Joys"
acrylic - 20x20 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/700-simple-joys/417625

688 Veronica, Dalia, and Rose

These three "girlfriends," Veronica Speedwell, Dalia (don't know her last name) and Rose Campion are lingering in my garden after just about everything else is kaput.

"688 Veronica, Dalia, and Rose"
acrylic - 8x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/688-veronica-dalia-and-rose/412089

687 Three's a Crowd

"687 Three's a Crowd"
acrylic - 6x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/687-threes-a-crowd/411796

683 Company's Coming!

Company came to visit and these are the flowers my husband chose to welcome them.  For a color-blind person, he does a fine job!  I don't think he realized how perfect this complementary palette of colors was.

"683 Company's Coming!"
acrylic - 8x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/683-companys-coming!/410936

681 Family Gathering

680 Underappreciated

Well.  This is the third little vase I purchased at Off the Wheel Pottery in Door County, made by artist Courtney Hancock, and by far the most difficult to paint with all those little leaves.  I hope I didn't get too "precious," the kiss of death for a painting.  I think it will be easier to paint on a larger format.  I am happy with the geranium after struggling with the color.  In case you are wondering about the title, geraniums are rarely my first choice flower for the garden because I don't think of them as being a glamorous choice, but I always end up delighted with them.  This one was a lucky find at Costco this spring and graces our patio with a giant splash of color that says,  "Welcome home!"

"680 Underappreciated"
acrylic - 8x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/680-underappreciated/408659

679 The Glance

This is another vase purchased at Renee' Schwaller's Off the Wheel Pottery Gallery in Egg Harbor, WI, and made by her former intern, Courtney Hancock.  This may very well be my favorite of the three vases since it has a different pattern depending on the side you are looking at.  (You'll see....) Sorry for the glare on the photo, wet paint.  Again, the nasturtium is from my garden.

"679 The Glance"
acrylic - 8x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/679-the-glance/408495

676 Art Ladies

The Art Ladies had a celebration last night in anticipation of our plein air painting trip this fall, and this was the hostess-with-the mostest's table centerpiece.  It was a delightful evening in every way!

"676 Art Ladies"
acrylic - 8x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/676-art-ladies/407686

675 Gardenia

The gardenia, my sister's favorite flower, is elegant and so fragrant, also very hard to grow in our climate, even for the summer. 

"675 Gardenia"
6x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/675-gardenia/407433

672 No Worries

I am trying to loosen up with my painting.  It's really tough for me because my natural inclination is to want to keep at this.  It took every ounce of restraint not to add a lot of fussiness to these flowers.

The title of this painting, "No Worries" refers to a message to Lisa Dara Kennedy, who I have been hoping would come to my neck of the woods to conduct a workshop, that she has no worries about this artist ever infringing on her territory.  yikes.  I guess Lisa would rather teach in Italy than in Milwaukee.  Imagine that.   hmmmpff.  Ha ha, Lisa. 

"672 No Worries"
acrylic - 8x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/672-no-worries/405726

671 Budding Beauty

The reference photo for this painting was obtained from The Morgue File.  It had a halo effect around the rose, but I didn't think it looked natural.

"671 Budding Beauty"
acrylic -

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/671-budding-beauty/405332

670 Carol's Challenge

For those of you who aren't familiar with Daily Paintworks, there is a weekly challenge that artists can participate in by painting the subject suggested, which usually comes with a photo.  In this case, it is Carole Marine's Rose Challenge (Again).  She posted a photo of a rose that looked like  something like this and I painted  it.  It is interesting to see the different interpretations of her photo and in different media.  Yesterday I painted a rose from my photo collection. 

"670 Carol's Challenge"
acrylic - 6x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/670-carols-challenge/405158

669 Falling In Love

I remember when the meaning of a yellow rose was "jealousy," but it seems as though the new meaning is of friendship and caring.  Specifically, a yellow rose with red-tipped petals means "friendship falling in love."  Who knows if all that is true.  My husband picked these out and they were beautiful.

This was painted for the Daily Paintworks Rose challenge.

"669 Falling In Love"
acrylic - 6x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/669-falling-in-love/404936

662 Blue Sky

I photographed these flowers, Thumbergia Grandiflora Blue Sky Vine, in Lebanon, although I have seen them in Florida.  They are a beautiful vine and en masse are breathtaking.  I seriously doubt they would survive in Milwaukee.

"662 Blue Sky"
acrylic - 8x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/662-blue-sky/403149

653 Frilly Lily

I saw this lily in Chicago, not your standard day lily, as it has more petal layers. 

"653 Frilly Lily"
acrylic - 7x5 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/653-frilly-lily/397450