600 Learning to Fly

I am excited and proud that this is my 600th daily painting in two years with Daily Paintworks.  I never imagined how rewarding this experience woud be, but I have enjoyed every minute of it, meeting new DPW artists along the way, and certainly learning a lot I didn't know about painting.
Oh happy day!

As you may know from previous reports, my neighbors and I are all hooting with joy over the Great Horned Owl family in a nearby willow tree.  I can't seem to get enough of this experience, so there was no question as to what my 600th subject would be.  We have been watching this family grow since January, now with two babies.  I took the photo of this owlet on the day when we first saw the chicks moving about the branches, spreading their wings for balance, and maybe even flying a little.  To see these beautiful creatures with their Mama is such an awesome experience---she never takes her eyes off of them, each day giving them more independence, all with a motherly nurturing we share.  She calls them to come for breakfast and dinner and it reminds the human mother observers of the days when we called our little ones down to eat, only we weren't serving rabbits.  Tonight's crowd of owl-groupies neared 20 people, and all agree it will be very sad to see them move on, although we know that's the way it works.  "hoo ooo, ca CHOO"

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/600-learning-to-fly/371230

597 View of Lake Michigan From the Harvey's

I've been working on sea/skyscapes for the last several months as inspired by Roos Rose Schuring.  I just love her work, which is so free and seemingly so simple, but really so very difficult to achieve.  I am not trained in oil paints, so I am learning that too.  The photo reference was taken in the early evening on the shore of Lake Michigan.  I cropped out my garden club friends (shhhh...don't tell).

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/597-view-of-lake-michigan-from-the-harveys/370444

593 Great Horned Owlet

I have so much on my mind today.  I painted up a storm, but this is what I am most proud of.  As mentioned before, we have a Great Horned Owl family with two babies in our neighborhood, and I can't visit them enough.  I am learning so much about these magnificent creatures and have such a respect for Mother Nature.  We live in a fairly urban area with houses very close together not far from Lake Michigan, but we have more than our share of wildlife.  On Easter Sunday, we had two giant turkeys in our front yard.  We have had coyotes visit as well as deer.  (That combination did not go well.)  Last year, we had baby racoons on our patio. But the owls....they have captured the hearts of many, including mine.  We are waiting for them to fledge, which will be a huge community event.  We are hoping they hang around the neighborhood to keep the rabbit population down. 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/593-great-horned-owlet/369281

201 Open Arms

Although I loved the ocean and the marshes, I was most fascinated by the Southern Live Oak trees while in South Carolina on my painting trip.  I love the twists and turns of the branches, and the tree's invitation to sit and picnic or rest.  The Spanish moss hanging from the branches gives a somewhat eerie feeling.  Although there are no leaves on my tree, this tree has leaves year round, as those that fall off are replenished.  I am sure this will not be the last of my Live Oak tree paintings.