630 Center Gap Lighthouse, Milwaukee

I find the mostly blue sky/seascapes to be very difficult to paint.  Maybe one day there will be a painting with a sailboat in it.  I have to figure out a way to make it interesting.

626 Lake Sinisippi

My friend Dawn posts the most beautiful pictures of sky/seascapes of Lake Sinisippi on Facebook and gave me permission to paint them.  Each one is more beautiful than the previous.  Dawn is also an artist, and she should be painting these beautiful scenes herself (ahem!).

Here's what I've learned:  The more beautiful and colorful the scene is, the more difficult it is to paint, at least for ME!  I would much rather paint a grey day seascape than a total blue sky/blue water sort of painting.  As an example, my neighbor friend sent me such a beautiful untouched picture of an exquisite sea/skyscape, complete with subtle pinks, purples, corals and blue.  I felt I had to paint it and yet, I've struggled for 3 days and who knows how many pounds of paint to get it right, which isn't happening.  I photographed it and was ready to post, but that inner voice said "May as well have painted a clown.  Don't do it."   Lake Sinisippi trumps Pine Lake today.

615 On the Road

I first fell in love with the beauty of clouds and skies in New Mexico several years ago, which is where this reference photo was taken.  The skyscapes are amazingly beautiful, perhaps enhanced by the open roads and the colorful landscape.  I didn't paint them then, but took many pictures for my collection, and have studied them intensely since.  They are more difficult to paint than I had thought.  This is another attempt at oils, and it took 3 days to get it where I am marginally happy.  

"615 On the Road"
oil - 6x6 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/615-on-the-road/385674

582 Lake Michigan at Beach Drive

When we first moved to the Milwaukee area, people talked about the "witch" on Beach Drive, which is located on a dead end drive on Lake Michigan.  The "witch of Fox Point," Mary Nohl created wonderful works of art, animals, people, dinosaurs, etc. out of cement.  She would haul buckets of water from the Lake, and people assumed she was strange, weird, witch-like.  Now that she has passed, there has been a movement to make her home a museum, but the neighborhood is resentful and doesn't want the traffic that goes with a museum on a dead end road near the lake. She has finally gained her notoriety and the respect she deserved as an artist.   I took a ride there the other day, where you drive so very close to the lake.  It was a beautiful day and brought back many memories of driving with my frightened children, who bought into the whole witch idea as children. 

580 Atlantic Ocean at Plymouth

My enthusiasm for learning to paint sky/seascapes was rejuvenated after re-watching Roos Schuring's videos from Holland, and after a very nice e-conversation with admired artist, Donna Shiver, who gave me good advice for painting this subject.  I figured I should capitalize on the moment and give the oil paints another try.

I am relatively happy with this painting attempt, except for the glare, and am baffled as to how to photograph a wet painting. 

577 Plymouth Beach, MA

I am enjoying this learning process of repeatedly painting skies and sea with a very limited palette; especially challenging are the grey tones.  With warm weather flirting with us, I am hoping to paint at the Lake in the near future. 

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/577-plymouth-beach-ma/364417

576 Back Road, Plymouth, MA

Another scene from my recent trip to New England.  It is so beautiful there, even on a grey day.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/576-back-road-plymouth-ma/364088

561 Lake Fanny Hoe2

This is the oil painting I mentioned yesterday.  I am using water soluble oil paints so that I don't have to mess with the chemicals.  I am untrained with this medium so I have a very steep learning curve ahead of me.  I am proud of the patience I had with this painting.  I didn't rush and I enjoyed every stroke and learning how the paint works.  I have much to learn, including how to photograph a wet painting to avoid the glare.  I am out of my comfort zone, but eager to learn.  Suggestions are always welcome.

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/561-lake-fanny-hoe2/337531

p.s.  Just realized I forgot to sign this!

509 Snow on the Rooftob, better

I was not satisfied with the sky in yesterday's painting, nor were the colors adequately represented in the photograph.  Here is the modified version.

509 Snow on the Rooftop

On this past Friday in Chicago, the sky was on fire, and it was SO beautiful.  Unfortunately, I was driving, so I couldn't photograph it.  The reference photo reminded me of it.

Sunsets are beautiful to watch, but I think very difficult to paint.  You just can't improve on something so beautiful.  Our family recently spent several days on Captiva, Florida, where the sunsets are magnificent.  People line the beaches just to see each evening's performance.  It is reported that some see a bright green speck just before the sun sets, but unfortunately we did not see it.


http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/501-captiva-sunset/290524

215 Silence at Dusk

202 Stand Alone

The minute I saw this tree, I knew I had to paint it.  It was difficult to isolate it as it was a part of a clump of other less interesting trees that lined the beach of our rented home on Hilton Head.  I love the shape of it and I know I will have to paint it again.

151 Evening on Wisconsin River

Mazomanie, Wisconsin

150 Sunset Over Village

Still working on these darn clouds.  I'm losing patience, and patience is my strong suit.

148 On the Road Again

Still working on clouds.  Maybe I'll revisit the two pink cloud disasters this week, and will hope for a miracle.

This is somewhere in New Mexico, where the skies are beautiful everywhere.

147 Big Top Under Blue

For many years, families camped out days in advance in downtown Milwaukee to reserve seats for the Great Circus Parade.  Antique circus wagons, animals, a ferris wheel, merry-go-round, and clowns--Ernest Borgnine being the most notable, all traveled from Circus World in Baraboo, Wisconsin to entertain children and adults at our lakefront's Veteran's Park for days leading up to the parade.    On a beautiful July day, I visited the park, and felt 12 years old again.

Unfortunately, funding for the Great Circus Parade has dwindled, so what was an every-year occurrence, is much less frequent.

146 Big Brother is Watching You

I didn't realize it until I was painting this scene that there is a camera posted on the traffic lights.  Coincidentally, in today's paper, there is news that there will be 50 new speed cameras installed by year end in Chicago near schools and parks.  Watch your speed!