Freezing floating ideas

Daisy Dias-Abeyesinghe Campbell's book of paintings 'Images by Daisy' published in Singapore was launched recently in Kandy. There are 102 paintings, pencil and pen sketches, collages and oil paintings. The first painting in the book is of 'Belvedere', her beautiful house overlooking the Mahaweli. "This book covers much of the work in Daisy's possession at the time of printing plus a few from nearby collectors," says Bill, her husband.

Her home is a mini art gallery with her works of art hung on almost all the walls. A gracious hostess, she entertains her friends and relatives in these beautiful surroundings."I love owls," states Daisy seeing my eyes dart from one owl to another on the walls, in paintings, ornaments or cushions.

Daisy started school at Ladies College, which has been the choice of her family over four generations. Her musical talents were recognized at the tender age of six, when she began learning the piano and she went on to pursue her studies in music upto the LTCL diploma. "I taught music in the United States from 1954 to 1957 and played the organ at St. Martin's Church in Davis, California when the regular organist was not available," she recalls.

Widely travelled, particularly in South East Asia, she has a wealth of experience to draw upon to create her paintings. In 1970, she married Bill Campbell and they lived in South-East Asia for 20 years before returning to the idyllic location in Peradeniya to enjoy their retired life in peace and tranquillity. "We love to entertain our friends," says Daisy. A very good cook, she is adept at preparing delicious dishes of Eastern and Western cuisine. "I always like to be surrounded by friends," says this gracious hostess.

A voracious reader, she enjoys a quiet hour with her books. "I enjoy my music and play the classical guitar, which I learned from an American graduate in Singapore," she enthused. During her stay in Malaysia, she also studied the art of copper tooling and was taught free weaving by a Dutch friend in Jakarta.

"I lived in a Sultan's Palace in Malaysia and was invited to the Sultan's younger son's wedding in 1979 and for the opening ceremony of a new palace in Shah Alam, Selangor, in 1977," she recalls. She has painted beautiful pictures of landscapes, buildings and people at work in all the countries she has visited.

Multi-talented Daisy is an expert in photography. "I had a box camera as a kid and I took pictures of tea estates, trees and clouds when I visited Nuwara Eliya," she smiles. Her photographic abilities are amply displayed by the many pictures in her albums. Some of her paintings are from her photographs. Kodak (Singapore) in the late '70s awarded her the Kodak Seal of appreciation for her portrait of a boy named Guillaume from Brittany. The Kodak citation states: "Our congratulations for an outstanding photograph!"

Daisy had no formal training in art but her inborn talent has helped her create works that capture the attention of the viewer. "I get ideas which float in my mind and I paint them," she smiles. "At times these ideas are there in my mind for a long time and when the mood is right, I start to paint." Daisy uses a variety of media and exploits colour to the fullest in her work. An animal lover, once Daisy had a donkey named Gretel bought from a gypsy in Katugastota. When Gretel died she was heartbroken. So she made a painting in Gretel's memory.

"My art is solely for my pleasure and it gives me great satisfaction. All that I have achieved would not have been possible if not for my wonderful husband Bill who has always stood by me and supported me in everything I did. He gave me encouragement to develop my field of creative art and photography," she says.

A very modest Bill quips that it is not only his encouragement but her creative ability that has helped her to achieve all this. Her paintings are in many homes, business houses and some hotels the world over. Of the book, she explains, 'Images by Daisy' was published for two reasons: to make it a 'showcase' of her work and to enable each one to be seen and enjoyed individually. The book is not for sale but has been presented to friends and relatives. Half the production was sent to friends in Singapore."If I am faced with problems and confrontations which I feel I cannot handle, I just walk away from them. I don't like to be hurt nor to hurt anyone else. I am very happy and cannot ask for more," says this very contented artist.