Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Desert Clusters - American Women Artists Exhibit at the Tucson Desert Art Museum

Desert Clusters, 18 x 18, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2017
Under a Vast Sky
American Women Artists Annual Juried Exhibit
Tucson Desert Art Museum
Tucson, Arizona
Reception November 3, 5-8pm

This year, American Women Artists launched 25 in 25, a goal to secure twenty-five museum exhibitions in as many years. We are doing this because work by women artists makes up only 5% of permanent holdings of museums in America. Can you believe it's that low? Our group is determined to do something about this, and now has museum shows booked through 2020. This is the first show from this initiative and it's pretty exciting! Unfortunately, I am unable to make the reception this year, but I know it will be a beautiful show! If you are in or near Tucson this weekend, please stop by!

Click HERE to see show online.
For purchase inquiries, contact the Tucson Desert Art Museum.  
Exhibit is on display through December 3. 

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Chapel Solitude

Chapel Solitude, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

Painting at this little chapel on a quiet Sunday afternoon offered sweet solitude, yes... but also, the simple joy of putting brush to canvas. Every half hour, Carillon Bells rang out beloved church hymns, and a light salt breeze was in the air. Delicious sights, sounds and smells were all around! 

I did remember to take some process shots to use in my upcoming workshop which starts Friday (I always like to have fresh material for my handouts!) The images below show how I built the painting.


 Block in large shapes and values (ultramarine and burnt sienna)


 Mass-in Upright Planes (work dark to light)

Mass in Ground Plane and Sky Plane (cover canvas with simple shapes0

Break up Masses with subtle value and temperature shifts...
Add Highlights at the very end!

Monday, October 16, 2017

Seaworthy

Seaworthy, 16 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017
Available (click for purchase info)

This past weekend I made a quick trip down to St. Simons Island, and that almost always means some good painting time outside! It's fun to just start driving and see what inspires. Boats always catch my eye and sailboats have a special romance. Even though I don't even know how to sail, I sure do love the look of them! This one was docked and ready for a run... fortunately, it stayed put for the duration of my painting. :)

For those of you who have kindly inquired, ours and our family's homes were all spared any damage in Hurricane Irma. There was quite a bit of flooding on the island, and many trees were stripped and burned by the salt winds. The island was closed for almost a week, but I am happy to report that all is now calm. These storms are scary. 

Monday, October 9, 2017

Garden Cuttings - and a process demo

Garden Cuttings, 8 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017
SOLD

In a recent still life workshop, I promised some of my students that I would post a process demo to reinforce our sessions. It is so easy to be intimidated by a blank canvas, and I find that it really helps me to take a systematic look at my subject matter. First I look at the overall silhouette, then I study the darks and lights, and compare, compare, compare. How does the cast shadow compare to the form shadow? How does white in the shadow compare to black in the light? 

Below are shots showing my basic process of taking those observations from my eyes and head and getting them onto the canvas...
Rough sketch for placement and composition.
Using a mix of ultramarine blue and burnt sienna.

 Block-in of large masses, indicating a range of 3-5 values.
Still using the dark neutral mix of ultramarine and burnt sienna.

Mass in the dark family (including cast shadows and form shadows).
Maintain simple shapes and avoid detail at this stage.

Mass in the light family, keeping simple shapes and avoiding detail.
Break up large masses with subtle shifts in value (within value families).
Last - Add pop with spectral highlights and reinforced darks.

Friday, September 22, 2017

Circle of Lilies - Cancer Vaccine Fund Raiser

Circle of Lilies, 12x12, oil on gallery-wrapped canvas, L.Daniel©2017
AVAILABLE in an auction this weekend... and you can be a part!
SOLD

I am honored to join 70+ artists who created original artwork for the "Mandalas for Kristin" fundraiser at the Davis Gallery in Austin. Every dollar raised will go to the Peabody Fund: The Cancer Vaccine Project. Click HERE to learn more about this ground breaking cancer trial, and Kristin Peabody, the brave, young woman who inspired it. It's an amazing and compelling story. Circle of Lilies... painted with much love and many prayers.

"Mandalas for Kristin" Silent Auction
September 23, 2017, 6:30-9pm
Davis Gallery, Austin, TX


Provide name, email, phone number and your highest bid.
Minimum bid: $250 (market value $800).

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Shore Birds - Hurricane Harvey Fundraiser for Rockport Center for the Arts

Shore Birds, 8 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017
SOLD

You will be redirected to fundraiser check out page at Plein Air Austin.
Painting to be shipped at end of fundraiser, by October 15.

HURRICANE HARVEY FUNDRAISER 
FOR THE ROCKPORT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

On August 25th, Hurricane Harvey came ashore over the coastal town of Rockport. This thriving art community suffered a great loss when their Rockport Center for the Arts was devastated by high winds and rain. In response, Plein Air Austin reached out to Texas artists who have generously donated unframed artwork to raise $10,000 to help our neighbors rebuild. Each painting is $100 and 100% of your purchase will go directly to the center. Purchasers will receive a tax deductible receipt.

View all donated paintings HERE... take home some treasures as you lend a hand!

But friends, a picture is worth thousand words...
 The Rockport Center for the Arts BEFORE Hurricane Harvey...
 ... and AFTER...
Please join us as we help our friends on the coast...
And many thanks to Robin Cheers for her incredible organization of this event!

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Marsh Dock and the calm before the storm...

Marsh Dock, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017
SOLD

On Labor Day, I grabbed an opportunity to get out and paint on St. Simons Island. It was my last day before heading back to Texas after a wonderful family visit; and this peaceful marsh scene was calling my name. The color of the grasses and drifting clouds and the screeching birds were simply enticing! When a neighbor came by and asked for my card, I didn't think much of it (I give out a lot of cards). But she called me later that day and bought it! This doesn't happen very often and I was delighted! Thank you, TP!

Now, Hurricane Irma is projected to barrel right into this beautiful spot. My painting time was truly the calm before the storm. Everyone is scurrying to prepare, and many will evacuate. Hearts are anything but peaceful. This is a dangerous hurricane season... please add St. Simons Island and the Georgia coast (along with all those in Irma's path) to your prayers!

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Cottage View

Cottage View, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

I managed to get back to the Georgia coast for the grand finale of summer. I have had a couple of very full months, and it felt good to get back to the golden isles with my paintbrushes. This lovely view belongs to a woman who grew up not only on St. Simons Island, but on this very seafront property, which she recently inherited. It was a real treat to spend the day painting there, feeling the delicious sea breezes and listening to the constant sound of the surf. Many thanks, AB and RB, for your gracious hospitality!!!!

Fall workshops at The Contemporary Austin Art School are coming up! Please join me!
Still Life: Process and Studies, 9/29-30/2017 REGISTER HERE
Plein Air: Identifying Values, 10/20-21/2017 REGISTER HERE

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Antiques on the Corner

Antiques On The Corner, 10 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017
SOLD

Victorian Place Antiques in Brunswick, Georgia, sits at the intersection of Gloucester and MLK. I was drawn to this storefront by its charming angled entrance, and its architectural reminder of an era gone by. (I also loved the shady parkway that provided cool protection on a hot, steamy Georgia morning!) This building has been repurposed time and again for the various dreams of its ever changing owners. It is now full of beautiful antique treasures. If walls could speak, I am sure this place would tell many tales. 

Huge thanks to those of you who have checked in with concern about the flooding in Texas... I appreciate it so much! All is well with us, but please keep Houston and other flooded areas in your prayers! There has been much loss!


Thursday, August 24, 2017

Farmyard

Farmyard, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017
SOLD

This old barn is a remnant of an old ranch just outside of Austin. I love painting on this property because it's very close to home, but feels far away... kind of like taking a little vacation without having to travel. And, I always see something new, whether it is a new vista, or a new subject, or just a new angle on something. This is actually the place where I filmed my instructional video, "Outdoor Painting Basics" (only in the video, I am standing behind the barn painting the countryside, in the shade!) 

Here is a link to that video... available through Liliedahl Art Instruction Videos...

Monday, August 21, 2017

Summer Shadows (and fall workshops!)

Summer Shadows, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017
SOLD

I am finally back stateside, after a delightful visit in Italy with my new granddaughter and her family! I had a wonderful time and it was so hard to leave. Sigh!

Now that I am back, it seems like summer is coming to an end, school is starting, and all the year round activities are starting back up. (This summer went by a little too fast!) For me, it has been more than satisfying to get my brushes wet again and to be outside painting. This simple tree gesture was all I needed to get my creative juices flowing!  

Fall workshops at The Contemporary Austin Art School are coming up! Please join me!
Still Life: Process and Studies, 9/29-30/2017 REGISTER HERE
Plein Air: Identifying Values, 10/20-21/2017 REGISTER HERE

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Plein Air Show and Fall Workshops in Austin!

Sailor's Delight, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

Plein Air Austin Show - Corridor of Arts Gallery
Chase Bank Building, 700 Lavaca, Austin, TX
Through September 5, 2017

Plein Air Austin is having its annual show this summer, and I am pleased to have these four paintings on display with that exhibit. Please stop by and take a look if you are in downtown Austin! 

FALL WORKSHOPS: 
Registration is now open for my fall workshops at The Contemporary Austin Art School. Please follow the link below for more info and to register. I would love to see you!!!

Still Life: Process and Studies, 9/29-30/2017 REGISTER HERE
Plein Air: Identifying Values, 10/20-21/2017 REGISTER HERE


 Bright Spring Morning, 8 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

Rising Tidewaters, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

Hill Country Bell Tower, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Ready for Harvest - Radiant Group Show

Ready for Harvest, 18 x 36, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2017
Available at the Davis Gallery Radiant Show

This is the last of my pieces represented in the Davis Gallery summer group show. In case you missed an earlier post, the show is "focused on radial compositions, luminescent surfaces, circular shapes, and all things Radiant..." 

As I worked on each painting, a local farm scene from my plein air workshop kept screaming to be painted. This angle, with it's one point perspective, added another whole level to the radial design concept. In addition to the circular form of the flowers, the radiating design of their petals, the luminescent quality of their color... the rows of plants themselves create a radiating pattern as they disappear into the distance. 

Radiant. I love this theme. The show is up through August 19 at the Davis Gallery in Austin, Texas. For purchase inquiries, please contact Kevin Ivester, kevin@davisgalleryaustin.com.

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Tilting Faces - Radiant Group Show and process shots

 Tilting Faces, 18 x 18, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2017
SOLD

This is the third of four paintings that are on display in the Davis Gallery "Radiant" show. I have had several people ask for more details on the underpainting technique I used to achieve the glow in these paintings. SO... below are process shots of how I preserved the golden areas by laying in a stain of Indian Yellow. Unlike the cadmium family, this yellow is transparent and works well as an undertone without contaminating the layers above. (Cadmiums are opaque and tend to mix into and change subsequent layers, instead of glowing beneath them.) 

Below you can see how I went from my block in, straight to staining the "glow" areas. This allowed me to preserve those areas for later development AND provided a base tone that would glow through subsequent layers. 


Sketch and beginning of block in.


Block in with Indian Yellow applied to floral "glow" areas.
I painted the yellow in, then wiped it out leaving a stain behind.

Working dark to light, I return to the foliage... 
Darkest darks and highest contrast in foreground, muted and softer in background.

In the final stage, I add highlights to all the greenery and develop the flowers.

Perhaps the biggest development is how that front flower "tilted it's face" in these final marks. It's never too late to change things, and that was an important one. I thought it looked too rigid facing forward, so I used information from flowers behind it to change things up. I like the final gesture of that front sunflower so much better! It feels much more natural to me. :)

Personal GrandBaby Update: I am still in heaven with my daughter's family and their new baby girl, and so grateful for these days of bonding. Her name is Laurel Anne (she'll go by the double name), after me and her other grandma, whose middle name is Anne. What a great honor for us!


Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Urban Pinwheel - Radiant Group Show

Urban Pinwheel, 18 x 18, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2017
SOLD

I love that sunflowers come in many varieties. They are cultivated as a farm crop but they also make wild appearances along country roads and city highways. These untamed beauties were especially captivating to me, as they shimmered in juxtaposition to the hard lines of the cityscape in the distance. That contrast greatly enhanced the brilliance of the delicate flowers. 

One painting technique I used to depict "radiance" with these sunflowers, was to use an undertone in the brilliant areas. I did my block-in as usual, but before building up the values and color, I added passages of Indian Yellow where I wanted the color to pop later. Indian Yellow is transparent and can easily be used like a stain (if applied thinly and wiped out it's unobtrusive to subsequent layers.) I then continued to work from dark to light, as usual. That intense undertone not only saved the place of the brilliant areas, it helped to cast a radiant glow. (For purchase inquiries, please contact Kevin Ivester, kevin@davisgalleryaustin.com.)

Initial Sketch...

Block in with splash of Indian Yellow to mark the brilliant areas. 

Baby Watch Update: Our sweet baby granddaughter was born early Monday morning (on her due date), healthy and happy! What a great blessing and honor it is to be here, and to see this dear new life as she meets her family and the world for the first time! Her big brother is pretty taken with his new baby sister! Such JOY!!!!!

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Field of Orbs - Radiant Group Show

Field of Orbs
SOLD 

Radiant - A Group Show
Davis Gallery, Austin, TX
July 15 - August 19, 2017
Reception July 15, 7-9 pm

This weekend, Radiant opens at the Davis Gallery in Austin, TX. A description from the show curator says it best... "This group show is focused on radial compositions, luminescent surfaces, and all things Radiant. The goal of the exhibition is to invite our audience to explore the importance of form, composition, and tone, by studying how each piece fits into the show's parameters. Each artist created new work specifically for this exhibition, or carefully chosen work from the past, which uniquely recognizes the Radiant concept."

As I considered this challenge, sunflowers seemed like one of nature's perfect examples of radiating forms and luminosity. They became my personal focus (and obsession!) as I prepared for the show. I am pleased to have 4 pieces on display, and will post the others in the coming days and weeks. Please stop by the gallery to see the work if you are in town! For purchase inquiries, contact Kevin Ivester, kevin@davisgalleryaustin.com.

On a personal note, I will not be at the show reception, as I am off to Italy for the birth of my 3rd grandchild! Hard duty, I know! Grandma duty is the best! More on that as well! ;)

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Beach Day's End

Beach Day's End, 18 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2017
SOLD

As I was considering the final touches on this painting, I couldn't escape an urge to add some life to the scene. In order to capture the depth of the beach and the height of the sky, I needed a human reference for scale. Below is a shot without the people, just so you can see the before and after. I was hesitant - I wasn't going for a figurative painting, and what if I screwed it all up? But the painting kept demanding something more so I went for it. I am glad I did... Those people added just the right dynamic, focus, and most of all, that missing sense of scale. It's good to respond to inner nudges, even if there is a little fear involved. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

BEFORE

AFTER
Just a little bit of human reference shows how deep and wide the beach is.

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Evening Song

Evening Song, 30 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2017
SOLD

A few weeks ago I posted a study for this larger work that is now on it's way to the Anderson Fine Art Gallery on St. Simons Island in Georgia!! On occasion, my heart breaks with the beauty of the low country and it's dramatic skies. I can never get enough! As I took this piece larger, I didn't want to lose any of that drama, and that required staying committed to the dark passages. Below is an image of my block-in, where I laid those darks in pretty boldly. 

Evening Song Block In

You may be wondering about that little passage of yellow... Early on in the block in, I used Indian Yellow to lay in some of the light areas. Indian Yellow is transparent, and is a perfect "place holder" for passages that will be that color. The transparency allows it to save the yellow areas without contaminating the darks that need to surround it. I used it to hold the spots higher up in the sky as well, I just forgot to take another photo. Try to imagine! :)

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Sunflower Fields Aglow

Sunflower Fields Aglow, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017
SOLD

Sunflowers are such happy flowers, don't you think? I just finished a series of larger sunflower pieces for an upcoming group exhibit, and this backlit field of the giant stalks was a little study I did in preparation. I love their brilliant color and saucer-like forms. Painting them brought me great joy! (I kinda became obsessed!) 

Please stay tuned for the larger pieces and more information on that group show when it opens in July!

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Iron Gate and Revising a Painting

Iron Gate (Revised), 8 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2016
SOLD

Sometimes I feel the need to revise a painting. This inevitably happens when something is a bit "off" and it just keeps bugging me until I do something about it. Of course, my goal is to notice these things when I am in the process of making the piece, not days or weeks later. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes days or weeks to realize what is bothering me. This is one of those pieces, and I thought it might be interesting to talk about my process of making changes. 

Problems/Solutions in this piece:

1) Problem: The wall had an odd notch in it; and even though it was true to what I saw, it didn't make sense in the painting. 
Solution: Removed the wall notch!

2) Problem: The cypress trees were too dark and looked flat. 
Solution: Intensified highlights on trees. 

3) Problem: The foreground didn't lead "in" as much as I wanted it to. 
Solution: Added blue flowers in the foreground and popped highlights on gate and lamp. This brings the eye to entrance of painting.

Here is the "Before" and "After"

Reworking a painting: 
1) Wait till painting is dry. 
2) Wet the entire painting with linseed oil, then buff it off. This restores luster of dried pigment and allows fluidity for application of new paint. (If you use Liquin or some other medium, you would use that instead. Refined linseed is my only medium, so that works well for me.)
3) Mix the same colors that are in the painting and make changes area by area (test in small areas first.) 
4) For the wall: I mixed wall color and painted right over the dry trees behind to remove the notch. Then I added highlights to new portions of wall. 
5) For the cypress trees: I started with the original color of the tree and re-painted that base color. Then I modified the new wet layer with my highlight tone. 
6) Blue flowers and highlights: I mixed the colors and laid them in with a liner brush. Extra linseed oil makes the paint flow better from a liner brush. 
7) Newly painted areas will dry dull (oils "sink"). You will need to varnish or oil out the painting when it dries again. 

As an alla prima painter, I prefer working wet into wet. This approach allows me to modify  a dry painting without loosing that alla prima look. Often, just a few small changes make a big difference. I like this little painting so much more now! :)

Monday, June 12, 2017

Swirling Vines - with process shots

Swirling Vines, 12 x 16, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2017
Collection of the artist

The Georgia coastline and St. Simons Island are known for their huge Live Oak trees draped in Spanish Moss. I love them so much (and have since my first encounter), AND I find them very challenging to paint. There is just so much going on... this one was especially complicated, with tangled vines wrapped all around its multiple trunks. 

Below is a photo of the scene and some process shots. You can see that I simplified the background quite a bit, a necessary sacrifice in order for the tree to emerge. One thing I have learned along the way is that you can't have it all! ;) (That is true for a lot of things, isn't it?)

Setting the scene... the tangled tree in a grove of Live Oaks.

In my initial sketch, I tried to establish the movement of the vines.

As the painting progressed, details came and went... and came back again!

When the light peeked through, I popped in highlights and final marks.
That moss? I dragged it in at the very end.