A Place in the Shade - Figures on Friday

A Place in the Sun, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2023

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It's summertime, and I have to say, this guy has it figured out. There is nothing quite like a patch of shade at the beach on a sunny day. As for inspiration? I loved the sky, I loved the dune, I loved the guy, I loved it all! :) 

HAPPIEST SUMMER! 

Other available "figures" from Fridays past... (click on title)

Saturday's Schemes, 6x8, oil

Dog Walker, 8x6, oil

Waiting

Waiting, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2023

Click to purchase - $150 + $15 s/h

Oh, how I love these birds! They stalk the marsh and beach, just waiting for breakfast. Standing ever so still, they "hide" in plain sight... but when a morsel of food swims by, they are quick to pounce. Mesmerizing!

2023 SPRING WORKSHOPS (click HERE for info and registration):
April 14-15 - Contemporary Austin Art School, Austin, TX (Wait list only)
May 4-6 - Anderson Fine Art Gallery in St. Simons Island, GA

Saturday Schemes - Figures on Friday!

Saturday Schemes, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2023

Click to purchase - $150 + $15 s/h

I happened upon these two young guys down at Lost Creek in Austin (I mean, isn't that name just fuel for the imagination?) I was painting further up the creek while they had taken up this spot under the bridge... clearly making plans for their afternoon. Oh, the joy of that fabulous young freedom! "The world is our oyster", "we can do anything"... those feelings were so evident and compelling. I took a quick snap on my phone and kept going. Plans like these are not to be disturbed! ;)

Here is how the piece started out...

Block-In

Finished piece

Since the background was so dark, I toned the canvas to bring the value to a more workable starting point. Also, you can see where I had to make some corrections in my drawing. I originally made the torsos too short. Note to self: Check and double check dimensions after the block in, and make adjustments before moving forward. 

2023 SPRING WORKSHOPS (click HERE for info and registration):
April 14-15 - The Contemporary Austin Art School in Austin, TX (Wait list only)
May 4-6 - Anderson Fine Art Gallery in St. Simons Island, GA

Going Fishing - Figures on Friday

Going Fishing, 8 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2022

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Figures on Friday is BACK! I had so much fun with these at the end of 2021, that I have decided to keep doing them. They train my eyes and hands in new ways! AND, they make me happy! :)

This little guy was up early and ready to get going! Can't you just imagine that he was dreaming of "the big one" as he looked out on that cool, bright morning? I hope he always has that determination and excitement... that's what keep us going! 

Pure Joy and Figures on Friday #1

Pure Joy, 6x8, oil on panel, L.Daniel © 2021

NFS

I am starting a new series called "Figures On Friday" and I would love for you to follow along! 

The idea is to force myself to practice adding figures into the landscape. And practice is the key word - always a requirement if I want to see growth. Why am I making a series out of it?? Well, it's my way of holding myself accountable. This weekly goal (one post a week) will help keep me on track with my larger desire for improvement in this area. Wish me luck, friends!

This first one depicts my dear nephew when he was a child, and his trademark exuberance! 

Join me at my last workshop of the year! Register with Mary Anderson 912-634-8414, Or click below for info:

Autumn En Plein Air, Nov 4-6, 2021, 9am - 4pm, $495

St. Simons Island, GA, Anderson Fine Art Gallery

Growing Wild - Fix-It Friday #10

Growing Wild, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2020

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Friends, thank you for being there for me to reach out to! These have been strange times, and my weekly "fix" has become a stabilizing force for me. Assignments I give myself, like sharing this weekly makeover, provide new rhythms in the sea of days/weeks/months. Meanwhile, I continue to work on larger works for a later reveal. It's funny how important the patterns of life are, don't you think?

Today's do-over...

 BEFORE

AFTER

CHANGES:

Problem 1 - The distant plane (background) was not receding properly. 

Fix 1 - Muted the distant tree line and added cooler highlights.

Fix 2 - Muted and darkened the distant grasses which eliminated contrast and tightened values.

Fix 3 - Added richer greens in the foreground leaves and grasses. 

Fixes 1-2 make the distant plane recede. Fix 3 brings the front plane forward.

Problem 2 - The foreground and background seemed detached from each other.

Fix 1 - Added tree in middle ground layer to connect the foreground and background.

Fix 2 - Also added the tree to provide an important scale reference for both the distant trees AND the foreground flowers. 

OBSERVATIONS:

Constantly comparing elements in a painting is so important for creating a sense of depth. Issues of temperature (cool recedes, warm advances) and scale (closer-bigger, farther-smaller) make all the difference. Accurate and consistent comparisons allow everything to settle down and make sense. 

Click Here to see Fix It Friday #1

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #2 

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #3

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #4

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #5

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #6

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #7

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #8

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #9

Bluebonnet Trail - Fix It Friday #8

Bluebonnet Trail, 6 x 8, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2020

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Can it really be Friday again? Are you like me, becoming more and more confused about what day and month it is? Yikes! The corona-calendar is beginning to blurrrrrr... Today's fix it takes place in the blooming fields of Texas in the spring time. Let's go there! :)

BEFORE

AFTER

CHANGES:

Problem 1 - Composition! The focal point is poorly placed on the edge of the canvas. All the lines lead to that focal point and the eye keeps on going, right out of the canvas.

Fix 1 - Moved tree focal point away from the edge of the painting.

Fix 2 - Redirected trail... better use of perspective to let the eye "amble in" and around in the painting.

Problem 2 - Background and foreground fought for attention.

Fix 1 - Established a better defined focal point with new trees in middle ground.

Fix 2 - Muted color and softened contrast of distant tree line to push it back.

Fix 3 - Softened contrast of bluebonnets to let the eye move past them. 

OBSERVATIONS:

One composition rule says that when two design elements touch, the best practice is to either overlap them or pull them apart. Otherwise, this tangent creates visual tension. In this case, the two design elements were the tree mass focal point and the edge of the canvas (yes, the four edges of the canvas must always be considered in the overall composition.) Moving the focal point immediately released that tension. The rest of the changes were just gravy. 

This is ANOTHER reminder to give myself permission to move things around. Copying a scene tree for tree, and plant for plant does not always make the most pleasing composition. Rearranging the elements allowed this painting to flow in a much more natural, easy way.

Click Here to see Fix It Friday #1

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #2 

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #3

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #4

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #5

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #6

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #7

Fix It Friday #5 - Spring Wildflowers

Spring Wildflowers, 6 x 8, Oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2020

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It's spring in central Texas, and the wildflowers abound! Sadly, we are all staying inside and are not getting to see much of the glorious display. Today, I am showing a small painting that started out in the field, and got changed (A LOT) in the studio several years later. 

Meanwhile, I hope you are all managing in this crisis. It's hard. I'm trying to stay focused with my studio work, but...finding a new rhythm is challenging! Wishing you great clarity and productivity in these days... 

BEFORE

AFTER

CHANGES:
Problem 1 - Small shrub overpowers the wildflowers.
Fix 1 - Removed Shrub.
Fix 2 - Made flowers more dominant (and changed them).

Problem 2 - Muted sky feels dull.
Fix 1 - Dragged a pop of color into sky to liven it up. 

OBSERVATIONS:
When I painted the original, it seemed important to include the shrub to fill out the scene. Later, I could see that it dominated, but wasn't very interesting. Then I removed it, well... turns out, the flowers were not quite "enough" to carry the scene either (I guess that was why I included the shrub in the first place.) I realized that I needed the focal element to become more important and to pop above the horizon line. That is when the flowers just evolved into a whole new variety! 

Sometimes the fix needs a fix! ;)

Click Here to see Fix It Friday #1

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #2 

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #3

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #4

Fix It Friday #4 - Dune Shadows

Dune Shadows,6 x 8, Oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2020

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I spend a lot of time on the Georgia coast and walking the beach is my favorite way to start the day. I love all of its sights and smells and sounds; and the peacefulness it offers is a daily gift. This week I heard this beach is closed! I guess it had to be done because people tend to congregate there (especially at spring break), but wow. So sad.

Since I can't be there... here is ANOTHER beach scene makeover for today's Fix-It Friday. This little plein air piece had some of the same issues as my last post!!! Hmmmmm... a recurring problem... this is a good thing to learn about myself! 

 BEFORE

 AFTER

CHANGES:

Problem 1 - Another stagnant horizon line. 

Fix 1 - Raised up the foreground grasses to break through the horizon line. 

Fix 2 - Added some activity in the sky to break up horizontal bands. 

Fix 3 - Varied water line on shore to break up horizontal bands.

Problem 2 - Focal point is off the page.

See how the line of grasses and the horizon line make a racetrack to the far right corner? They take the viewer right off the page because there is no other clear focal point. 

Fix 1 - Enlarged and enhanced the first clump of grasses, making it the focal point.

Fix 2 - Enhanced sky activity to pull the eye back in.

OBSERVATIONS:

The first problem reminds me that even if the actual subject doesn't have what I need, I can change things. There are almost always examples of what I need all around - grasses farther up on the dunes, a wisp of clouds that can be enhanced. Use everything. Even memories. 

The second problem was compositional. In this case, a little manipulation helped. The taller grasses help to keep the viewer traveling around the scene. NOW, the eye sees the large grasses first, travels up the leaning grasses, jumps to the clouds, and comes BACK to the large grasses along the dune line. (The goal is to keep the viewer in the picture as long as possible!)

Biggest take-away??? Apparently I like painting dune grasses at the beach. AND, making the same mistakes. Maybe, just maybe, I should remember these lessons and approach this subject differently next time I am outside painting it. How much better to get it right the first time!! ;)

Click Here to see Fix It Friday #1

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #2 

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #3

Fix It Friday #3 - Beach Study

Beach Study, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2020

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I hope this post finds you well. It has been a crazy week all over the country, as we have watched institutions shut down and events get canceled. I've had to cancel my own upcoming workshops, which makes me so sad. It's a nerve-wracking time for us all.

So... let's have some fun with paint on "Fix It Friday"... 

FIXER UPPER #3 - Beach Study, 6 x 8, oil on panel

BEFORE

AFTER

CHANGES:

Problem 1 - Stagnant horizon line.

Fix 1 - Extended the grasses up over the horizon, made focal point more pronounced. 

Fix 2 - Added birds at horizon for movement and to draw eye into the picture plane.

Problem 2 - Foreground is cramped.

Fix 1 - Eliminated shadow and grasses in corner which opens up entry to beach.

Fix 2 - Kept part of the shadow lead in, but muted way down.

Problem 3 - Overall coolness in color.

Fix 1 - Warmed up sandy foreground.

Fix 2 - Warmed up clouds.

OBSERVATION:

It's always a good idea to let one element dominate. In this case the big clump of sea grasses are the main "event", but they were diminished in the first version. Giving them a larger presence and popping them above the horizon allows them to have the attention they are due.

Click Here to see Fix It Friday #1
Click Here to see Fix it Friday #2 

FIX IT FRIDAY! Fixing flawed paintings...

Beach Promises, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2020

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INTRODUCING MY NEW SERIES... FIX IT FRIDAY! 

Sometimes, a painting just doesn't work. Usually, I chalk that failure up to practice, and just move on. But some of those "bloopers" have captured something. They cry out for a DO-OVER, and just need some minor editing to make them "work". With a little bit of TLC, they transform and offer up lessons about color, value, or composition. Of course, the goal is always to get it right the first time; but this process helps me identify where and how I lose the plot. (It's also a great warm up activity!)

Read on, and tune in for the next few Fix-It Fridays when I will show my experiments with Do-Overs, including before and after shots and a brief explanation of changes I made. 

Fixer Upper #1 - Beach Promises, 6 x 8, oil on panel

BEFORE

AFTER

CHANGES:

Problem 1 - Corridor to beach is too wide and exposed.

Fix 1 - Made opening more irregular, and enhanced dominance on left side. 

Problem 2 - Foliage is skimpy.

Fix 2 - Enhanced all foliage, keeping left side dominant.

OBSERVATION:
When I painted the original piece on location, I let myself get too stuck to what was actually there (skimpy foliage and all). As painters, we want to be free to exaggerate the "feeling" of the scene and adjust reality as needed. I hope I remember this lesson next time I need to change up the scene a little bit! ;)
__________________________________

2020 PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

SEE DETAILS ON MY WEBSITE: laureldaniel.com 

March 30-April 2, 2020 - Wimberley, Texas

April 16-18, 2020 - St. Simons Island, Georgia

May 8-9, 2020 - Austin, Texas (full with wait list)

Plantation Lawn - demo notes!

Plantation Lawn, 6 x 8, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2019

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Plantation Lawn is a demo from my spring workshop in St. Simons Island, GA. We were painting at the historical Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation (we always go to wonderful places and have a great time! Just sayin'...) If you are thinking about putting a workshop on your Christmas list, I would love to have you come to one of mine! For full details and contact info, please visit my website. Here are the dates and locations... 

2020 PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

March 30-April 2, 2020 - Wimberley, Texas

April 16-18, 2020 - St. Simons Island, Georgia

May 8-9, 2020 - Austin, Texas

DETAILS ON MY WEBSITE: laureldaniel.com 

And here is a snippet of the day. I often start with a paint along demo, where students follow the same steps as me. It helps to step through the whole process together, and the "see and do" aspect reinforces muscle memory (for both brain and hand...

Getting started - Compose with lines and shapes that will direct eye flow. Create an "envelope" to contain shapes (sometimes they want to grow).

Block-in value patterns of large shapes. Mass-in Upright planes in the shadow family.

 Mass-in Upright planes in the light family.

Mass-in ground plane and sky plane.

Finishing - Finesse edges and add final highlights at the very end.

Texas Landscape - Workshop Value Study Demo

Texas Landscape, 6 x 8, oil, L. Daniel © 2018

Value Study Demo for Wimberley Artist Workshops

Last week, I had the privilege of teaching a group of fabulous painters in Wimberley, Texas. This was a four-day workshop with the Wimberley Artists Workshops, and it was an all-inclusive, total immersion set up. It's a such great way to go... beautiful accommodations at the Creekhaven Inn, with  all meals taken care of... we were completely free to just paint and learn!

We started out the first day with a value study in the morning, and then painted the same thing in color after lunch. It was a great exercise, until the winds picked up in the afternoon... all but two of our easels blew over, and it was a bit of a battle. But no one gave up!! And that is the risk of plein air, right? You never know what is going happen! 

The value study was designed to help students learn about atmospheric perspective... to see how values diffuse in the distance, and to learn to incorporate that change to give depth to their paintings. We started out mixing a range of grays... 

5 mixed values plus white and black

(We mixed a rich black with ultramarine and burnt sienna.)

First came a sketch of the scene.

I looked for layers going into the distance.

Next came the grays... 

 Working dark to light...

The sky (where the lightest lights are) comes last.

In the finished value study...

Notice how each plane lightens and softens as it gets farther away.

The foreground has darkest darks and greatest contrast.

In the distance, values come together and contrast goes away.

Below are pictures of my students, hard at work! 

Many thanks to all, especially to Judy and Jocelyn for sharing your photos!

Farmyard

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

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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...

Outdoor Painting Basics