Hidden Egret

Hidden Egret, 8 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2023

Click to purchase $200 + s/h

I know this Egret thinks she is blending in as she stalks her prey in the marsh grasses, "hiding in plain sight" so to speak. And I do believe that she can stand still enough, for long enough, to catch a little breakfast. Of course for us, her showy white feathers give her away completely. These beautiful white birds are total head turners. They get me every time.

If you like Egrets, here is another...

Waiting, 6x8, oil, L. Daniel © 2023

Click to purchase - $150 + s/h

Evening Silhouettes and Process Shots!

Evening Silhouettes Study, 8x8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2023

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Wishing you all the happiest Easter. He is Risen! He is risen indeed! 

Here are process shots of this piece. It's always fun to see how they come together, and this one had a little bit different start. 

Paper towel wipe out to establish shapes and get rid of the white canvas.

Outlined the silhouette before going in heavy. 

Painted silhouette and orange base for sky.

Pulled dying sky color down into the orange base, defined shapes.

Modified sky and added distant horizon. Popped the lights in attempt to capture the glory of the sky. Always trying... 

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Just for fun... here is a large one I did from the "study". The darks gave me fits with photographing, but I thought you might be interested in changes from small to large. I took out the side tree and moved the sun (it felt trapped in the branches on the small one.) And I kept more of the orange. I kind of love this one, and am keeping it... sometimes a girl wants one for herself! ;)  

Evening Silhouettes, 24x24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel ©2023

Painted from the small study above. 

A Good Day

A Good Day, 8 x 8, Oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2023

Click to purchase $200 + $20 s/h

Some days are just GOOD. And I am so grateful for those days! A friend of mine recently reminded me how easy it is to miss that goodness. Maybe it's because life is full of challenges and maybe we just aren't paying close enough attention. It can take intentionality to find the good, but it is SUCH a better perspective when we do! Thank you for the reminder, SS!

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

Radiant Light Study, and Small Works Holiday Sale!

Radiant Light Study, 8 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2022

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SMALL WORKS HOLIDAY SALE!

Unframed small studies and demos.

Use Discount code MERRY2022 for 20% discount at check out. 

Free shipping to 48 contiguous US states.

Sale through December 15th only!

These small paintings make perfect Christmas gifts for art loving family and friends (and maybe you'll find a little something for YOU!) 

Over 25 little treasures... 5x7's, 6x8's, 8x8's, and 8x10's.

Click HERE to see them all on my website!

 

Sand Castles - Figures on Friday!

 

Sand Castles, 8 x 8, Oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2022

Gifted! 

I have so much respect for portrait artists. Capturing someone's unique personality and one of a kind facial expressions is HARD! This "quick" little study of my niece became a multiple day challenge for me. I could not get her face right and had to keep wiping out her entire head to begin it again. It took WAY more time than I expected, but I am finally happy with it. Whew!

Oil Painter Friends, here is a take away tip:

If you run into a problem area like this one while painting... Resist the urge to keep adding more and more paint on top of the problem. Stop. Admit defeat. Deep breath. THEN... Scrub out the small section that you are "fixing", wiping it completely down to the canvas. (Completely.) I use a paper towel carefully wrapped around my finger to tackle the specific area. When area is clean, rebuild the passage from the ground up. Start with the dark neutral underdrawing and re-sketch, then build the color from dark to light. Highlights last. You might have to do it more than once, like me, but you'll be surprised how well it works!

Lion Planter (study)

Lion Planter (study), 8 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel

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This lion fountain at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel completely captured my imagination... They just don't make things with such care and detail any more! Here's what I found out about the meaning of lions in architecture... they depict nobility, power, valor, bravery and prosperity... well, no wonder they wanted this guy!!! Now the fountain is a planter full of beautifully delicate geraniums, and the lion is still there, keeping watch as his garden grows. 

This is a study for a larger painting finished this week... I loved the lion so much, I had to do him again! Sometimes that happens! ;)

Palm Tree Promenade - painting in Laguna Beach!

Palm Tree Promenade, 8 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

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This parklike setting overlooks the ocean in Laguna Beach, and has a constant breeze off the water. It was particularly stunning when the sun came out and made everything sparkle! 

A few of you have asked what took me to California... well, lucky girl that I am, I was invited along to an annual conference with my husband. This was our 5th year and it's always fabulous! He did have meetings, but don't worry that he missed out. His afternoons included wonderful golfing opportunities, which he very much enjoyed! Everyone got to do what they wanted! :)

2019 PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

Nov. 8-9, 2019 - Austin, Texas

Contemporary Austin Art School, FULL - Register for waitlist here 

2020 PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

March 30-April 2, 2020 - Wimberley, Texas

Contact Helena Hauk, Wimberley Artists Workshops, 800-327-1913

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

Contact Mary Anderson, Anderson Fine Art Gallery, 912-634-8414 

Bunched - Loquat study with Process Shots!

Bunched, 8 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

Available at the Davis Gallery Group Show

Circadian Buzz (through August 31)

One of the focuses of the Davis Gallery group show, Circadian Buzz, was to consider how our daily practices fall into certain rhythms. I am an artist who thrives on disciplined patterns. I paint exclusively in the daylight hours, and sleep at night (call me crazy). I stick to a limited palette to keep things simple (only 9 pigments). I work best when I have goals (for the day, for the week, for the month, and for the year). When it comes to painting it's all an experiment, but I find freedom in a consistent approach and the cadence that brings.

The most important daily practice for any artist is to PRACTICE! For me, much of that practice takes place in the form of studies, both in the studio and outside, en plein air. These studies help me study a subject from different perspectives and experiment with composition. The process shots below were taken in as I painted "Bunched" in my back yard garden this spring.

1) I blocked in the composition and basic values,

using a combination of ultramarine and burnt sienna.

2) Working dark to light, I painted the shadow 

family of each element first.

3) Moving to the light family, I was

careful to preserve the values.

4) As I covered the canvas, my focus was on 

establishing large, simple masses.

5) Final steps include breaking up the large masses. 

I use subtle value shifts to add detail 

and save highlights till the very end.

"Bunched" en plein air at completion.

Lemon-Lime Elixir - Twenty-four of 30 in 30

Lemon-Lime Elixir, 8 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

#24 in 30 Day Challenge

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My workshop ended today and I want to send out a big thank you to all my wonderful students. We had a great time and painted our hearts out. After everyone left, I hung out in the studio and painted this set up before packing up. I had been painting it all day in my head (no demo today) and I DID need #24 for the challenge, so it was a perfect arrangement! 

Please join me for these upcoming Workshops:

March 26-29, 2015 | Plein Air | Click here to register: Austin, Texas

April 30-May 2, 2015 | Plein Air | Click here to register: St. Simons Island, GA

Strawberries and Cream - Twenty-three of 30 in 30

Strawberries and Cream, 8 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

#23 in 30 Day Challenge

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This is my demo from my still life class today, and it was a fun subject to paint. I particularly enjoyed the simple palette of the set up, and the small hint of detail on the bowl. Unfortunately, I did not get process shots to share. 

Please join me for these upcoming Workshops:

March 26-29, 2015 | Plein Air | Click here to register: Austin, Texas

April 30-May 2, 2015 | Plein Air | Click here to register: St. Simons Island, GA

Leaning Calla Lilies - Nineteen of 30 in 30

Leaning Calla Lilies, 8 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

#19 in 30 Day Challenge

Click to purchase $175 + $16 s/h

Back in the 80's and 90's, we lived in Northern California and had Calla Lilies growing crazily in our backyard. They multiply themselves underground and ours came back fuller every year. During their blooming season we always had them on the dining room table. It was lovely. These lilies are not from my yard, but they sure brought back sweet memories! :) 

Please join me for these upcoming Workshops:

January 22-24, 2015 | Still Life | Click here to register: Austin, Texas

March 26-29, 2015 | Plein Air | Click here to register: Austin, Texas

April 30-May 2, 2015 | Plein Air | Click here to register: St. Simons Island, GA

Plate of Peppers - Seventeen of 30 in 30

Plate of Peppers, 8 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

#17 of 30 Day Challenge

Click to purchase $175 + $16 s/h

Peppers are always fun for me to paint. I think it has something to do with their reflective, smooth skins and their odd, irregular shapes... And I love that pop of brilliant color!

Please join me for these upcoming Workshops:

January 22-24, 2015 | Still Life | Click here to register: Austin, Texas

March 26-29, 2015 | Plein Air | Click here to register: Austin, Texas

April 30-May 2, 2015 | Plein Air | Click here to register: St. Simons Island, GA

Lily Hydrangea - Fifteen of 30 in 30

Lily Hydrangea, 8 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

#15 in 30 Day Challenge

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Day 15... I'm halfway through the thirty challenge... woo hoo! I can tell you that it has been a good discipline for me and I'm glad I took it up. I am making notes about what I've learned for sharing at the end. No doubt that list will continue to grow over the next 15 days. Thank you so much for sticking with me, as well as for all your encouraging comments and notes!

Please join me for these upcoming Workshops:

January 22-24, 2015 | Still Life | Click here to register: Austin, Texas

March 26-29, 2015 | Plein Air | Click here to register: Austin, Texas

April 30-May 2, 2015 | Plein Air | Click here to register: St. Simons Island, GA

Tomatillos - 13 of 30 in 30

Tomatillos, 8 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

#13 in 30 Day Challenge

Click to purchase $175 + $16 s/h

I have always thought tomatillos were really cool looking with their thin papery shells, but I had never actually cooked with them... until this summer. My daughter and I tried a new recipe for Tomatillo Salsa and guess what? They are delicious too! As I painted today, I was thinking of that fun day with my sweet girl. I love getting to do that!

Please join me for these upcoming Workshops:

January 22-24, 2015 | Still Life | Click here to register: Austin, Texas

March 26-29, 2015 | Plein Air | Click here to register: Austin, Texas

April 30-May 2, 2015 | Plein Air | Click here to register: St. Simons Island, GA