Blue Meadow

Blue Meadow, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

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Here is another piece from my week of expeditions into the bluebonnet fields. While I was out painting, some friendly hikers shared their thoughts... a cute couple from Minnesota was quite adamant that "Bluebonnets really are purple, not blue" (I think they are both/and), another group pointed out that we have it all wrong here because "in California these flowers are called Lupines" (same plant family), and I got lots of offers for "posing" if I wanted to include a person or two. Never a dull moment. :)

H A P P Y    E A S T E R    E V E R Y O N E !

Please join me for this upcoming Workshop (last till fall):

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

Bluebonnet Trail

Bluebonnet Trail, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

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Spring has sprung in Austin and the bluebonnets are out in force. Seeing these beautiful wildflowers fill every field and highway is always delightful, but getting out to paint them is pure joy! 

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Field of Wildflowers

Field of Wildflowers (study), 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

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A week ago, I took advantage of a bright and sunny morning, and drove out to paint in the fields of McKinney Falls State Park. And they did not disappoint - Bluebonnets and Broomweed covered the ground as far as the eye could see. The blue and yellow combination was simply glorious.

Upper Falls Flowing

Upper Falls Flowing (enlarged from a plein air piece), L. Daniel, 18 x 36

I have been seriously "Missing In Action" for the last couple of weeks; completely consumed with changing and updating my website. It took way more time than I expected but I am very excited with the results! My new one displays way more artwork and is much easier to keep updated, so it was well worth it. Please check it out: www.laureldaniel.com - and sign up for the newsletter while you are there. (I promise I won't send many... just occasional show announcements and updates.) 


Now I can get happily back to painting!! :)

Lower Falls

Lower Falls, L. Daniel, 6 x 12, SOLD

On Monday, Julie Davis and I went to McKinney Falls State Park to paint the Lower Falls. This is a beautiful park that is just outside of Austin but feels hundreds of miles away. It's one of my favorite places for just that reason! We enjoyed another gorgeous fall day... so great to be outside.


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Swimming Hole Cypress

Swimming Hole Cypress, L. Daniel, 12 x 12
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Getting back into a rythym here in Texas has been slow going... however, yesterday I finally got outside with my paints. WOO HOO! (I was starting to get a little crabby from painting deprivation.) I headed down to McKinney Falls with my painting buddy, Julie Davis, and spent a lovely morning down by the swimmin' hole. This is one of my favorite spots and it's just outside of town. It's getting hot here, so painting by water is a must. And yes, we did get a little swim in as well!!!

Morning Stillness

Morning Stillness, 9 x 12

A quiet pool sits above the upper McKinney Falls and trickles into another pool below. As I hiked down there yesterday morning, this scene caught my eye. I loved the way the angled light hit the grasses and bush in the foreground. I don't think I quite got the glow of it in this painting, but it is stuck in my memory! Now I am off to paint for the weekend with Plein Air Austin friends in Granbury, Texas. How great is that?

Upper Falls

Upper Falls, 12 x 12

We are having a bit of a drought here in Texas so the falls at McKinney Falls State Park are pretty small right now. At the upper falls, this little tributary spills into that wonderful swimming hole I was talking. I would like to see this place when the water is raging. It will happen - it will eventually rain here... a lot. And then we have flooding.

Come to the Water

Come to the Water, 16 x 12

April is the best month for plein air painting in Texas because of all the glorious spring color and the relatively cooler temperatures. However, today it heated up into the 90's! I spent the day painting at McKinney Falls State Park just outside of Austin, and was so thankful for a bit of shade to take shelter in. This natural swimming hole is formed by Onion Creek pouring over wide limestone ledges. It's a pretty cool place. I'll post my painting of the falls tomorrow.

McKinney Falls

Clouds Over Swimming Hole, 16x12

Rock Ledge at the Falls, 8x12

On Thursday our Plein Air Austin group met at McKinney Falls - it was gorgeous and pretty comfortable for those of who stayed in the shade. And jumping in the swimming hole was the ultimate cooldown! Barbara Haviland from Beaumont (http://www.bhavilandfineart.com/) joined us and we loved having her (and her husband Sam who brought snacks and helped carry things.)