Bunched - Loquat study with Process Shots!

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

Davis Gallery Group Show

Circadian Buzz (through August 31)

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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.

Loquat Branch

Loquat Branch, 18 x 18, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2013

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I just finished a crazy busy week that included a road trip to Georgia, teaching a three day workshop on St. Simons Island, and painting in the beautiful Golden Isles. I will be here for several weeks, enjoying my family and painting the gorgeous scenery I so love. "Loquat Branch" is one of a couple new paintings I brought with me (these loquats are from my backyard in Austin), and it's now available at the Anderson Gallery. 

Loquat Clusters Trio

Loquat Clusters Trio, 16 x 48

Loquat Clusters 3, 16 x 16

Here is the Loquat Trio... in the last two the fruits are more ripe and deeper in color. I kind of like seeing them altogether. They make a happy little group!

...And now the birds can come on in for dinner; I think I am done.

Loquat Cluster 2

Loquat Cluster 2, 16 x 16

My loquats are still covered with fruit! Even though they look ripe, obviously the birds are holding off. These luscious clumps of fruit have continued to beckon me, so I took another swipe at them today. I decided to make a little series of three paintings to hang together. I'll post the third one tomorrow and then the group after that.

Low-hanging fruit

Loquat Cluster, 16 x 16

Last year the birds ate all our loquats before I could paint them. I was waiting for them to fully ripen and I waited too long. So today, when I saw the very first cluster of ripened fruit, I grabbed my paintbox and went straight out to paint. I just love the way the fruit and leaves present themselves.