Earthen Vessels

Earthen Vessels, L. Daniel, 8 x 6, SOLD

The thing I love about gardens is that they offer many opportunities to study intricate layers of light and dark in a close range. There is always something popping up to interrupt the light; and I'm attracted to both the extreme contrasts and subtle nuances that result. These urns in my garden are situated "just so" to perfectly punctuate an early morning sunbeam. 


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Sun-Kissed Blossoms

Sun-Kissed Blossoms, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD 

Last week when I mentioned that I was calling this little garden series "Other People's Gardens", I got some ribbing from my blog friend, Kirby. He kindly wondered was something wrong with my own garden? (Perhaps the drought had killed everything???) Certainly we all know that the other man's grass is always greener, but it got me thinking... no, my flowers are alive and well (in spite of 40 days of triple digits.) SO, the next few garden paintings will be from my own backyard. I shall re-title the series "Gardens" and leave it at that. Much more freedom all the way around! :)


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Garden Embrace

Garden Embrace, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

I am quite drawn to the intimacy of private gardens, so today's paintout with Plein Air Austin was a perfect location for me. We met up at the Barr Mansion, which is a beautiful Victorian home from the 1800's that is now a popular wedding venue outside of Austin. It is surrounded by well-tended gardens from which this statue greets the morning each day. The unabashed praise of this young gardener is simply contagious. 


I can't help but think of these words from "Morning Has Broken", the old gaelic melody sung by Cat Stevens...

"...Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning

Born of the one light, Eden saw play

Praise with elation, praise every morning

God's recreation of the new day..."

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Blazing Palm

Blazing Palm, L. Daniel, 8 x 6, SOLD

Sometimes the sunlight hits things just right. You know what I am talking about... it stops us from whatever we are doing and we are compelled to look twice. When this palm has its daily "moment" in the sun, it gets me every time.


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Lily Dance

Lily Dance, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

This group of dancing lilies absolutely sparkled in the morning sunlight. They were a little parade-like, I thought, all decked out as they were. This would be another in a series that I could entitle, "Other People's Gardens"...  a favorite subject of mine. :)


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Farmer's Field - Adirondack Trip (last)

Farmer's Field, L. Daniel, 6 x 12, SOLD

This is my final painting from the Adirondack Invitational trip with Plein Air Magazine. And what a fabulous trip it was! Beautiful country, wonderful people, a great adventure! This row of trees on the horizon called my name as I was scouting out some country side roads late one afternoon. I found a tree that protected me from both sun and rain while I was painting... it was that kind of day. 


Thank you for your many notes of encouragement about these paintings, I really appreciate being able to share the experience with friends. AND, right now I am actually painting a giant version of this scene in my studio (3' x 5')... so stay tuned... I will post about it later, when it is finished, dry and photographable. Extending the fun... :)

Stormy Meadow - Adirondack Trip

Stormy Meadow, L. Daniel, 12 x 16

Sometimes when the sky is darkest, the ground takes on an incredibly intense hue. In this meadow, the grass sparkled a brilliant chartreuse while the distant mountains came in and out of view with the fickle mist. Occasionally some light would push through on the horizon, but only for a moment. It was just one of those rainy mountain days... cozy...

Mountain Chapel - Adirondack Trip

Mountain Chapel, L. Daniel, 16 x 12

This charming old chapel sits on a triangular corner in the tiny mountain town of Bloomindale, New York. It obviously served the spiritual needs of the community for some time, and most recently served as an antique store. But sadly, it now sits vacant. It's so charming and gingerbread-y that it would be perfect for something. (It would make such a cool studio I thought to myself). Hopefully, it won't be empty for long.

Disappearing Creek - Adirondack Trip

Disappearing Creek, L. Daniel, 12 x 12

One afternoon, all the painters who came to the Adirondack event gathered to paint at the Saranac Gun Club AND to pose for a group photo. We lined up in this field and painted together until the appointed time for the photo "op". It was a memorable event - this many plein air painters all in one place is rare indeed! (Normally we all like our privacy.) As for our subject matter... this is actually the Saranac River though it looked more like a creek in this location... hence the title.

Here we all are, hard at work... 

See all the easels lined up in the background?? 

Black Pond Forest - Adirondack Trip

Black Pond Forest, L. Daniel, 12 x 12

Another misty, rainy day led me into the forest to paint in the dripping quiet. I set up my umbrella early on because the trees were shrugging off water droplets from an earlier storm. Well, it turned out to be fortuitous because an hour or so into the painting, the sky started raining with gusto. The umbrella worked like a charm. I stood my ground and was still painting long after the shower stopped (so empowering, I felt like I had won a battle!)  


By the way, I love those trees they have out there in upstate New York! :)

High Falls - Adirondack Trip

High Falls, L. Daniel, 12 x 12

Hiking down in to this falls was well worth the effort. When I stepped into the clearing and caught my first view, I absolutely squealed with delight. It's sheer power was evidenced by the roaring, gushing water and the misty overspray; completely enveloping everything in the vicinity. It is a truly awesome place. (see picture below)


In other news - Many thanks to Raymond Logan for reviewing my work in his "Daily Painter Review" blog. Please check it out and see some of his other reviews at the same time! Thank you, Raymond!!!!!

This is me painting the waterfall - picture by Maria Amor (thanks, Maria!)

Rock Island - Adirondack Trip

Rock Island, L. Daniel, 12 x 12

I just returned from a fabulous week of painting at the Publisher's Invitational in the Adirondack Mountains. It was a wonderful gathering of over 80 like-minded plein air painters from all over the US (and one person from Russia)... brought together by Eric Rhoads, publisher of Plein Air Magazine. We had a bit of rain and overcast skies, but it didn't deter any of us. We painted every hill and dale, creek and waterfall we could find. In the evenings we shared stories and inspirations - an incredible time all the way around!!!!