Hill Country Morning and 3 Workshop Openings!

Hill Country Morning, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

A few weekends ago, Plein Air Austin met up out in the hill country and it was such a joy to be out. It was a bit of a cold January morning for us (I shouldn't complain - we are so spoiled at this time of year in Texas), but it was worth every layer to be outside dipping those brushes in paint. :) 

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UPCOMING WORKSHOP OPENINGS...

Due to some cancellations, 3 spots just opened up in my plein air workshop May 17-19, in St. Simon's Island, Georgia. Three days, 9am - 4pm, class limited to 15 people, $375. For a complete description: click HERE (disregard "sold out" sign on website). To register: contact Mary Anderson 912-634-8414.

Evening Pause (study)

Evening Pause (study), L. Daniel, 8 x 6

End of day. I love the feeling, smells and light. I love it in real time and I love painting it. :) This small study was done in preparation for a larger canvas I will post later in the spring (in conjunction with a show it will be in). As I have shared before, these small works are a great place for me to work out color relationships and composition challenges of an image before diving into a big one.

Click to purchase "Evening Pause (study)" $120 + $10 s/h

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PS - I had a number of readers request that I post my Woodland Series altogether. Here they are, in sequence... Further In, Farther Up and Circle Back...

Woodland Series, L. Daniel, 8 x 18

This series is SOLD

Circle Back

Circle Back, L. Daniel, 8 x 6

This is the third of three woodland pieces. The buyer of the first two wanted all three, so this one is not for sale. The three paintings were designed as companion pieces and I am happy that they will all be traveling to their new home together! 

Farther Up

Farther Up, L. Daniel, 8 x 6, SOLD

Continuing on into my woodland trails series, this is the second painting of three. With these paintings I enjoyed trying to capture the delicious spotlights of the forest. One great thing about hiking through the woods is discovering little surprises of color and pattern on the way.


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Further In

Further In, L. Daniel, 8 x 6, SOLD

This is the first of a little series of woodland trails. I kind of got hooked on the color combination and just couldn't get enough. It seems to aptly convey the dappled light and quiet mystery of the forest. Stay tuned - more coming. :)


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Blue Dusk

Blue Dusk, L. Daniel, 6 x 6, SOLD

Have you ever noticed that light is most spectacular as it enters and exits the sky? Dawn and dusk are my favorite times of day because they always give such a great show. The soft colors of this blue evening took my breath away.

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River Valley Study

River Valley Study, L. Daniel, 6 x 6, SOLD

Wow! Thank you all for your outpouring of support for my breast cancer journey. Your words of encouragement are incredibly empowering. I wish I could answer each email personally, but please know that I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It means so much to me to hear your stories and your promises to do those breast exams!


This small painting was a warm up for a larger piece I painted last fall. (Both are based on a plein air piece from my trip to the Adirondacks.) I hung onto this small one until the larger one was finished and, well, never got around to posting either of them. So, while I wait for some new work to dry, here is "River Valley Study". 


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PS - I was pleased to find out today that I am the current featured artist on the Judson Art Outfitters Plein Air Store blogsite! Thank you, friends at Judson's!

A New Road and an unexpected detour

A New Road, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

Some new directions beckon like a siren song... we see the road and long to follow it. But some paths take us on unexpected detours we would rather avoid. I am currently on one of those life detours....


One week before Thanksgiving I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Although this was a really scary news to receive, it was stage one, easily removed and totally treatable. Early detection made ALL the difference. I know I am fortunate - I am going to be completely well soon and am very grateful. 


Things move fast in the cancer world, and that's a good thing. But long story short... I had a lumpectomy on December 1, took a few weeks to heal from that, and had a wonderful Christmas with my family. Then, right after Christmas, I began radiation treatments - five days a week until February 17 (no chemo needed, and I am thrilled.) So far I am not experiencing side effects, but typically fatigue sets in about halfway through. I am generally pretty high energy, but I know it will hit me at some point and have adjusted my schedule accordingly. Meanwhile, I picked up my brushes this week for the first time since the diagnosis and it felt really good - THAT was a victory. 


I thank God that this detour will be a relatively short one for me. And here's the thing... trials have a way of leading us to personal growth. They help us adjust our perspective and priorities, and demand that we remember our affinities. I am trying to embrace that reality and grab onto the lessons being offered. 


Is it me, or does the sun seem to be shining just a little more brightly these days? Happy New Year to us all! 


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