River Rapids

River Rapids, 8 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012

Today Plein Air Austin met up at a park on the San Marcos River, about 30 miles south of town. It was great to be back painting outside (after a little hiatus on my part), and the river didn't disappoint. The water was smooth as glass above the rapids and thundered mightily through the rocks as it traveled downward. Every now and then, a kayaker would entertain by running this little shoot. It was a lovely morning to say the least. :)

Pier Breezes and Workshop Announcement

Pier Breezes, 8 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012

Available at Anderson Gallery

This pier in the village of St. Simons Island, GA is a favorite hang out spot for locals and tourists alike. At least once in every visit to the island, my family can be found walking out to the end with ice cream cones to watch the fishermen (and women) and to feel the cool ocean breeze. It's a family tradition! :) 

Workshop Announcement:

I am thrilled to be teaching another plein air workshop on the island next spring!

Come join me! Here is the information:

En Plein Air - Composing a Strong Landscape

May 20 - 22, 2013 

Monday-Wednesday, 9am-4pm 

Anderson Fine Art Gallery

St. Simons Island, GA

$400

Workshop Description: 

Focus on good composition and the strategic placement of natural subjects found in the landscape. Learn to design pleasing, dynamic entrances and exits into your paintings, and practice composing "on the fly" in the plein air tradition. We will meet at different sites on the island, and each session will include a demo and a critique. 

To sign up:

Please contact Mary Anderson

Anderson Fine Art Gallery

912-634-8414

Garden Color - Door County Plein Air

Garden Color (Quick Draw), 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012, SOLD

The Door County Plein Air Festival ends with a "Quick Draw" event. This is where all the artists paint for two hours in one public, advertised location (about a 6 block radius). It starts and ends with a blow horn (imagine brushes poised in hands at the beginning and a mad dash to frame wet paintings in the back of cars at the end). A live auction of all the work immediately follows, right there, on the spot. Nerve-racking? Yes! But quite a finale it is! And most importantly, this auction and the whole festival raises funding for the Peninsula School of Art which offers fabulous art classes all year round. It's a very worthy cause. 

My week in Door County was wonderful... I was so, so honored to meet and paint with each of the incredible artists who participated. It was truly inspiring. Many thanks to everyone at the school who made it all come together!

Here I am, concentrating during the quick paint...

Bidders and Auctioneer getting ready for the live auction.

My amazingly supportive husband, Bill, came for the final weekend festivities

and our high school friends, Terri and Steve, joined us on Saturday.

Thanks for your support, guys! :)

Weathered Bluff and Stormy Lake - Door County Plein Air

Weathered Bluff, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012

Available at the Peninsula School of Art, Guenzel Gallery

These two paintings from the Door County Plein Air Festival are completely connected, story-wise, so I am posting them together...

I got up very early one morning to paint the rocky cove above. I was sure that the morning light would be just gorgeous, but about 20 minutes after I started, it began to rain. Clearly a big storm was coming so I had to quit. Packing up my car, I noticed the "Stormy Lake" view below and determined that I could paint that scene under the tailgate of my rental car. The storm got louder and wilder. Eventually, I was completely inside the car, cross-legged, and finished the painting with my easel practically in my lap. 

I did go back the next day for the "Weathered Bluff" painting - I was committed! It was overcast again, but still beautiful. I do want to go back again sometime when it's sunny! Hopefully next year?? :) 

(Again, please forgive the blurry photos, I did not have the right equipment with me to get good images. Still kicking myself.)

Stormy Lake, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012, NFS

Broken Barns - Door County Plein Air

Broken Barns, 8 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012

Available at the Peninsula School of Art, Guenzel Gallery

Another piece from the Door County Plein Air Festival...
These dilapidated old barns were in a hidden field on the north end of the Door County peninsula. I didn't see any "No Trespassing" signs and no one lived nearby, so I helped myself to a delightfully quiet morning. I even got ambitious and decided to take some process pictures as I painted, but promptly forgot after shooting the block-in and location pictures below. I guess I was having too much fun. You know what they say about good intentions! Below is the beginning and above is the finished painting.

Broken Barns Block-in, 8 x 16

Line and mass underdrawing

Using French ultramarine and burnt sienna

Broken Barns - location shot 

Block-in complete, ready for color

Sorry, I forgot to take pictures during the process...

Day's End - Door County Plein Air

Day's End, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012

Available at the Peninsula School of Art, Guenzel Gallery

On Wednesday night of the Door County Plein Air Festival, all of the 40 featured artists gathered at the waterfront in Sister Bay to paint the sunset. This was one of the highly publicized events of the week, and crowds of people came out to watch us in action. All were very respectful and encouraging but it was intimidating nonetheless! :) After a full day of rain and drizzle, the sun came out on cue and gave us a beautiful display. 


At the VERY end of this day, a few of us went bowling at the local bowling alley. It was great to pull away mid-week and do something completely different... to just hang out a bit together and socialize. :)

Front l-r: Me, Scott Lloyd Anderson, Aaron Schuerr, Mark Horton, Shelby Keefe, Richard Lindenberg

Back l-r: Tom Maakestad, Chuck Marshall, Frank Gardner, Stuart Fullerton (Golden Pin winner), Marc Hanson

Summer Meadow - Door County Plein Air

Summer Meadow, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012, SOLD

When I stumbled upon this golden meadow, I couldn't pass up the glorious color with the young birch-ling standing in the middle of it. I have always loved trees and birch trees were my childhood favorite when my family went camping in Northern Wisconsin. My sisters and I would peel off sheets of the papery bark, and write letters on them (don't worry, I didn't peel this one). Occasionally, we'd hit the jackpot and find large chunks of hollowed out birch bark from a fallen tree. These made great receptacles for all of our "stuff" (which consisted of rock, feather and driftwood treasures we were also collecting.)

Painted at the Door County Plein Air Festival 2012. 

One of the highlights of being in Wisconsin was reconnecting with dear family friends from my hometown of Racine. I didn't manage to get pictures with everyone, but here are some of the friends who surprised me mid-week...

Thank you Carl and Carolyn for the much needed break,

the sweet visit and the refreshing root beer float! :)

I heard Marilyn and Bernie talking behind me at a paintout 

and actually still recognized their voices after 30 years!