Bunched, 8 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019
Circadian Buzz (through August 31)
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.
