Morning Stroll - Figures on Friday #11

Morning Stroll, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

Available

It's the week before the actual week of Christmas, and life is speeding up. Very predictably!! 'Tis truly the season, and I hope yours is wonderful.

I am in the middle of Christmas preparations and having to admit to myself that I won't be getting to the easel today. SO... my Figures on Friday offering this week is an older plein air piece from the archives. Scenes like this are what make me want to get faster at capturing human movement and gestures. When a cute little mom and her son walk by, it's just so fun to try and pop them in! :)

May your weekend be merry and bright... 

Hillside Meadows - Holiday Group Show at the Davis Gallery!

Hillside Meadows, 24 x 30, Oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2021

Available

Our annual holiday group show opened at the Davis Gallery this weekend. It was wonderful to be together to celebrate Art and this joyful Season of the year! If you are in or near Austin, please drop by and see the work! Here are the details:

"Together Again" 

Winter Group Show - Davis Gallery

834 W. 12th Street, Austin, TX

On Display through January 9, 2022

Lovely turn out throughout the afternoon... 

Mobley, the Art Cat, kept watch over the proceedings. :)

Christmas music topped off the festivities! 

Coffee And A Romp - Figures on Friday #10

Coffee And A Romp, 5 x 7, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

SOLD

Hot coffee on the beach is a great way to start the day. Admittedly, dogs don't need coffee (they are happy with the sand and the surf, and running freely), but what a fabulous combo for that dog's human!

Bare Footin' - Figures on Friday #9

Bare Footin', 7 x 5, oil on panel, L Daniel © 2021

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(Still wet - available to ship on Dec 10.)

Footloose and fancy free! What is better than a walk along the beach with bare feet? This was a fun one for me... So colorful and happy! And if you can't tell, that dog's tail is wagging with full joy! Love that!

Tree Line Vista with Process Shots!

Tree Line Vista, 8 x 10, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

Available - Click for info

Today's painting is one of my demos from the last workshop I taught in Georgia. We had a beautiful time in spite of overcast skies, unseasonably cold weather, and lots of rainy surprises. My students were troopers and kept their focus through it all. Most importantly, they encouraged each other and made it all fun, which is always the most important ingredient!!

Below is a step-by-step explanation of how this painting came together... 

1) Painted loose outline to position subject on the canvas 

(used burnt sienna and ultramarine).

2) Blocked in masses and value hierarchy within the scene 

(still used only burnt sienna and ultramarine).

3) Massed in upright planes in foreground and background. 

4) Toned ground plane to pick up some warm colors of the marsh.

5) Massed in ground plane, muting and cooling it as it goes back to distant upright.

6) Massed in sky plane, observing transitions of temperature and value. 

7) Made final highlights, refining shapes and edges. (I did not love that big gap in the middle of the trees, so closing that up was part of the refining process.) 

The view from my easel.

Part of the gang, hard at work! Thanks, guys! 

Treasure Seeker - Figures on Friday #8

Treasure Seeker, 7 x 5, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

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This is such simple gesture... one we all know from visits to any beach. The ocean offers up new surprises with each wave, and the treasure seeking is inevitable! For the painter in me, I especially love how the simplest shapes of shadow and light can describe a form. This scene is a perfect example of that. My goal with these figure studies is to capture and keep that simplicity! 

Come Follow - Happy Thanksgiving!

Come Follow, 8 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

Available

And so the holidays begin... 

Wishing you a peaceful and bountiful Thanksgiving!

Morning Paddler - Figures on Friday #7

 

Morning Paddler, 5 x 7, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

SOLD

(Still wet, available to ship on Nov 22)

Please forgive the glare on this one. Dark paintings are hard to photograph because they are so reflective. I shot this in many different locations and light trying to avoid it... but I could not eliminate it completely. 

One reader pointed out that a whole series on "boys playing with sticks" could be fun. I agree... how about KIDS playing with sticks!!! Paddling, fishing, hiking... sports in general... it seems like sticks are always IN hand and ON hand for every adventure. This morning kayaker is a grown up example of how kids will always be KIDS! 

I love sticks too! Paintbrushes? Mm-hmmm, sticks! More please! ;) 

Big Brother - Figures on Friday #6

Big Brother, 7 x 5, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012

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Last week you met Little Sister, and as promised, here is her brother fishing for something with a stick! Not exactly sure what he was going for, but it looked VERY important. No wonder Sis wanted a bit of that action! ;) I loved how the light and shadows defined his gesture in this scene. And the reflection! So fun to paint! 

Little Sister - Figures on Friday #5

Little Sister, 7 x 5, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

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Beach play... can a child ever get enough? They can dig, collect shells, and wield sticks all day... and still want more. I loved the determination of this little one as she took off after her brother (he's coming next week), intent on keeping up with him. And not to worry, mom and dad were right there, keeping a close eye. 

One fun thing about focusing on figures is letting the landscape (which I am usually so concerned with) soften and fade into the background. While it sets the tone and gives context, it is secondary. When people are in a picture, well, it is all about them! ;)

Bait Casting and Figures on Friday #4

 Bait Casting, 7 x 5, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

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I love watching fishermen cast for bait with their nets in the shallows. Throwing out, and pulling back in, throwing out, pulling back in. There is a real rhythm to it. They are serene and very focused... and understandably so. They are preparing for a day of fishing, their beloved sport. There was a rhythm to painting this scene as well. Shadows and light, shadows and light, big shapes, simple gesture, shadows and light.  

Spring Planting and Figures on Friday #3

Spring Planting, 7 x 5, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

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One of my goals with these figurative studies is to see ONLY the big shapes. I'm trying not to get caught up in details, which is such a huge temptation when painting people. Instead I'm trying focus on where the shadows and light are interacting, and how they are defining form. (Hmmmmm... just like in landscape, I am looking for planes of light and dark, and comparing, comparing, comparing.) ;)

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Join me at my last workshop of the year! Three day Art Immersion!

Register with Mary Anderson 912-634-8414, Or click below for info:

Autumn En Plein Air, Nov 4-6, 2021, 9am - 4pm, $495

St. Simons Island, GA, Anderson Fine Art Gallery

Leaning In and Process Shots!

 

Leaning In, 8 x 10, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

SOLD

This piece was one of my workshop demos from this past spring. We gathered on Lake Austin on a bit of an overcast day, and this leaning tree drew me in. I loved the way it was curtsying into the lake and how the reflections continued that graceful dipping movement.

The following photos show how this painting came together... 

Block-in using dark neutral mix of ultramarine and burnt sienna.

Added color to upright planes, adjusting value as each recedes into distance.

Added sky plane and ground plane (including water which is ground plane.)

Add final details and spectral highlights at the very end.

Just getting started with block-in... using a light and loose touch.

_________________________________

Join me at my last workshop of the year! Three day Art Immersion!

Register with Mary Anderson 912-634-8414, Or click below for info:

Autumn En Plein Air, Nov 4-6, 2021, 9am - 4pm, $495

St. Simons Island, GA, Anderson Fine Art Gallery

Dog Walker - Figures on Friday #2

Dog Walker, 7 x 5, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

Click to purchase $120 + $18 s/h

I have been collecting pictures of people for years. And for years, I have told myself, "one day, I will do something with these images." Well, it's fun to finally get around to it. Again, if you missed my intro post, I am tackling figures, one Friday at a time. I'm calling it "Figures on Friday". The goal is to get more comfortable with gestures and proportions, so that I have an easier time popping figures into plein air sketches.... AND to keep them loose and suggestive. (This man and his best friend were just minding their own business. They have no idea I even took their picture.) 

_________________________________

Join me at my last workshop of the year! 

Register with Mary Anderson 912-634-8414, Or click below for info:

Autumn En Plein Air, Nov 4-6, 2021, 9am - 4pm, $495

St. Simons Island, GA, Anderson Fine Art Gallery

 

Precious Day

Precious Day, 8 x 10, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

NFS

There are some days we wish could last forever. This past Saturday would be one of those. Two dear artist friends invited our painting group to paint at their lakeside home, and to help them close up their art studio before they move away. It was a wonderful time... a celebration of who they are and their creativity in that magical place, a reunion of new and old friends, a passing of the torch as supplies were entrusted into new hands, and a last painting hurrah! 

What an honor to be included in this bittersweet farewell! Precious day, and precious heart memories. Thank you, Charles and Carole - Love you both!

Happy, happy!

Casita Studio in the woods. 

(Many thanks to Laura Barrow for photos!)

One of many gorgeous views of Lake Travis and "Sometimes Island".

(Sometimes it's there, sometimes it's not. Depends on the rain.)

_________________________________

Join me at my last workshop of the year! 

Register with Mary Anderson 912-634-8414, Or click below for info:

Autumn En Plein Air, Nov 4-6, 2021, 9am - 4pm, $495

St. Simons Island, GA, Anderson Fine Art Gallery

Pure Joy and Figures on Friday #1

Pure Joy, 6x8, oil on panel, L.Daniel © 2021

NFS

I am starting a new series called "Figures On Friday" and I would love for you to follow along! 

The idea is to force myself to practice adding figures into the landscape. And practice is the key word - always a requirement if I want to see growth. Why am I making a series out of it?? Well, it's my way of holding myself accountable. This weekly goal (one post a week) will help keep me on track with my larger desire for improvement in this area. Wish me luck, friends!

This first one depicts my dear nephew when he was a child, and his trademark exuberance! 

Join me at my last workshop of the year! Register with Mary Anderson 912-634-8414, Or click below for info:

Autumn En Plein Air, Nov 4-6, 2021, 9am - 4pm, $495

St. Simons Island, GA, Anderson Fine Art Gallery

Dry Dock Sparkle and an upcoming Workshop!

Dry Dock Sparkle, 16 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel ©2021

Available

When I spotted this boat up on its stand, I loved how the light was hitting it and all the shapes around it. But I had two obstacles: it was behind a chain-link fence, and I forgot my easel's tripod. What to do? Too far away to go back for the tripod, and the light would change anyway if I tried. Well, you know what they say about necessity is the mother of invention... One problem solved the other... I ended up sitting on the ground with my easel leaning against the fence (which I could easily see through). AND, I really loved the angle I had of the underbelly of the boat! It all worked out... a good lesson in not giving up. 

Please join me for my fall workshop at St. Simons Island, on the Georgia coast! (C'mon, c'mon... one last hurrah before the holidays hit!) 

Call to register with Mary Anderson 912-634-8414, Or click below for info:

Autumn En Plein Air 

Nov 4-6, 2021

9am - 4pm

$495

St. Simons Island, GA

Anderson Fine Art Gallery

Summer Flight

Summer Flight, 8x10, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

Available

Oh, the glad freedom of summer! Don't we all look forward to those lazy days? (It's not just the kids.) Here in Texas, school started back up this week and it feels like summer is over.... even though it will be hot for months. There is always something about that first day of school that signals an end, AND a new beginning. I like the new beginning idea better... may it be a good one!!

Join me at a workshop in GA! Click for info:

Nov 3-5, 2021 - Autumn En Plein Air - Anderson Fine Art Gallery

Lagoon Reflections with Process Shots and Workshop Info!

Lagoon Reflections (workshop demo), 8x10, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

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Below are process shots of a demo I did for my May workshop in Austin (as mentioned before, I am hopelessly behind in my posting.) My next workshop is coming up in the fall, and will be on St. Simons Island, on the Georgia coast. If you are a painter, please join us! It is always so much fun to meet in person and discover the landscape together!

Click for Workshop Details:

Nov 3-5, 2021 - Autumn En Plein Air - Anderson Fine Art Gallery

Getting started - Block in large shapes and values of main masses.

Mass in Upright Planes (best average value and color).

Mass in Ground Plane (water/reflections in this case) and Sky Plane.

Break up masses with subtle value shifts and save highlights for the very end. 

Workshop fun! Join us for the next one!

Hidden Turn and a Feedburner replacement!

Hidden Turn, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

Available

This piece is a plein air study from the spring... I was in Georgia after teaching a workshop and found this dramatic tree, in full curtsy mode! What a lovely dance to capture!   

You may have noticed that your email delivery with this post looks a little different today. Here's why... I've been blogging since February 2008, and my emails have always been delivered to my followers by Feedburner. Sadly, Google has announced that they are dropping Feedburner! After much research, I found what I hope will be a great Feedburner Alternative. Today is my first run with it... If you see anything totally off, please be patient. I am having to learn a whole new process.  :)

For my blogger friends out there who are also worried about a Feedburner Replacement , I recommend you take a look at Follow.it. It has more features and options, and I think it's going to work great! 

Bovine Bliss - and an upcoming show!

 

Bovine Bliss, 18 x 18, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2021

Available at the Davis Gallery

Flora and Fauna Group Show

Aug 7 - Sept 25, 2021

Opening Reception: Aug 7, 4-7 pm

This has been a crazy and unpredictable year for me, and my posts (or lack there of) have reflected that. I just spent the last four months helping my elderly parents get moved and settled into a senior living community. It was ALL-consuming, and I'm happy to report that they are much closer to my home now, AND that all went well!! YAY!! Hopefully, I will be getting back to a normal cadence soon!

If you are in the Austin area, please join us at the Davis Gallery Group Show opening reception this weekend! Attendance is by reservation only, and will be viewed in small, masked groups. Just to be safe. Click HERE to reserve a spot!

Hoping to see you! 

The Perch and the crazy month of February!

 

The Perch, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

Available 

What a weird few weeks I have just lived through!!! Had COVID (mild case, all good), came home to broken water heater (wood floors ruined), endured the Texas Snowpocolypse (78 hours without power and survived!) I happy to be back and thinking about art again! :)

So, let me tell you about this painting from St. Simons Island in November... These Wood Storks showed up at my workshop, and I KNEW I had to go back and paint them!!! I just loved their long, pointed beaks and ancient looking bodies! They are known for building nests in trees hanging over or next to water (like a marsh). They also seem to find large dead branches for perching on and keeping watch over their surroundings. I don't think they miss much!

Upcoming workshops:

Click here for registration information.

St. Simons Island, GA - April 8-10

Austin, TX - May 14-15 (full w/wait list)

Marsh's Edge - Demo with Process Shots!

Marsh's Edge, 8 x 10, oil on panel, L.Daniel © 2021

Available

One of my students pointed out that I had never posted the demo from my last workshop on St. Simons Island. Of course, I am HAPPY to oblige! MORE than! And by the way, if you are looking for an "in person" plein air workshop this spring, join me back in Georgia in April (the week after Easter!)

Upcoming workshops:

Click here for registration information.

Compose with Lines and Shapes.

Create an "envelope" to contain shapes using ultramarine and burnt sienna.

Block in dark value pattern of large shapes.

Keep marks loose and expressive. Still using only ultramarine and burnt sienna.

Mass in Upright Planes.

Paint "shadow family" first, using best average value (not highlight value).

Mass in Ground Plane and Sky Plane.

Paint around uprights, "cutting" and "carving in" for details and sky holes.

Final Marks.

Break up large masses by adding "light family" in all the planes, and final highlights.