Streams of Light - Finish It Friday!

Streams of Light, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2023

Click to purchase - $1075 + s/h

Welcome to some Friday fun! Today, "FINISH IT" FRIDAY! 

Sometimes when I am out painting, I am unable to finish a piece on location. Things happen. A car parks in front of the view, a boat sails away, a storm comes up, nourishment is required, the calendar beckons... you get the picture. It can be anything! 

So... Last week I was plein air painting on the Georgia coast, and this time it was the incoming tide that shut me down! I worked as fast as I could, but finally had to pack up to avoid getting wet. I made some quick placeholders for the clouds, memorized all the shapes and colors, and brought it back to finish in the studio. 

Here is how it went from unfinished to finished... I think the final decisions are always interesting...

UNFINISHED

FINISHED PIECE

What I did:

1) Built out the sky according to my painted notes. 

2) Adjusted shapes, value, and color on the large masses.  

3) Pulled the elements together, paying attention to edges and transition colors.

4) Popped the highlights (always the last thing I do). 

In the final stages, I am thinking about how to make the painting flow cohesively. Some of the questions I ask myself include: Does the light agree everywhere in the scene? Does the perspective work? Does the distance recede? Does the foreground come forward? Where does the viewer's eye go? These are very helpful for determining when I am DONE! :)

2023 SPRING WORKSHOPS (click HERE for info and registration):
April 14-15 - Contemporary Austin Art School, Austin, TX (Wait list only)
May 4-6 - Anderson Fine Art Gallery in St. Simons Island, GA

Creek Reflections

Creek Reflections, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel

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The marshlands of St. Simons have a particular draw for me... but when deep reflections are involved, I am unable to resist! The stillness, the soft ripples, the warm winter grasses... Mmmm Mmm... so delish! I am looking forward to getting back! 

Mossy Veil

Mossy Veil, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

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The Low Country is known for its Live Oaks dripping with Spanish Moss. They are huge, and beautiful, and a challenge to paint! In my workshops, we have long conversations about what color that moss is. Why? Because it is ever changing as the light hits from different directions. Sometimes it looks grey or grey-green, and almost blends in with the color and value with the foliage. Other times, like this one, it becomes a yellowy gold because the light is coming through it. Discovery requires observation in real time.

"It just depends" doesn't seem like a good answer, but sometimes that is the ONLY answer!  :)

Upcoming workshops:

St. Simons Island, GA - April 8-10

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

Click here for registration information.

Stormy Fields - Fix It Friday #22

Stormy Fields, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2020

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Today I am revisiting a plein air piece from a dark and turbulent day in 2016. A storm was coming and the sky kept changing with each passing moment. My painting ended up with a sunless sky and a well-lit foreground. Well, which was it? Those fast and furious efforts of mine depicted a contradictory tale. Hmmm...

BEFORE

AFTER

CHANGES

Problem - Sky plane and ground plane disagreed about the light.

Fix - Muted ground plane and added more "lowlights".

Fix - Lightened the sky plane with soft light in clouds.

Problem - Clouds were flat (they were not rain-laden).

Fix - Gave clouds volume by adding a "light side" to the shapes.

Fix - Reinforced the shadow sides of the clouds (to indicate heaviness and the density of moisture-about-to-burst.)

Fix - Developed cloud layers and filled the whole sky to emphasize their size.

OBSERVATIONS

A general "rule" about darks and lights in the landscape is that usually the sky is the lightest plane because that is where the sun lives. Since the ground plane simply reflects the sun's light, it is usually darker than the sky. My original painting had that relationship reversed: the sky was much darker than the ground. (Sometimes a stormy sky can be darker, but this one just wasn't working.)

Also true: Color often appears intensified on a muted, dark day. I did love that intensity, but I totally overdid it with the grasses in my original attempt. As I made other adjustments to make the scene "read" correctly, those needed to be altered too. It was a bit of a toggle...

Flowers of the Field - with process shots!

Flowers of the Field, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

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Painting wildflowers in the hill country is always a treat for me. Maybe that's because before I moved to Texas 20 years ago, I was pretty convinced that this state was all just desert. I could not have been more wrong. There are so many different regions here, and the Hill Country might have the most unexpected beauty of them all. I still wonder at the color that appears each spring and fall!

For you painters out there, here is a series of process shots to show how the painting came together...

My start was a loose sketch for placement and composition.

Building on that initial sketch, I paid close attention to form and value. 

(That yellow stain is a place holder for flowers that will come later.)

Working dark to light, I painted the foreground uprights first. Then I moved to the distant uprights, muting them down to make them recede into the atmosphere.

Next I added the ground plane and sky plane. Since value and color are all relative, it's important to constantly compare and adjust to make all the parts work. 

Finishing the piece included muting the distant uprights even more, and popping the highlights on the foreground elements. I always save those marks for the end, so I can key them off what is happening in the rest of the painting. 

Here is a shot from my easel... parked ever so cooly in the shade! ;)

Flying High

Flying High, 16 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

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This painting represents pure summertime joy... birds flying high in a playful sky and shimmering colors on the marsh... island time, my fave! I can never get enough! Is it a coincidence that I am dreaming of warm sea breezes on this freezing day in November? I think not! ;)

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Start planning now...

2020 PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

March 30-April 2, 2020 - Wimberley, Texas

April 16-18, 2020 - St. Simons Island, Georgia

May 8-9, 2020 - Austin, Texas

SEE DETAILS ON MY WEBSITE: laureldaniel.com 

Texas Spring (study for commission)

Texas Spring (study), 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

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Back in the spring, I was commissioned to paint a "classic Texas" scene. What did that include? Well, live oaks and bluebonnets of course, but there was also a request for some TEXAS LONGHORNS! If you follow college athletics, especially football, you will have heard of Bevo, our beloved Longhorn mascot at the University of Texas. This painting was to be a gift for my client's husband, who is an alum. I totally "got it"... why it was important, why it had to be. This is Longhorn country and I am a fan, so I happily jumped right in! 

The first thing I did was to find a local ranch where I could study an actual herd, and take pictures from lots of angles. I had a lot of fun on that mission, and this field study became the jumping off point for the commission piece that came later. My next post will be all about the process of a commission, and how this one came together. Please stay tuned! 

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2020 PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

March 30-April 2, 2020 - Wimberley, Texas

April 16-18, 2020 - St. Simons Island, Georgia

May 8-9, 2020 - Austin, Texas

SEE DETAILS ON MY WEBSITE: laureldaniel.com 

Dockside Line Up

Dockside Line Up, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

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Shrimp boats in the low country make such a beautiful sight... whether they are hard at work out in the ocean (with millions of birds circling them), or resting quietly at the dock. I love painting them because it's such a challenge. They are incredibly complicated with booms and nets and lines going everywhere. But for me, it's all about the overall scene... the light, the setting, the colors, and the feeling. Too much hard detail will distract from that. My strategy is to get the basic positions, shapes, and angles as accurate as possible, and simply suggest all the rigging. Then I let the eye fill in the rest. 

___________________________

2019 PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

November 8-9, 2019 - Austin, Texas

Contemporary Austin Art School, FULL - Register for waitlist Here 

2020 PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

March 30-April 2, 2020 - Wimberley, Texas

Contact Helena Hauk, Wimberley Artists Workshops, 800-327-1913

Date is firm - details coming soon!

April 16-18, 2020 - St. Simons Island, Georgia

Contact Mary Anderson, Anderson Fine Art Gallery, 912-634-8414

May 8-9, 2020 - Austin, Texas

Contemporary Austin Art School, Registration opens in December

Swirling Vines - with process shots

Swirling Vines, 12 x 16, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2017

Collection of the artist

The Georgia coastline and St. Simons Island are known for their huge Live Oak trees draped in Spanish Moss. I love them so much (and have since my first encounter), AND I find them very challenging to paint. There is just so much going on... this one was especially complicated, with tangled vines wrapped all around its multiple trunks. 

Below is a photo of the scene and some process shots. You can see that I simplified the background quite a bit, a necessary sacrifice in order for the tree to emerge. One thing I have learned along the way is that you can't have it all! ;) (That is true for a lot of things, isn't it?)

Setting the scene... the tangled tree in a grove of Live Oaks.

In my initial sketch, I tried to establish the movement of the vines.

As the painting progressed, details came and went... and came back again!

When the light peeked through, I popped in highlights and final marks.

That moss? I dragged it in at the very end.

Local Color - Georgia Coast

Local Color, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

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The Crab Trap, a restaurant on St. Simons Island, has been around for ever and ever it seems... through changing times and all the new trends. There is nothing quite like their fried shrimp and hush puppies. But besides all that, they have the best display of flowers! I love driving by and simply taking in all the colors!

Just as I was finishing up this painting, a sweet little girl and her dad came over to see it. She told me (quite confidently) that she will be an artist when she grows up. So, of course, she happily took me up on my offer to make a little painting right there on the spot. My apron was a bit long, but she had a ball! I believe she is ALREADY an artist!

Well done, my little artist buddy!

Quiet Moment Under the Lych Gate - Georgia Coast

Quiet Moment Under The Lych Gate, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

Christ Church, Frederica is a beautiful, historic church on the north end of St. Simons Island, GA. It is surrounded by gardens, a cemetery (where some our family are buried), and huge live oak trees that were standing when it was first established by the English colonists in 1736. The term "Lych Gate" refers to a covered gateway to an English-style churchyard. This one does just that, and its path leads through a dappled yard to the gothic-style episcopal church. A few years ago I painted the church entrance and steeple - see below. Together, these two paintings may give you a bit of the very quiet and dappled feeling of this hallowed place.

Sunlit Steeple, 16 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

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Stormy Fields and Upcoming Workshop

Stormy Fields, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

On stormy, overcast days, I notice that color in the ground plane is much more intense. This piece is from late fall and I just kept forgetting to post it. Sometimes life gets busy! I loved the combination of colors this day... a muted, periwinkle sky with those rich, yellow grasses. 

UPCOMING WORKSHOP (still a couple of spots):
En Plein Air: Strong Starts
March 30 - April 1, 2017
Contact: Anderson Fine Art Gallery
Email: mand@mindspring.com
Phone: 912-634-8414
More details, click HERE.

Patio Welcome

Patio Welcome, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

Auction Donation - Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL
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This weekend, the Huntsville Museum of Art is holding its 26th Annual Gala and Art Auction. One of my dear patrons is one of the chairmen, and she invited me to join in. This little patio garden scene will be in the silent auction on Saturday night. Unfortunately, I will not be able to be there, but if YOU are, have fun and I hope you find some art that you can't live without! All proceeds benefit the museum. 

Beach Walking Day

Beach Walking Day, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2016

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Walking the beach is one of my favorite things to do, and these folks had the right idea... they got out early to beat the heat (like me)! I didn't initially plan to include the people, but they seemed to walk right in! I couldn't say no. ;)

Cotton Field Homestead - En Plein Air Texas!

Cotton Field Homestead, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

En Plein Air Texas!

Available - Click for information

On the third day of En Plein Air Texas, we were invited to paint at two private ranches in the countryside. As I was driving out there, I saw this homestead and pulled off to paint on the side of the road. It was such a typical farm scene from that area and the morning light was hitting it perfectly. I did make it to the ranch land in the afternoon, but spent a lovely morning right on the edge of a cotton field! 

Morning Shadows - En Plein Air Texas!

Morning Shadows, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

En Plein Air Texas!

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I am back from San Angelo, Texas, to report on En Plein Air Texas! The event included 35 juried painters, who arrived for a week of non-stop painting. We checked in last Sunday and hit the streets with brushes in hand on Monday morning. We painted downtown, on ranches, in villages and neighborhoods, at a winery, and on many highways and byways in between. 

On Friday, we turned in our framed wet paintings to be hung and judged by fabulous painter, Gay Faulkenberry. It was an INCREDIBLE show full of gorgeous work, and awards were plentiful and well-earned. On Saturday morning, we went out painting again for a 2 hour Quick Draw, and had another round of judging. I didn't win anything in the big show, but I got 3rd place in the Quick Draw (so honored)! We all sold a lot of paintings, and had a WONDERFUL time. 

This was my first painting of the week. When I saw this beautiful church, I loved not only the architecture, but the way it was backlit by the rising sun. It was actually a pretty cold morning, and I even had to wear my fingerless gloves to stay warm! It was worth it... this piece was one of my favorites! I heard later that it was purchased by a church member who gave it to the church to be hung in the parlor. I was/am thrilled!

I will be posting one painting at a time from my week, so I can share the process and my thoughts from the experience. Please stay tuned!

Spring Water Reflections

Spring Water Reflections, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

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This week I met up with a couple of my Plein Air Austin buddies at Krause Springs in Spicewood (just outside Austin). This very cool park and natural springs has been family-owned since the 50's, and it's a great, authentic swimming hole for hot summers in Texas. Of course, the depth of the springs ebbs and flows with our rainfall totals, but it's cypress trees and rock formations are gorgeous any time!

Docked Shrimp Boat - Georgia Coast

Docked Shrimp Boat, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

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Commercial shrimp boats are constantly trawling the horizon on the Georgia Coast. Their complicated rigging is quite distinctive, not to mention the commotion of birds, dive bombing for the refuse. It's a huge industry and the harvest is enjoyed in most local restaurants. This shrimper was "in" for service and I was able to paint it at rest. 

Beach Bridge - Georgia Coast

Beach Bridge, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

Recently I have been getting the urge to add people into my paintings. I'm not exactly sure why, but with this painting it was overwhelming. When I got it home (finished but with no figures), I decided to go for it. I got my brushes back out and added the suggestion of a few beach lovers into the scene, working from photos I had taken. It changed everything. 

Village Boulevard

Village Boulevard, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

This quaint divided boulevard is in the town of St. Mary's, Georgia. It's a peaceful place to visit and I loved how the morning sun lit up the front of this historical Catholic Church, "Our Lady Star of the Sea". Isn't that a great name? The chapel was built in 1840, originally as a bank. When the bank failed, the building was purchased, a bell tower was added, and parishioners met there until a formal church was built in 1957. The chapel is only used now for special services. It's quite a charming place.