Beach Cove Overlook - and reworking a painting

Beach Cove Overlook, 18 x 36 , oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2018

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"How do you know when you are finished?" This is an often asked question to which I usually answer, "when there is nothing left in a painting that bothers me." This is one that kept bothering me as it dried on the shelf in my studio. Apparently, I was not done with it.

I stared at it for weeks (sometimes these things are hard to figure out) and finally determined what the problems were: 1) the foreground needed a stronger lead-in, and 2) the cove in the background needed to settle into the distance a little better. Below are the "before and after" shots so you can see the changes.

BEFORE...

AFTER REWORKING

Adding a path was the obvious solution for the lead-in problem, but the cove issue was trickier. Was it the shape? (Yes, too round.) Was it the size? (Yes, too dominant.) And most important - how to fix it? After much thought, I decided to add more grasses to overlap some of the water. It was a scary choice and a bit counter-intuitive to hide a beautiful, natural water feature. 

Well... That small change made the cove more of a sliver, and pushed it into it's proper space in the background. Instant relief! I'm glad I kept at it until it stopped bothering me. :)

Dockside Currents - American Women Artists Museum Show

Dockside Currents, 18 x 36, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2014

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Every other year, the American Women Artists group organizes a museum show for its Master and Signature members. This year, the Booth Museum is hosting us and more than 70 beautiful works of art will be on display. I am honored to be part of it and look forward to being at the opening on Thursday of this week. I hope you will stop by if you are in the area.

American Women Artists - Master/Signature Museum Show 
"Prevailing Winds"
Booth Western Art Museum
501 Museum Drive, Cartersville, GA
October 23, 2014 - January 4, 2015
Reception on October 23, 4-8 pm

Tide Lines - Anderson Gallery Exhibit

Tide Lines, 18 x 36, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2014

SOLD at Anderson Fine Art Gallery

Following the tide lines along the beach always turns up interesting ocean treasures. Deposits of sea shells, marsh rack, and horseshoe crabs mark the ever-moving water levels as the tide comes in and out. The beach is in a constant state of flux, and I never get tired of it. 

To see all the work in my upcoming show, "Marshside to Seaside", click here.

Evening Benediction and Twilight's Quickening Ray

 Evening Benediction, 24 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2013

Twilight's Quickening Ray, 18 x 36, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2013 - SOLD

Oh, the night sky... it keeps us looking up, doesn't it? I am always mesmerized as the sun sinks on the horizon. Each moment offers a different variety of colors and shapes, only to be topped by the next. It never ceases to amaze. 

These two paintings will be in my show, "Landscapes: Interior-Exterior", at the Davis Gallery in Austin, Texas. The opening reception is THIS Saturday, October 5, 7-9 pm. Please join us!

Winter Grasses and Sitting Room Quietude

Glowing Winter Grasses, 18 x 36, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2013 - SOLD

Sitting Room Quietude, 18x 24, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013 - SOLD

Silence is golden. 

Another pair headed to the Davis Gallery show in October.