The Heavens Declare - Divine Presence... and a group show!

The Heavens Declare - Divine Presence, 24 x 30, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2018

SOLD

I am pleased to be part of the summer group show at the Davis Gallery! This piece and another are on display. Please join me at the opening reception tomorrow night!

Reflector - A Group Show

Davis Gallery, Austin, TX

July 28 - September 8

Reception July 28, 7-9 pm

Sorry for my recent silence - it's all due to my ongoing work on the three 10-foot commissions. They are keeping me busy... brushes moving, pigments swirling! I will have more to share on that soon. 

Bedroom Nook - Show Tip #24

Bedroom Nook, 18 x 18, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2016

Available 

What is it about little nooks and homey stopping places? They give me visual rest and physical rest in the busy flow of life. This charming little corner graced a beach cottage we rented a few summers ago. We stayed long enough to put our stuff in the drawers and loved every minute. (That's the trick to feeling at home you know... put your stuff in the drawers like you're never leaving!) 

Show Tip #24 - Stay the Course
When the last paintings are finally drying, I feel both elation and letdown, and a huge desire to put my feet up. However, there is still work to be done and now is not the time to rest on my laurels (so to speak). It may not be as fun as smearing paint on a canvas, but pulling the last details together is really important. So after taking the weekend off, it's back to business until the last i's are dotted and final t's are crossed for my show. This week I'll be framing the last paintings and cataloging. I don't want to reach the end and be panicked about any of those pesky details! The goal is to finish well!

Here are links to other Show Tips:

Tip #1 - Stock up on Supplies
Tip #2 - Set up Deadlines
Tip #3 - Determine Subject Matter

Tip #4 - Work in Series

Tip #5 - Establish a Schedule

Tip #6 - Be Kind to YOU

Tip #7 - Follow your Heart

Tip #8 - Stay Flexible

Tip #9 - Whistle While You Work

Tip #10 - Fight Through Fears

Tip #11 - Take Notes

Tip #12 - Know when to Quit

Tip #13 - Stay Updated

Tip #14 - Balance Effort and Ease

Tip #15 - Assign Tasks

Tip #16 - Step Back 

Tip #17 - Sign As You Go

Tip #18 - Take Your Best Shot

Tip #19 - Celebrate Growth

Tip #20 - Varnishing Day(s)

Tip #21 - Frame Incrementally

Tip #22 - Deep Six Your Doubts

Tip #23 - Get the Word Out

Painters - join me at this Plein Air Workshop:

April 28-30, Anderson Fine Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA

Contact Info: Mary Anderson, 912-634-8414

Winter Berries - Show Tip #23

Winter Berries, 18 x 18, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2016

SOLD

Red berries of many different varieties are prolific in Texas in the winter months. They bring pops of delightful color into an otherwise grey landscape. They are also a reminder that spring is just around the corner; and I like being reminded of that! 

Show Tip #23 - Get the Word Out
I think long and hard about how to let people know about any upcoming shows. Of course, if you follow my blog, you know I have been talking about this since January (alright already!) In addition to that, 4 weeks before the opening I mailed postcard announcements. Three weeks out, I sent my first email blast (which will be followed up with email reminders 1 week out and the day before). Finally, I use Facebook to get the word out on social media. My hope is that this combination of efforts will reach my world with news. We have so many avenues for sharing information these days, and finding the right balance is probably a little different for everyone. 

Postcards printed at Vistaprint.com

Here are links to other Show Tips:

Tip #1 - Stock up on Supplies
Tip #2 - Set up Deadlines
Tip #3 - Determine Subject Matter

Tip #4 - Work in Series

Tip #5 - Establish a Schedule

Tip #6 - Be Kind to YOU

Tip #7 - Follow your Heart

Tip #8 - Stay Flexible

Tip #9 - Whistle While You Work

Tip #10 - Fight Through Fears

Tip #11 - Take Notes

Tip #12 - Know when to Quit

Tip #13 - Stay Updated

Tip #14 - Balance Effort and Ease

Tip #15 - Assign Tasks

Tip #16 - Step Back 

Tip #17 - Sign As You Go

Tip #18 - Take Your Best Shot

Tip #19 - Celebrate Growth

Tip #20 - Varnishing Day(s)

Tip #21 - Frame Incrementally

Tip #22 - Deep Six Your Doubts

Painters - join me at this Plein Air Workshop:

April 28-30, Anderson Fine Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA

Contact Info: Mary Anderson, 912-634-8414

Creek Crossing - Show Tip #20

Creek Crossing, 24 x 36, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2016

Sold in Solo Show, "Chasing Color, Finding Light", Davis Gallery

I love how creeks crisscross through coastal marshes. They ebb and flow with the tide, always changing their "look" so to speak. When clouds hover overhead, it's just about as perfect as it gets. This little creek crossing is a special place for our family... my husband learned to fish off this little bridge, just like his father before him and our children after him. Now we look forward to teaching our grandchildren at this very same spot! 

Show Tip #20 - Varnishing Day(s)

I highly recommend setting aside several days for varnishing dry paintings in small batches. Saving them all till the end is a recipe for last minute problems and stress. But why bother at all? Besides providing a protective seal, varnish evens out the surface tone on an oil painting (pigments tend to "sink" or dull out as they dry). I usually use an oiling out process for this purpose, but this time around I decided to varnish everything. It is way more efficient with large canvases. I am using Gamvar by Gamblin, and am very pleased with the result. Click HERE for an excellent demo on the Gamblin website showing how to apply varnish correctly. 

Historical footnote: Back in the 1800's, the Royal Academy in London would offer a "Varnishing Day" to artists prior to the opening of their Summer Exhibition. In addition to varnishing finished pieces on location, artists would make last minute adjustments (and some cases, finish incomplete work). It was chaotic, but exhilarating I'm sure. Click HERE for a funny depiction of the craziness of the day, illustrated by George DuMaurier. 

Here are links to other Show Tips:

Tip #1 - Stock up on Supplies
Tip #2 - Set up Deadlines
Tip #3 - Determine Subject Matter

Tip #4 - Work in Series

Tip #5 - Establish a Schedule

Tip #6 - Be Kind to YOU

Tip #7 - Follow your Heart

Tip #8 - Stay Flexible

Tip #9 - Whistle While You Work

Tip #10 - Fight Through Fears

Tip #11 - Take Notes

Tip #12 - Know when to Quit

Tip #13 - Stay Updated

Tip #14 - Balance Effort and Ease

Tip #15 - Assign Tasks

Tip #16 - Step Back

Tip #17 - Sign As You Go

Tip #18 - Take Your Best Shot

Tip #19 - Celebrate Growth

Painters - join me at this Plein Air Workshop:

April 28-30, Anderson Fine Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA

Contact Info: Mary Anderson, 912-634-8414

Spring Laurel Branches - Show Tip #17

Spring Laurel Branches, 24 x 30, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2016

SOLD

In Texas, we know that spring is on the way when the Mountain Laurels bloom, and this year they are abundant. We have lots of them in our yard, so these branches didn't travel far to sit in my studio for a painting session or two. Their waxy green leaves and lush purple blossoms are fun to paint, and their delicious aroma filled the whole house. They kind of smell like grape jelly, but in flower form. Yum.

Show Tip #17 - Sign As You Go
For some reason, signing paintings can be an obstacle. Plein air pieces are quick and easy because I scratch my signature in while it's still wet. But with larger canvases, I like to sign them with paint. Years ago, I would wait till I had a bunch of pieces finished and sign them all at once. But then I would be backed into a corner, waiting for the signatures to dry. This delayed photographing, framing, and getting the work out there. Now I sign them as soon as the paint is tacky enough to take another layer. I use a liner brush, and mix a tone just slightly darker or lighter than the passage where I plan to put the signature. Then I take a deep breath, just do it, and I don't mess with it. (If you share this phobia, try practicing your name over and over on an old painting. It helps.)

Here are links to other Show Tips:

Tip #1 - Stock up on Supplies
Tip #2 - Set up Deadlines
Tip #3 - Determine Subject Matter

Tip #4 - Work in Series

Tip #5 - Establish a Schedule

Tip #6 - Be Kind to YOU

Tip #7 - Follow your Heart

Tip #8 - Stay Flexible

Tip #9 - Whistle While You Work

Tip #10 - Fight Through Fears

Tip #11 - Take Notes

Tip #12 - Know when to Quit

Tip #13 - Stay Updated

Tip #14 - Balance Effort and Ease

Tip #15 - Assign Tasks

Tip #16 - Step Back

Painters - join me at this Plein Air Workshop:

April 28-30, Anderson Fine Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA

Contact Info: Mary Anderson, 912-634-8414

Summer House - Process Demo and Show Tip #11

Summer House, 30 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2016

Available

I happened upon this quaint summer home in Northern Wisconsin, in Door County to be exact. Lots of folks in the badger state have summer places up there and no wonder, it's a gorgeous getaway. I grew up in Wisconsin, and my family made many visits up that way to see family and to go camping. It's definitely a favorite place of mine! 

With this painting I made a point of taking photos at strategic stages, so that I could share some process notes with you...

Process Notes on Summer House

Sketchpad Drawing

I began with a quick 10x8 graphite sketch in my sketchbook. This helps me get the composition figured out and gives me a comfortable sense of the biggest shapes. 

Block-in Sketch 

This is my initial placement of the subject on canvas, using Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna. 

Block-in Values 

Indicating the darks (and leaving the lights untouched) helps me establish the foundation of my painting (still using ultramarine and burnt sienna).

Shadow Family 

Using the full palette, I painted the shadow family of everything in the painting. This helps me compare all the color and value within that shadow family and make sure it all "agrees". 

Light Family and Final Highlights 

Once the shadow family was working correctly, I was finally able to paint the light and color! It takes patience and a strong belief in delayed gratification to hold off on the fun stuff, but it's always worth it. 

Show Tip #11 - Take Notes!
When you figure something out (an "aha" moment or a breakthrough of any kind), write it down. I always think I will remember everything. Why wouldn't I? The truth is that I forget, sad but true, even some of life's most significant lessons. So I've learned to take notes about the important stuff, and the notes become little monuments to what I've learned. The good news? If I write something down enough times, eventually I get it memorized!  :)

Here are links to other Show Tips:

Tip #1 - Stock up on Supplies
Tip #2 - Set up Deadlines
Tip #3 - Determine Subject Matter

Tip #4 - Work in Series

Tip #5 - Establish a Schedule

Tip #6 - Be Kind to YOU

Tip #7 - Follow your Heart

Tip #8 - Stay Flexible

Tip #9 - Whistle While You Work

Tip #10 - Fight Through Fears

Painters - join me at this Plein Air Workshop:

April 28-30, Anderson Fine Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA

Contact Info: Mary Anderson, 912-634-8414

Dinner and Roses - Show Tip #7

Dinner and Roses, 24 x 18, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2016

SOLD

 A Valentine memory... Remember how everyone brought valentines to the class party in elementary school? We would make paper "mailboxes" for our desks, and then go around and deliver our cards. Our moms were always very clear that a valentine was to go to every kid in the class. I balked about it at the time (what if some boy thought I liked him?). Our moms were right - they knew that everyone needed to be loved. :) Happy Valentine's Day Weekend to all!

Show Tip #7 - Follow your Heart

One of the enemies of our creative spirit is that little voice of doubt that says, "that's a bad idea", or "no one will like this one", or "stick with what worked in the past". Do not listen. It's crippling. I do my best to banish that kind of thinking with a conviction that following my heart is the only way to produce authentic work. Think about it, if we pursue the direction that brings us joy and fulfillment it's a win, no matter where the painting ends up. 

Here are links to other Show Tips:

Tip #1 - Stock up on Supplies
Tip #2 - Set up Deadlines
Tip #3 - Determine Subject Matter

Tip #4 - Work in Series

Tip #5 - Establish a Schedule

Tip #6 - Be Kind to YOU

Painters - join me at this Plein Air Workshop:

April 28-30, Anderson Fine Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA

Contact Info: Mary Anderson, 912-634-8414