Verdant River Valley

Verdant River Valley, L. Daniel, 30 x 30

SOLD

This river runs through a valley in the Adirondack Mountains where I painted last summer for a week. It is such a gorgeous area of the country and painting at this ambling body of water was a highlight. I posted the plein air piece then, but recently finished this larger studio piece. Misty storm clouds were wafting away (it rained a lot that week) and the sun was breaking through in the distance. Ahhh... I do love it when the sun breaks through. 

AND, speaking of sunny breakthroughs... I finally reached the end of my radiation treatments. YAY!!! For those just tuning in, I was diagnosed with breast cancer this past November. I had a lumpectomy in December followed by 6 1/2 weeks of radiation every day. Last Thursday, I got the final blast. Indeed, a HUGE breakthrough!! Though it wasn't fun, I am so very grateful for each and every dose, and am feeling great.  

My sweet husband took me away to a spa weekend in San Antonio to be pampered... here we are celebrating on the Riverwalk. As if that wasn't enough, tomorrow I am heading out to paint at Big Bend for a few days. The celebrating just doesn't end!!! Again I say, YAY!!!

Blue Dusk

Blue Dusk, L. Daniel, 6 x 6, SOLD

Have you ever noticed that light is most spectacular as it enters and exits the sky? Dawn and dusk are my favorite times of day because they always give such a great show. The soft colors of this blue evening took my breath away.

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River Valley Study

River Valley Study, L. Daniel, 6 x 6, SOLD

Wow! Thank you all for your outpouring of support for my breast cancer journey. Your words of encouragement are incredibly empowering. I wish I could answer each email personally, but please know that I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It means so much to me to hear your stories and your promises to do those breast exams!


This small painting was a warm up for a larger piece I painted last fall. (Both are based on a plein air piece from my trip to the Adirondacks.) I hung onto this small one until the larger one was finished and, well, never got around to posting either of them. So, while I wait for some new work to dry, here is "River Valley Study". 


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PS - I was pleased to find out today that I am the current featured artist on the Judson Art Outfitters Plein Air Store blogsite! Thank you, friends at Judson's!

Painting Included in fall issue of Plein Air Magazine!! WOO HOO!

High Falls, L. Daniel, 12 x 12

The Fall 2011 issue of Plein Air Magazine has an article about the Publisher's Invitational that took place in the Adirondacks this summer, and this painting of mine is included in the story! What a thrill it was to open the pages and see it there (I'm not going to lie, I bought several copies!) The magazine is available at Barnes and Noble in the art section. Go check it out! And thanks for letting me share the good news!

Artist friends: this week I will be attending the Weekend with the Masters in Monterey, CA. If any of you are going to be there, please contact me. It would be fun to meet up!

Also - HELP CAROL AND DAVID MARINE FUNDRAISER - click here

My dear painting buddy, Carol Marine, has lost her home, studio and everything inside to the Texas wildfires. Many of you know Carol and would like to help out. The above link will take you to a fundraiser help the Marine family get back on their feet. All donations will go directly to them. Please keep central Texas in your thoughts and prayers. 

Cool Mist

Cool Mist, L. Daniel, 8 x 6, SOLD

This has been a summer of any thing BUT cool mists here in Texas. Thankfully, I have been able to take a couple of excursions to places where jackets were needed and water actually fell from the sky. It's a beautiful thing. This piece is a revisitation to the drippy skies of upstate New York.


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Evolution of a big, big painting

Farmer's Field, L. Daniel, 36" x 60"

Above, close up shots for detail of brushwork and color. 

A couple of weeks ago, I told you I was working on a larger version of one of my plein air pieces from the Adirondacks (click here to see small piece). Well, I finally finished! This is the largest fine art painting I have ever done (prior to this, 30" x 40" was my largest.) The canvas has been in my studio for years but I could never work my way up to it. Why now?? I did it for my biggest fan, my husband, who has a giant wall in his new office space. He has been asking me for his own, NEW painting for quite some time (he always gets the leftovers, sadly), so this one's for him!!! :)  

The following process shots are for all you painter types out there who might find it interesting to see how the painting came together. I had to change my approach a bit since there was so much area to cover. Click images to enlarge.

1 - I began by lightly sketching of my composition onto the canvas with a blue pastel pencil;

followed by Line and Mass Block-in using French Ultramarine & Burnt Sienna.

2 - Focusing on the center section first, I worked outward adding color.

I prefer working with paint while wet (alla prima), so it helped to 

work one area at a time... kind of like the fresco painters of old.

3 - Since the darks dry fastest, I painted into all the dark edges while they were still wet.

This was a good stopping point after a day of painting. 

4 - Next, I added the sky and ground plane.  

This was another stopping point (I actually thought I was finished here, 

but, the ground seemed too orange and the sky needed more action, so...)

5 - Back at the easel, I muted the ground plane and began to add more clouds (in process here)... 

6 - FINAL PAINTING - I finished the clouds (softened) and 

further broke up the tree masses (still fairly subtle but more obvious in real life).

Once I get the painting up in my husband's office, I will try to get a good picture of it. It's always fun to see a painting "in situ". Now, did I mention I have two more huge canvases in my studio just waiting?? :)

Farmer's Field - Adirondack Trip (last)

Farmer's Field, L. Daniel, 6 x 12, SOLD

This is my final painting from the Adirondack Invitational trip with Plein Air Magazine. And what a fabulous trip it was! Beautiful country, wonderful people, a great adventure! This row of trees on the horizon called my name as I was scouting out some country side roads late one afternoon. I found a tree that protected me from both sun and rain while I was painting... it was that kind of day. 


Thank you for your many notes of encouragement about these paintings, I really appreciate being able to share the experience with friends. AND, right now I am actually painting a giant version of this scene in my studio (3' x 5')... so stay tuned... I will post about it later, when it is finished, dry and photographable. Extending the fun... :)

Stormy Meadow - Adirondack Trip

Stormy Meadow, L. Daniel, 12 x 16

Sometimes when the sky is darkest, the ground takes on an incredibly intense hue. In this meadow, the grass sparkled a brilliant chartreuse while the distant mountains came in and out of view with the fickle mist. Occasionally some light would push through on the horizon, but only for a moment. It was just one of those rainy mountain days... cozy...

Mountain Chapel - Adirondack Trip

Mountain Chapel, L. Daniel, 16 x 12

This charming old chapel sits on a triangular corner in the tiny mountain town of Bloomindale, New York. It obviously served the spiritual needs of the community for some time, and most recently served as an antique store. But sadly, it now sits vacant. It's so charming and gingerbread-y that it would be perfect for something. (It would make such a cool studio I thought to myself). Hopefully, it won't be empty for long.

Disappearing Creek - Adirondack Trip

Disappearing Creek, L. Daniel, 12 x 12

One afternoon, all the painters who came to the Adirondack event gathered to paint at the Saranac Gun Club AND to pose for a group photo. We lined up in this field and painted together until the appointed time for the photo "op". It was a memorable event - this many plein air painters all in one place is rare indeed! (Normally we all like our privacy.) As for our subject matter... this is actually the Saranac River though it looked more like a creek in this location... hence the title.

Here we all are, hard at work... 

See all the easels lined up in the background?? 

Black Pond Forest - Adirondack Trip

Black Pond Forest, L. Daniel, 12 x 12

Another misty, rainy day led me into the forest to paint in the dripping quiet. I set up my umbrella early on because the trees were shrugging off water droplets from an earlier storm. Well, it turned out to be fortuitous because an hour or so into the painting, the sky started raining with gusto. The umbrella worked like a charm. I stood my ground and was still painting long after the shower stopped (so empowering, I felt like I had won a battle!)  


By the way, I love those trees they have out there in upstate New York! :)

High Falls - Adirondack Trip

High Falls, L. Daniel, 12 x 12

Hiking down in to this falls was well worth the effort. When I stepped into the clearing and caught my first view, I absolutely squealed with delight. It's sheer power was evidenced by the roaring, gushing water and the misty overspray; completely enveloping everything in the vicinity. It is a truly awesome place. (see picture below)


In other news - Many thanks to Raymond Logan for reviewing my work in his "Daily Painter Review" blog. Please check it out and see some of his other reviews at the same time! Thank you, Raymond!!!!!

This is me painting the waterfall - picture by Maria Amor (thanks, Maria!)

Rock Island - Adirondack Trip

Rock Island, L. Daniel, 12 x 12

I just returned from a fabulous week of painting at the Publisher's Invitational in the Adirondack Mountains. It was a wonderful gathering of over 80 like-minded plein air painters from all over the US (and one person from Russia)... brought together by Eric Rhoads, publisher of Plein Air Magazine. We had a bit of rain and overcast skies, but it didn't deter any of us. We painted every hill and dale, creek and waterfall we could find. In the evenings we shared stories and inspirations - an incredible time all the way around!!!!