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

Value Studies - Process Shots from Workshop Demo

Jekyll Beach Value Study, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2016

Workshop Demo - Anderson Fine Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA

Last weekend I taught a workshop on St. Simons Island, GA. The focus of the workshop was color and value in the landscape, and we drilled way down to understand those concepts. On the first day, we took a break from color and painted value studies. Below is a review for my students and for anyone who would like to try it!

Mix a strand of 5 grays, plus black and pure white (7 values total). 

Make sure the grays are distinct from one another.

Get started with a sketch of simple shapes to compose the scene. 

Divide the landscape into 5 values, using John Carlson's Theory of the Planes...

Working dark to light, use first gray (darkest) in foreground uprights found in rock shadows, second gray in middle ground uprights (trees), third gray in distant uprights, fourth gray in ground plane (water) and fifth gray (lightest) in sky.

Values come together as they recede... darks get lighter and lights get darker. 

(Note: usually the lightest light will be found in the sky, but in this scene the white sand reflecting the sunlight was brightest.)

Use subtle value shifts to indicate highlights in each plane.

Save pure white for highest highlights (rock light), and pure black for calligraphy and darkest shadows in the foreground.

Mix a strand of warm values using yellow, black and white.

Mute each value in this strand with white (muted strand not shown, sorry!)

Use warm values to indicate how temperature behaves when color is added.

Color intensifies as it comes forward, and it weakens (mutes, cools) as it recedes.

Hard at work, mixing and identifying values...

Many thanks to a wonderful group of students, you all did GREAT!

Marshside Palms Demo - Georgia Workshop

Marshside Palms Demo, 8 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

SOLD

This is another demo from my workshop last week. I want to thank one of my students, Joan Vienot, for taking a few pictures; and for sending them to me so that I can share them with you! Did I mention what great students I had?? We had a wonderful time painting together on St. Simons Island. 

Pencil drawing in sketchbook for composition and visual idea…

it always helps me to think things through ahead of time.

Outline on canvas for placement…

I keep it light and sketchy at first to make sure I have achieved my composition plan before adding value or details (easy to change if needed).

Blocking in the dark masses…

I always work dark to light and front to back. Yep, I do the sky last.

Palette with mixed color piles…

I try to maintain an organized palette, keeping families of color together. My only medium is refined linseed oil, so I use a lot of brushes - about one per color.  

Finished painting - Marshside Palms

Arbor Fence - Plein Air Demo

Arbor Fence - Plein Air Demo, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

SOLD

Last week I taught a 3-day workshop to 12 wonderful students in St. Simons Island, GA. I began this demo on the first day, but a storm threatened our session and I never finished it. (As it turned out, the rain never came.) I promised to complete the demo after the workshop, but ended up starting over completely in order to take process photos for my students. Here are the notes... for my students and for you. :)

1) Block-in and underdrawing (ultramarine and burnt sienna.)

2) Mass in dark uprights - in the shadow family.

3) Mass in dark uprights - in the light family.

4) Mass in sky plane and ground plane.

(The pink ground came from the sand color beneath the grass.)

 5) Work grass color into ground plane. Adjust values as needed.

Remember that values come together as they recede into the distance. 

(Less contrast, less chroma in color, less detail, less texture.) 

6) Add final details and highlights. Push color relationships.

(I painted the fence wet into wet, using a liner brush.)