Adobe Dwelling - Big Bend, Texas

Adobe Dwelling, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014
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This is the last of my paintings from Big Bend and one of my favorites. Something about that orange and blue combination gets me every time. When the late afternoon sun hit this old adobe remnant, I knew I was in for the duration. It was one of those best moments, when the time and light agree to performing a little magic. I was privileged to be there as a witness. 

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Layered Mesa - Big Bend, Texas

Layered Mesa, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014 

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The Old Maverick Road is a "short cut" on the west side of Big Bend National Park. It's shorter as the crows fly, but kind of a wash board to drive on. Nevertheless, I drive it at least once, almost every time I am there. And I usually feel compelled at some point to pull off and paint one of the views. What caught me here was the layering of shapes off into the distance. Simple, but so distinctly Big Bend.

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Backlit Arroyo - Big Bend, Texas

Backlit Arroyo, 8 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

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One magnificent occurrence in the desert, is how foliage finds a way to thrive. Even when there is no apparent water, it's clear that there is enough moisture (somewhere) for certain species to grow and reproduce. These cottonwoods dotted an entire plain, following water tracks in the arroyo. Flooding signs are everywhere, and when the rain comes, it flows heavily right through here. Hard to imagine on a steaming hot afternoon. 

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Chisos Basin - Big Bend, Texas

Chisos Basin, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

Big Bend, Texas

Have I told you that the Big Bend of Texas is a place of great diversity? It has the desert, the mountains, the river, and all of the accompanying elements. This scene is at one of the higher altitudes inside the national park. A trail from here takes many hikers out to "The Window", where these two mountain ranges come together. It's pretty cool to see. 

Above: My paint site - I love it when I remember to do this. The painting is under my umbrella shade, otherwise, the painting would have been washed out completely. 

See more plein air Field Work.

River Grasses - Big Bend, Texas

River Grasses, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

Big Bend, Texas

Standing on the Texas side of the Rio Grande River, it's hard to believe that Mexico is just a stone's throw away. I could've waded over, but alas, did not have my passport with me. I was quite happy observing these backlit grasses along at river bank. They brought an irresistible warm glow to the soft desert neutrals. Inspiring. 

See more plein air Field Work.

Santa Elena Canyon - Big Bend, Texas

Santa Elena Canyon, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

Big Bend, Texas

This ancient canyon is divided by the Rio Grande River which flows along the Texas/Mexico border. The massive size of the rock walls along the river are ominous as you drive up to them and the canyon itself is awesome. When the light hits it in the morning, the shadows bring it alive. This spot is one of the "must see" treasures of Big Bend. 

Desert Morning - Big Bend, Texas

Desert Morning, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

Big Bend, Texas

I just returned from a painting trip to Big Bend. For those of you who haven't been, this is the wild, wild west of Texas - but on the southern border, down by Mexico. If you read the book, No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy (or saw the movie) you've got a picture. It's a stark and harsh landscape with a beauty all its own. This particular morning dawned with bright light and long shadows, and the desert floor seemed to sparkle. Finding a spot to paint was as easy as pulling over to the side of the road. 

For those who have been, this is the Burro Mesa Pouroff with Santa Elena Canyon in the far distance. 

Creosote Vista

Creosote Vista, 6 x 12 (12 x 18 matted and framed), L. Daniel © 2012

Available at the Davis Gallery 

"Works on Paper" Show

This is the last of my Big Bend series on carton board. The challenge to try something new always brings about creative growth. Experimenting of any kind keeps things fresh and interesting. The show opens this weekend and I personally can't wait to see what everyone has produced. It will be a real celebration of diverse works, for sure. The show will be up for a month, so if you are in or around Austin, please drop by. Or, see all four pieces on my website.


"Works on Paper" Summer Group Show
Davis Gallery, 837 W. 12th Street, Austin, Texas
June 30 - July 31, Reception Saturday, June 30, 7-9 pm

Soaptree Sentinel

Soaptree Sentinel, 12 x 6 (18 x 12 matted and framed)

Oil on paper, L. Daniel © 2012

Available at Davis Gallery

"Works on Paper" Show

This is another piece completed for the "Works on Paper" show that opens this weekend. The Soaptree is fascinating plant that livens up the barren, desert landscape (I especially loved its quirky seed pods up top.) See other works in show on my website. 

A word about framing these works on paper... 

A lot of people have written to ask me if using this paper required framing with a mat and glass. Would they be okay without glass? In theory, the carton board paper is treated so it should hold up over time. However, I chose to frame it under glass for a few reasons: 1) to protect them from dust (not sure how one would clean them otherwise), 2) because they had to be mounted onto something sturdy for presentation anyway, and 3) it's standard framing procedure for works on paper. 

Framing with glass just seemed like the right thing to do to make sure the pieces hold up over time. It also sets them apart from my works on canvas and was a different way to "finish off" this special project. Oh, and one final thing... when I matted them I did allow a 1/4 inch margin around the loosely painted edges - so the image areas are just like the photo above. 

"Works on Paper" Summer Group Show

Davis Gallery, 837 W. 12th Street, Austin, Texas

June 30 - July 31, Reception June 30, 7-9 pm

Blooming Agave

Blooming Agave, 12 x 6 (18 x 12 matted and framed)

Oil on paper, L. Daniel © 2012

Available at the Davis Gallery

"Works on Paper" Show

Blooming cactus is a common and often dramatic sight in the desert. The sheer height of this bloom was astounding. This piece is included in the upcoming "Works on Paper" group show at the Davis Gallery. My pieces in the exhibit are all painted with oil pigments on a card stock called "carton board". I chose this paper for its warm color and absorbant surface. It was actually quite perfect for depicting the soft dusty tones of the desert. (See all show pieces on my website.)

A word about working on this carton board paper... 

The carton board is "resin-sized" which is a process that preps the paper surface to receive paint. It is still very absorbent and has a bit of a scratchy quality. I could have used clear gesso to seal it more thoroughly, but I actually liked the way the paint absorbed into the paper. More paint was required for each stroke and it was very satisfying to apply. My good friend, Robin Cheers, turned me on to it and I like it a lot. Thanks Robin!! Carton board is available at Guerrilla Painter.

"Works on Paper" Summer Group Show

Davis Gallery - 837 W. 12th Street, Austin, TX

June 30 - July 31, Reception June 30, 7-9 pm

Desert Dwelling - Works on Paper Show

Desert Dwelling, 12 x 16 (18 x 22 matted), Oil on paper, L. Daniel © 2012

Available at the Davis Gallery

"Works on Paper" 

Summer Group Show

Davis Gallery

837 W. 12th Street, Austin, TX

June 30 - July 31

Reception June 30, 7-9 pm

Please excuse this interruption of my Coastal Georgia Series... 
In my next few posts, you'll see new paintings from the exhibit above that opens this weekend. The prospectus for this show required that all the work be completed on some kind of paper support. I had a great time experimenting with new surfaces while choosing an alternative to traditional canvas. (More about the paper and process later.) 


The images I chose were inspired by my spring painting trip to Big Bend, Texas. Stay tuned for the companion pieces to this one. Each piece is matted and framed under glass. See all pieces included on my website. If you are in town, please stop by the gallery! 

Heat of the Day - Big Bend

Heat of the Day, L. Daniel, 6 x 8

The craziest thing about Big Bend this time of year is the ever shifting weather. Hot to cold, calm to windy. At this location, I chose a small canvas and the only spot of shade I could find because it was so hot and deadly still that morning. My plan was to do a quick study and do it fast! Not 15 minutes in, a breeze came up and soon I was holding on to my easel to keep it from tipping over. Be careful what you wish for! :)


For those that know the area - this is looking out from the shadow of Santa Elena Canyon. For those that don't - that little piece of river is the Rio Grande which travels the border between Texas and Mexico. And those yellow grasses on the right? Yep, they are in Mexico.

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Mountain Majestic - Big Bend

Mountain Majestic, L. Daniel, 12 x 12 

Up at the basin of Big Bend National Park the mountain peaks jut up all around. The ancient rock is breathtaking and the green growth at the higher elevations is a soothing sight for desert-filled eyes. The challenge for me was to paint the sunlit mountains so that they looked distant. Well that, and getting the colors right, the values accurate, the scale and relationships working... it's all challenging when you are painting fast in the changing light. :)

Hard at work on the mountaintop...

 Photo by Jim Rogers. 

Thanks, Jim!

River Border - Big Bend

River Border, L. Daniel, 9 x 12 - SOLD

So... the Big Bend National Park is located where the Texas/Mexico border makes a BIG bend in its overall shape (hence the name). The Rio Grande River runs along the border separating the two countries, and since the river is a bit low right now one could easily walk across to the other side. So much for border patrol. I did paint this scene on the Texas side (but will you ever really know?) :)


A personal side note: So many of you have sent me notes congratulating the end of my breast cancer treatments and wonderful wishes for a healthy future. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your prayers throughout and words of encouragement mean everything. Deep, deep thanks and much love to all. 

Ghost Town Remnants - Big Bend

Ghost Town Remnants, L. Daniel, 9 x 12 - SOLD

The biggest town in the Big Bend area is Terlingua, a funky little place with a bonafide Ghost Town right in the middle! The ghost town sits on a hillside next to an old graveyard and all the old adobe houses are in various stages of dilapidation. This one was particularly interesting with the sunlight coming through the roof. I really wonder about the people who used to live in these homes and what their life in the desert was like.


Here I am all bundled up, painting inside another ruin to stay warm... it was so windy and cold that day.

Desert Ocotillo - Big Bend

Desert Ocotillo, L. Daniel, 9x12

I just returned from a fabulous painting trip in Big Bend (Southwest Texas) with my painting buddy Julie Davis and a bunch of other great folks from the Outdoor Painters Society. It's about an 8 hour drive, but so worth it to see the diverse and distinct desert/mountain landscape. The first morning we stopped to paint on the side of a desert road to just get acclimated to the colors and shapes. These ocotillo plants are everywhere. In a couple of weeks they will bloom with red flowers... we were just a little too early.

Big Bend finale

Desert Ocotillo, 6 x 8

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This is my last Big Bend painting. I painted this typical desert scene along the Maverick Road, a "drive at your own risk" washboard with very few takers on this particular day. The light kept changing and everything looked completely different 30 minutes later. That's the fun - seeing all the different faces and colors of a place. It was a great trip...

Ghost Town

Sunlit Pueblo, 12 x 12

Terlingua (a quirky little town just outside of Big Bend National Park) has a the remnants of a ghost town - an old mining village. There is still enough left of the old pueblos to fuel the imagination of life in another time. And because they are made of the earth, they appear to be truly part of the landscape.

A little bit of history: Mercury-bearing ore was discovered in Terlingua in the 1800's. The mining population grew from 300 to 1000 by the turn of the century and they even had a post office. "Terlingua" means "three languages" because the inhabitants spoke 3 different languages. The mine was closed in 1905.

Cottonwoods in the Desert

Cottonwood Oasis, 12 x 12

Cottonwoods at Sunset, 12 x 12

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Driving through the desert, I was amazed to see some trees changing color. These cottonwoods thrive next to streams and creeks, and I found their appearance in an otherwise starker landscape very compelling.

Terlingua Creek

Dry Creek Canyon, 12 x 16

This is another piece from my Big Bend trip. Terlingua Creek runs through the town of Terlingua and empties into the Rio Grande. It's pretty low right now but it fills up fast when the rain finally comes.