Morning Breaks Eternal and Happy New Year!

Morning Breaks Eternal, 30 x 30, oil on canvas, L. Daniel© 2023

SOLD

This early morning scene took my breath away. The rim of mountains in the distance and glorious sky beckoned a new and glorious day. What a sweet way to get started! 

Happy New Year to all! Heartfelt, though a little belated! :)

2023 SPRING WORKSHOPS (click here and join me):
April 14-15 - The Contemporary Austin Art School in Austin, TX
May 4-6 - Anderson Fine Art Gallery in St. Simons Island, GA
 

Ruby Sky - Upcoming Show and Process Shots!

Ruby Sky, 24 x 36, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2020

SOLD in my upcoming show at the Davis Gallery

Evidence of the Search - opening Saturday! 

(Click on the link above for bigger and better image)

Last fall, my husband and I went to Dallas for the Texas State Fair and the big UT/Oklahoma game. As we walked from our hotel to the fair on the edge of town, we came upon the vestiges of an old farmstead. The tall granaries and low slung buildings hinted at another era, right in the middle of the city. Civilization had grown up all around it... so unexpected and oddly pristine. :)

On our way home, the sky put on a spectacular show... I shot a million photos and determined I would try to paint that spot. It took me a few months to get back to it, but when I did, the inspiration was still there!!! Magical moments are like that. 

Here are some process shots to see how the piece came together...

Initial sketch for Placement

Used ultramarine & burnt sienna on yellow toned canvas.

Full Block-in 

Painted the dark values with mix of ultramarine and burnt sienna. 

Stained the sky with alizarin crimson (as under-color placeholder). 

The Sky

 Painted large areas of luscious PINK and YELLOW in the sky, as a base for the cloud pattern. (Dark foreground... established by using tight values and low contrast.)

Grey clouds painted OVER the pink and yellow elements of the sky, and blended a bit on the canvas. Reserved areas of sky color that would best guide the viewer's eye to my focal point... the old granary.

And... for my friend, JM... here is that yummy warm pink made from a little red, a little yellow, and a little white. ;)

Breaking Through - with Process Shots!

Breaking Through, 30 x 30, Oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2020

SOLD

One of my goals for this quarantine is to work on larger paintings for an upcoming solo show that is scheduled at the Davis Gallery this fall. That show may be pushed out due to rescheduling of all the canceled shows before mine... HOWEVER, I need goals. Especially now. (I'm sure you know what I mean. We are all in the same situation.) 

SO, I am going to proceed as if everything is still "on". This may be an obvious sign of my personal denial - but it's a coping skill, and I am going to use it. Somehow it helps me stay productive. ;)

I did remember to take some process shots on this one, so here you go... enjoy!

I started my block in on a toned canvas (Indian yellow painted on and vigorously wiped off), hoping to achieve some "glow". The sketch was done with a mix of ultramarine and burnt sienna (my favorite combination for under drawing).

Using a variety of grays, I blocked in the large shapes of my backlit clouds. My goal was to establish a sense of depth from the beginning. 

Once the shapes were arranged in a hierarchical order, I began to bring in some color to both the sky and the clouds. While the variety of grays helped me establish depth in the block in, they were too warm and fought with the warm sun popping through. 

The final piece - the adjusted color gave me the drama I was looking for. I happy to see how the cooler clouds gave a wonderful contrast to the warm sun as it "breaks through". 

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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. 

Scattered Clouds - Exhibit at Davis Gallery

Scattered Clouds, 30 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2015

Available at Davis Gallery 

Davis Gallery's annual summer show opens officially this weekend with a reception on Saturday night. Unfortunately, I will have to miss the party for a wedding, but my paintings (including this one) will be there. Please stop by!

"A Summer Place Where We Can Go" Group Show

Davis Gallery, 837 West 12th, Austin, Texas

Reception June 27, 7-9 pm

On display through August 8.

Taking Flight

Taking Flight, 30 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2014

SOLD

As the sun rises at the ocean, birds gather attentively along the shore. Every now and then something startles them and they all take flight, only to circle back and resume their "watch". I love witnessing this early morning production. "Taking Flight" is now available at the Anderson Gallery on St. Simons Island, GA. 

Please come join me for these Upcoming Workshops:

January 22-24, 2015 | Still Life | Austin, Texas

March 26-29, 2015 | Plein Air | Austin, Texas

April 30-May 2, 2015 | Plein Air | St. Simons Island, GA

Skyworks and Kitchen Warmth

Skyworks, 24 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2013

Kitchen Warmth, 24 x 18, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

Places of warmth - both outside and inside - draw me hopelessly in. A field of golden grass, an exploding sky, a table streaked with sunbeams... each has the capacity to stop me in my tracks. And it's good to be stopped in my tracks once in awhile... 

These paintings will both be available in my upcoming show, "Landscapes: Interior-Exterior", opening October 5th at the Davis Gallery. 

A Big Commission and a Big Upcoming Show!

Field of Bluebonnets, 40 x 30, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2013

SOLD

I know I have been a little AWOL, but I am back. :) I spent most of August hunkered down in the studio, working on a commission and lots of new work for a big upcoming show... 

First, the commission: This very large piece was commissioned by a patron who left Texas and wanted a painting to remember the big skies and prolific wildflowers of her home state. It was a delight to work on because these are things I love about Texas too, but more importantly, my clients were a complete joy. The painting is now happily installed, bringing a little bit of Texas to it's new home. 

Second, the show: I have been busily preparing a new body of work for my two-person show with fabulous artist, Sandra Langston, which opens at the Davis Gallery on October 5th, here in Austin. I will begin to post my work in the next few days, but wanted to let you know that it's coming. Below is a "Save the Date" - if you are near Austin, mark your calendar and please come. I do wish you could all come!

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...

Flying South

Flying South, L. Daniel, 30 x 30

This painting of the beach at dusk will be in my upcoming show at the Davis Gallery here in Austin. And yes, there is actually a flying "V" of silhouetted birds in the sky. I may have imagined the flight direction, but South seemed appropriate. :)


Please visit my website for a preview of all my paintings for the exhibit.


Read my show review in American Art Collector April issue (p. 104).

Help Japan - painting for auction

Hillside Wonder (study), L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD 

My gallery buddies at Daily Paintworks are hosting an online art auction to raise funds for relief efforts in Japan, and this piece is on the auction block.


Please visit our site and click the Help Japan Challenge link to see wonderful paintings by participating artists and have some fun with the auction! Remember all the money will go to helping the people of Japan.


A little bit of background on the auction theme: Artists are invited to submit/donate a piece that represents "home" to them (it's not too late, artist friends). I chose this big sky of Texas because, for me, it represents both a sense of power and a feeling peace. This is my greatest wish for the people of Japan right now... power to rebuild and peace on the way. 

Proceeds of my sale will go to the Japanese Red Cross Society. 

Hillside Wonder (study)

Hillside Wonder (study), L. Daniel, 6 x 8 

I have a "thing" for silhouettes against big skies... they always bring out the wonder in me. This sky was almost swirling with the color and movement of the clouds. 


Donated to Help Japan Auction - click here for info.
See more Small Works

Hay Rolls with Summer Sky

Hay Rolls with Summer Sky, L. Daniel, 18 x 18

This is the larger painting of Hay Rolls. I was drawn to the wonderful variety of "rolling" forms in this scene: the spools of hay in the foreground, the undulating tree masses and distant hills, and finally the swirling sky shapes. All seemed to be unified by that summer afternoon in Texas, white bright light that we know so well.

Hay Rolls

Hay Rolls, L. Daniel, 6 x 6, SOLD

Sometimes when I am about to tackle a large piece I don't feel quite ready. Maybe I haven't painted for a few days and feel rusty, or maybe the canvas seems just too white... Whatever the problem is, it really helps me to pull out a small canvas to "warm up" on. This is one of those. Larger painting coming tomorrow.

See more Small Works

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Personal side note: I just returned from New York City where I was able to visit the Matisse exhibit at the MoMA and the Picasso exhibit at the Met. It amazed me to see how often both of these great artists returned to certain imagery and how they reworked specific pieces over and over. They seemed to have an unquenchable focus on the journey, or the "search" if you will. I was so inspired by the evidence of their committed, focussed practice.

Night Sky over the Pier

Night Sky over the Pier, L. Daniel, 18 x 18
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On St. Simons Island in Georgia, everyone goes to the Pier at night... on a walk, on a date, to fish, to eat ice cream, to see friends... on July 4th, to see fireworks. In the summer, there is usually a nice cool breeze off the ocean, which feels pretty great. This is the larger piece done after the small study I posted yesterday.

Summer Rain (enlarged)

Summer Rain, L. Daniel, 18 x 18

This is a one of several new additions to my big sky series I have been working on since the beginning of the year. I will be posting a couple more new ones over the next few days. Based on a small plein air study (posted June 27), I revisited a warm summer afternoon of painting on Lake Somerville here in Texas. At the end of the day dark clouds rolled in behind the fluffy clouds in the foreground, and emptied out their contents on the distant shore. It is always fun to be watch a weather phenom in action!!

Rosy Billows (enlarged)

Rosy Billows, L. Daniel, 18 x 18

Back to the big skies. I painted this piece for my big sky series back in the spring, but I forgot to photograph and post it. So, here it is, just a little bit late. You may remember the small study. The scene is from West Texas in the Davis Mountains - a beautiful, end of day performance.

Rosy Billows (Study)

Rosy Billows, 6 x 6, L. Daniel, SOLD

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This is the study for another painting in my big sky series inspired by West Texas. The vivid pink reflection in the clouds at the end of the day was so compelling. It was too late for me to start painting, but I got some notes and photos to work with when I got home. Tomorrow I will post the larger version.

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See more Small Works

Distant Showers (enlarged)

Distant Showers (enlarged), 18 x 18, L. Daniel

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What is it about rain in the distance that is so captivating? I think it's that we can actually SEE the clouds bursting and the water pouring out. It's thrilling and it carries a certain sense of urgency (must close windows... must batten down the hatches.) It's just so big and powerful.

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This is the third painting in my big sky series from West Texas...