Tropical Overflow - Starting with a Preliminary Sketch

Tropical Overflow, 24 x 24, Oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2019

From solo show, "Beaches, Birds, and Botanicals"

SOLD

When I received this gorgeous flower arrangement from my sweet husband, I knew I would HAVE to paint it. I loved how the orchid blossoms bent and wandered freely into the light, while the many plant stems were tightly compressed in the shadow of the jar. As is often my practice, I pulled out a sketchbook to capture the parts that interested me...

Tropical Overflow, graphite sketch, 10x10

Doing a sketch helps me get the shapes and essence of a subject in my eye. Sometimes I'll make several sketches, until I find the composition I like best.

 Moving with wet paint onto the larger canvas, I first try to capture the profile only of the smaller image I want to paint. I keep my first marks light and outline-y (avoiding all detail) until I know I have positioned the whole subject correctly. 

Within that profile "envelope", I build out the values of the various elements of the subject. Having this underpainting as my block-in helps me hold on to the darks and lights as I add in color. 

Final painting, "Tropical Overflow", 24 x 24, L. Daniel

WORKSHOP INFO:

Fall Plein Air Workshop at Contemporary Austin Art School, Nov. 8-9, 2019

FULL - Register for waitlist Here 

Flowering Shadows - with process shots!

Flowering Shadows, 30 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2019

SOLD

"Beaches, Birds, and Botanicals"

Solo show opens April 12, 2019

When I am painting a lot in the studio on larger works, I tend to be working from small studies and photographs as my source material. After awhile, I just want to paint from life. When the grocery store offered Agapanthus in the middle of winter, I knew it was time for a still life! It's offers a visual break and change of pace for my painter's brain. 

This is one of 25 new works that will be in the solo show next week.

Below are process shots that reveal how the painting came together. 

The block in.

Painting directly, wet into wet.

Finished piece.

The set up in my studio.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Turk's Cap, 8 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013, SOLD

MERRY CHRISTMAS 

and 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Thank you for your support and friendship. Being able to share my work with you is a privilege I never take for granted. I especially appreciate that each correspondence we share brings the world a little closer. May this holiday season find you happy and healthy, and celebrating with your loved ones. 

See more Small Works

Bursting Pomegranate

Bursting Pomegranate, 18 x 18, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2013

SOLD

This is another new piece just delivered to the Anderson Gallery in St. Simons Island, Georgia. You might remember the small study I did awhile back when a friend brought me these pomegranates from her yard. One of them had burst open on its own in the ripening process; and the translucent kernels inside were so compelling I just HAD to do a larger painting. :)

Paintings of St. Simons Island are coming soon. I finally got the first few pieces photographed today so I can begin posting. I will be painting up a storm down here in the days and weeks to come, so please stay tuned. 

Loquat Branch

Loquat Branch, 18 x 18, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2013

SOLD

I just finished a crazy busy week that included a road trip to Georgia, teaching a three day workshop on St. Simons Island, and painting in the beautiful Golden Isles. I will be here for several weeks, enjoying my family and painting the gorgeous scenery I so love. "Loquat Branch" is one of a couple new paintings I brought with me (these loquats are from my backyard in Austin), and it's now available at the Anderson Gallery. 

Healing Fruit

Healing Fruit, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

SOLD

Okay, just one more pomegranate... for now. You can say it. I am obsessed. This is for everyone who wanted me to open one up and paint the insides. I didn't want to cut into my little crop, and mine are all gone now. However, my good friend brought me this lovely specimen from her tree and it had burst open on it's own. So, as you can see... I had to paint one more!!

Abundant Harvest (study) and a commission piece

Abundant Harvest (Study), 8 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

SOLD

Back to my pomegranate obsession!!! This small study was a warm-up for a Christmas Promise commission piece (otherwise known as a gift that would be delivered in January.) I was thrilled to revisit the glorious fruit of my recent passions; and even more thrilled when my clients loved their new painting. JOY! 

Below is the larger commissioned piece. Thank you M and K - may your kitchen, hearth, and home be ever blessed!!! :)

Abundant Harvest, 16 x 12, oil on canvas, L. Daniel 

COMMISSION - SOLD

Dangling Fruit

Dangling Fruit, 18 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2012

Available at the Davis Gallery

This is the last of the pomegranates... for now anyway! Happy am I, to see the series framed and beautifully installed in the Davis Gallery Holiday Group Show. The opening reception was Saturday night and though I had every intention of taking lots of photos, I only managed to get this one before the festivities began. 

The work is on display through January 19, 2013, so please stop by if you are in the area. Click HERE to see all of my work that is included in the exhibit.

Branches of Pomegranate

Branches of Pomegranate, 24 x 20, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2012

Available at the Davis Gallery

More pomegranates... did I mention that I love them? These fruits have been treasured by most religions and cultures throughout the ages. They are valued not only for their beauty, sweet juice and medicinal qualities, but also for what they symbolize... abundance, promise, new life, resurrection, eternal life, prosperity and fertility. In this season of gratitude for all good gifts and especially for my health, the promise of abundance and new life is especially meaningful to me. 

This piece will be in the Davis Gallery Holiday Group Show that opens this weekend. Click HERE to visit my website's "Holiday Show" page and see all my work that will be included in this exhibit. And please come by the gallery to see them in real life if you can make it!

Holiday Group Show

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

Drop-in Reception - Saturday December 8

7:00 - 9:00 pm

Ruby Orbs (enlarged)

Ruby Orbs (enlarged version), 18 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2012

Available at the Davis Gallery

I have been on a pomegranate painting binge lately... I simply can not resist their shape and color and essence. This is the enlarged version of a study I posted last week; and is one of three paintings in a series that will be on display at the Davis Gallery Holiday Group Show. The exhibit opens this coming weekend and includes fabulous work by many of our gallery artists. If you are in town, please stop by for the reception on Saturday. I hope to see you there! 

Holiday Group Show

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

Reception Saturday, December 8, 2012

7:00 - 9:00 pm

Abundant Hope - an auction of gratitude for my first full year of remission!

Abundant Hope, 12 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012

All proceeds go to breast cancer research and education.

SOLD

December 1, 2011 was the first day of my remission from breast cancer. The doctor declared my lumpectomy surgery a success, and the cancer was out. Hope doesn't get much more abundant than that! Twelve months later, I hold dear the lessons of that scary time and am very grateful to be on the other side of all the unknowns. And, it has been a wonderful year... one of the best yet. 

I thank God for this glorious anniversary; and thank all of you for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers, for sending notes of encouragement, and for offering sweet support in my time of need. It meant everything to me.

Please join me now in this auction to raise money for breast cancer research and education. It's easy and completely safe to bid. At the end of the 7-day auction, I will send the painting to you, and donate the proceeds to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. It's win-win!

Ruby Orbs

Ruby Orbs (study), 6x8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012

SOLD

It's pomegranate season! Well, truth is, we are at the end of the season now, but my garden has done it's job producing these delightful fruits for my visual pleasure. I can't bring myself to eat them or even break them open, I just love them too much. I did cut some branches and bring them inside to paint. This is the first of a few studies I did in preparation for some larger pieces.

Sacred Pomegranate

Sacred Pomegranate, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, Oil on panel
*All Proceeds will go to "Every Mother Counts" fundraiser
SOLD

The pomegranate has been held as sacred by many religions since ancient times. It represents fertility and marriage, birth and eternal life... and, it's revered for it's healing medicinal qualities. It seemed a fitting image for this cause.


*Every Mother Counts is an aid organization that combats maternal mortality during childbirth by training midwives and opening health clinics in the Republic of Congo.


See more Small Works