Plantation Lawn - demo notes!

Plantation Lawn, 6 x 8, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2019

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Plantation Lawn is a demo from my spring workshop in St. Simons Island, GA. We were painting at the historical Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation (we always go to wonderful places and have a great time! Just sayin'...) If you are thinking about putting a workshop on your Christmas list, I would love to have you come to one of mine! For full details and contact info, please visit my website. Here are the dates and locations... 

2020 PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

March 30-April 2, 2020 - Wimberley, Texas

April 16-18, 2020 - St. Simons Island, Georgia

May 8-9, 2020 - Austin, Texas

DETAILS ON MY WEBSITE: laureldaniel.com 

And here is a snippet of the day. I often start with a paint along demo, where students follow the same steps as me. It helps to step through the whole process together, and the "see and do" aspect reinforces muscle memory (for both brain and hand...

Getting started - Compose with lines and shapes that will direct eye flow. Create an "envelope" to contain shapes (sometimes they want to grow).

Block-in value patterns of large shapes. Mass-in Upright planes in the shadow family.

 Mass-in Upright planes in the light family.

Mass-in ground plane and sky plane.

Finishing - Finesse edges and add final highlights at the very end.

Crooked Little Tree - repeat post with active link for purchasing

Crooked Little Tree, 8 x 6, Oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

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Due to technical difficulties (okay, okay, due to operator error) I posted this small painting two days ago with a broken link to PayPal. If you were interested in purchasing it and couldn't get through, please try again. It wants to find its forever home! :)

Crooked Little Tree (purchase link repaired)

Crooked Little Tree, 8 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

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In his book, The Art Spirit, Robert Henri writes, "Give the tree its gesture." The full quote reads like this...

"Get one form that looks like the tree rather than little pickings at the branches. Give the tree its gesture. Some trees are heavy, ample and full. In a tree, there is a spirit of life, a spirit of growth and a spirit of heading its head up." - Robert Henri

I thought of these words as painted this crooked little tree. In fact, I try to access this idea whenever I paint trees, of any kind. It's important to look for the quirky spirit that makes each one unique. When you find it, celebrate it! It's also what makes them fun to paint. 

Not a bad lens to view ALL of life from! ;)

Winter Harbor

Winter Harbor, 8 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

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Another title for this piece could have been "Moored and Forgotten". Although the harbor waters were smooth as glass, the air was frosty and no one was out for water sports of any kind! The upside??? Those three boats stayed right in place for the duration of my painting session! It was pretty cold for painting too. I'm not going to lie, I didn't last long myself. :)

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2020 PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

(A good thing to add to your Christmas list!)

March 30-April 2, 2020 - Wimberley, Texas

April 16-18, 2020 - St. Simons Island, Georgia

May 8-9, 2020 - Austin, Texas

SEE DETAILS ON MY WEBSITE: laureldaniel.com 

Antiques on the Corner

Antiques On The Corner, 10 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

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Victorian Place Antiques in Brunswick, Georgia, sits at the intersection of Gloucester and MLK. I was drawn to this storefront by its charming angled entrance, and its architectural reminder of an era gone by. (I also loved the shady parkway that provided cool protection on a hot, steamy Georgia morning!) This building has been repurposed time and again for the various dreams of its ever changing owners. It is now full of beautiful antique treasures. If walls could speak, I am sure this place would tell many tales. 

Huge thanks to those of you who have checked in with concern about the flooding in Texas... I appreciate it so much! All is well with us, but please keep Houston and other flooded areas in your prayers! There has been much loss!

Ready and Waiting - with Process Shots

Ready and Waiting, 8 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2016

Available

Rows of boats always compel me to stop and take a closer look. Their shapes and lines create interesting rhythms across the landscape. I loved how these were peeking through the foliage and catching the light. It was fun to get just a suggestion of the hulls and masts!

Here are a few process shots from the scene to the finish. I have to admit that once I start painting, I forget to stop and take pictures, so there are a few missing steps. (Best laid plans, as they say!!!)

The scene from my easel

 My block in

Adding color

Final painting

Painting friends... 

Please join me at these upcoming fall workshops:

Still Life: Color and Form - September 16-17, 2016, 9am-4pm.

En Plein Air: Shape and Movement - November 4-5, 2016, 9am-4pm. 

Contact: The Contemporary Austin School of Art 512-323-6380, or click HERE.

Old Water Tank

Old Water Tank, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

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I have been spying this water tank for quite some time, and finally had the chance today to get out and paint it. As the sun lit up the tank against a cloudy sky, it absolutely glowed! It was a lovely combination of color and light. 

Docked Shrimp Boat - Georgia Coast

Docked Shrimp Boat, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

Available - Click for information

Commercial shrimp boats are constantly trawling the horizon on the Georgia Coast. Their complicated rigging is quite distinctive, not to mention the commotion of birds, dive bombing for the refuse. It's a huge industry and the harvest is enjoyed in most local restaurants. This shrimper was "in" for service and I was able to paint it at rest. 

Roadside Sales - Georgia Coast

Roadside Sales, 8 x 10, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

Available - Click for information 

This veggie truck is always set up at a busy intersection in Brunswick, GA; and I have wanted to paint it for a couple of years. On my recent visit, I finally pulled over, found a safe place to stand across the street, and was able to paint to my heart's content. I had so much fun with its bright green color and watching its hopping sales activity!

Rusted Shipyard Dock

Rusted Shipyard Dock, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

This past Saturday started out to be a sunny day on St. Simons Island (GA)… perfect for painting. Well, just as I was about to finish this piece, a huge storm rolled in. I had been watching those little dark clouds multiply, but I was still surprised as my paintbox filled with rain and I had to run for cover. (Call it denial.) Thankfully, there was a large bridge trestle nearby to mop up the mess and wait out the storm. It was quite a lovely morning, in spite of the drama!

Palm Court

Palm Court, 8 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

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Huge palm trees seem to be beckoning visitors in to this lovely garden courtyard in Brunswick, Georgia. This garden square was originally designed and built in the late 1800's to provide a gathering spot for a growing city. Even though it has been restored in recent years, It has an old feel to it. I can't help imagining church picnics, ice cream socials, and the bandstand music of another era that took place on these grounds. 

In May, I did a painting demonstration at the Anderson Gallery of another view in this same garden. See process notes of that demo by clicking HERE.

See more Small Works

Garden Square - Demo and Process Notes

Garden Square, 12 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

Today I did a painting demonstration at the new Anderson Gallery Annex on St. Simons Island, Georgia. Since the demo was indoors, I decided to replicate this plein air painting completed on location yesterday. Having the finished piece is a great reference because it helps students/viewers get an idea of where I am headed with all my process decisions.  (And it's a great reference for me as I paint the image again!!) I even remembered to take pictures to recap it here for them and for you. Many thanks to all my attendees!

The scene from my easel...

This  is a garden park named Hanover Square in Brunswick, Georgia. 

Block In...

Line and mass sketch establishes composition and value relationships. 

Paint color is a dark neutral mix of Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna.

Upright Plane…

Dark and light families in the upright elements adjust as they recede into the distance - values come together (darks get lighter and lights get darker).

Ground plane…

Since the ground plane reflects the sky, it is usually the second lightest element in the landscape (the lightest element will be the sky, where the sun is). 

Sky Plane and Final Highlights…

Once all elements are working together, add details and final highlights. This is a serious exercise in delayed gratification, but it always, ALWAYS works best to leave those details until the very end!

Smell the Roses and Twisting Turns

Smell the Roses, 18 x 24, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

Twisting Turns, 18 x 24, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

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From well-gardened corners to twisting marshland waterways, these familiar southern passageways speak to me of "home". Over the years, I have spent much time on the Georgia coast and it's imagery has become imbedded in my heart and mind's eye. I love to see it and I love to paint it even more. 

These pieces were in my show at the Davis Gallery, October 2013.

Hilltop Skies and Garden View

Hilltop Skies, 40 x 30, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2013 - SOLD

Garden View, 18 x 18, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2013 - SOLD

Here are two more paintings for my upcoming show (yes, I have been stock-piling). Hilltop Skies is a typical Hill Country field in springtime, filled with wildflowers and big clouds. I say "typical" but there is nothing ordinary about spring in Texas. I can never get enough. Garden View offers a similar riot of color, but from a cozy cottage on the coast of Georgia. Both scenes speak to me of the comfort and peace of home. And "home" comes in many forms for each of us. 

Landscapes: Interior-Exterior

Davis Gallery, Austin, Texas

Opens October 5th, 7-9pm

English Garden - Georgia Coast

English Garden, 12 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

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English gardens usually have an element of surprise and a bit of whimsy. This front yard garden was a delightful combination of both. Penny, the garden's owner (who is actually from England), was out pulling weeds when I got started painting her house. She was kind of enough to move her car and came out to check on me halfway through. Unfortunately, she was gone when I finished the painting, but I think she knew I loved all the color and textures in her yard. Thank you, Penny!

Garden Entrance - Georgia Coast

Garden Entrance, 12 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

This fancy side entrance leads to a shop in downtown Brunswick, Georgia. It is adjacent to a lovely public garden, where the agapanthus and hydrangeas are in full bloom and bursting with color. 

While I was painting there with my friend Alyson, we met some colorful local characters as well. They gave us a little bit of encouragement and LOTS of advice. My favorite tidbits included, "you need to 3-D it up a bit"... and... "you definitely, definitely need to add a flag." Some days, everyone stops to talk. 

Windy and Blue

Windy and Blue, L. Daniel, 12 x 12

This is another piece from my painting day in Brunswick, Georgia with the Plein Air Affair (painting event last weekend). This lovely old Victorian home caught my eye, particularly appealing with the heavy Spanish Moss draped like a veil in front of it. The day was very windy, and I found protection behind a big church across the street.


Happy Easter weekend, all!

View From Newcastle Street

View From Newcastle Street, L. Daniel, 9 x 12

Across the causeway from St. Simons Island is the town of Brunswick. It, too, sits on the marshes and inter coastal waterways of coastal Georgia and was a designated painting site in the Plein Air Affair event last weekend. Driving through the old downtown, I spotted this perfect composition and knew I had to paint it. You might say that it selected me! :) I love the delightful serendipity of plein air painting!