Along the Fence Line

Along the Fence Line, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2023

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This spring I was commissioned to paint on a private ranch, north of Austin. The final piece will be a gift to the patriarch of a kind and thoughtful family! It's always an honor to be part of projects like this one. I will share more details on process and the final piece later, but the piece above was one of the small pieces I did for consideration. One of my favorites! 

Field of Cactus - Fix It Friday #24

Field of Cactus, 12 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2020

Texas cactus! It's beautiful, especially when it blooms and... it's very invasive. Once it gets started, it just duplicates itself over and over. If an "ear" falls off, stick it in the ground and it will happily survive, grow, and spread!! All that to say, my fix today is all about better depicting ranch land full of propagated cactus. 

BEFORE

AFTER

CHANGES

Problem - Layers of cactus were not "laying down" on the picture plane.

Fix - Created a definitive scale shift from front to back, making layers incrementally smaller as they move into the distance. 

Fix - Muted layers incrementally as they recede.

Problem - Field just didn't have enough cactus!! 

Fix - Added another layer of cactus at the fence line.

Problem - Overcast sky was lack-luster in color and interest.

Fix - Intensified the purplish color that was there and popped the bit of light. 

OBSERVATIONS

Working with elements in the landscape to push them into the distance is a great challenge. Today's fix was a wonderful exercise in doing just that... scale shift, atmospheric perspective, overlapping, and layering were all used here. 

Farmer's Spring - with Process Shots!

Farmer's Spring, 8 x 10, Oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2020

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I recently came across this plein air piece from one of last year's workshops that I never posted! Hmmmm... not sure how I forgot to do that, but here it is now, complete with process shots. This lovely roadside view is from Wimberley, Texas, about an hour outside of Austin (a great place to paint!) See workshop information at the end of this post, and join me for one this spring!!

Block in sketched with ultramarine and burnt sienna.

Creating a sense of distance requires a variety of greens.

Almost finished, but the piece needed something... 

Pops of more intense color and light finish the painting - added at the very end!! 

__________________________________________

2020 SPRING PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

SEE DETAILS and CONTACT INFO ON MY WEBSITE: laureldaniel.com

March 30-April 2, 2020 - Wimberley, Texas

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

May 8-9, 2020 - Austin, Texas (full with wait list)

Ever Expanding

Ever Expanding, 18x24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2019

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This scene is classic Texas Hill Country. Cactus families here are very prolific and once they get established, they just take off (or they take over, however you want to look at it!) I spotted this meadow from my car, and something about the light, and the fence, the the sunlit grasses made me stop the car and go back. I was actually heading home at the end of a painting day, so I couldn't set up my easel. BUT... I do believe this is what that iPhone camera is for! ;)

WORKSHOP INFO:

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

FULL - Register for waitlist Here 

Budding Cactus

Budding Cactus, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

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I fully intended to paint a creek bed on this particular day. However, when I got there the shadows were already washed out by the rising sun. Luckily I had spotted this jaunty cactus on the path. Sometimes you just have to punt. :) It was beautifully backlit and I even had some shade to stand in. The cactus buds were barely beginning to open, a lovely promise of bright, golden flowers. I am sure it's in full bloom now. 

American Women Artists - 2 exhibits in Arizona with opening festivities this weekend!

Cactus Salute, 18 x 18, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012

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If you are in the Tucson, AZ area this weekend, please join me at the American Women Artists shows where these two pieces will be on display: 

FRIDAY, NOV 2:

15th Annual American Women Artists National Juried Show

K. Newby Gallery and Sculpture Garden

Tubac, Arizona

Reception 1:00-4:00 pm

SATURDAY, NOV 3:

"Visions of the Southwest"

American Women Artists - Signature and Master Member Exhibition

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum 

Tucson, Arizona

Paintout 9:00-11:00 am

Reception 2:00-4:00 pm

I am thrilled to have achieved Signature status with AWA this summer and to be participating in these events! It's going to be a fun weekend!

Desert Trail, 18 x 18, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2012 - SOLD

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

Sunlit Pueblo

Sunlit Pueblo, 12 x 12

On Sunday, Plein Air Austin members gathered to install our plein air exhibit. It was very exciting to see it all come together. We have 37 artists exhibiting and over 110 paintings on display! If you are in town, please join us at our reception this Thursday...

In the Plein Air Tradition: Painting on Location
Corridor of Arts - 700 Lavaca (on the lower level)
Opening Reception - Thursday, July 16, 5-7pm
(Free parking in garage across street, enter on Guadalupe)

My paintings Blue Barn, Honeymoon Cactus, Upper Falls, Sunlit Pueblo will be on display. All are 12 x 12.

Revisiting Canyon Road

Revisiting Canyon Road, 30 x 30

Last week I had a good-sized block of studio time available, in which I painted this 30x30 version of "Canyon Road" (posted 5/5). My goal with these larger pieces is to retain the simplicity and freshness of my original field work, as well as to let the new piece "morph" in it's own direction. My approach? Same process, bigger brushes, way more paint and LOTS of backing up!

Honeymoon Cactus

Honeymoon Cactus, 12 x 12

I don't know the real name of this plant, but one of my painting buddies dubbed it the "Honeymoon Cactus." On their honeymoon, her then-new husband carefully broke an ear off a plant like this and took it home as a momento. They stuck it in the ground and it became a huge plant. Though the young honeymooners have moved several times since that first planting, each time they took an ear of the cactus with them, and started another plant at their new home. I love that!