River Bend

River Bend, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012 - SOLD

This tranquil spot along the Guadalupe River is another painting spot from my day in Gruene, Texas earlier this week. My friend (and fabulous painter), Johnnie Sielbeck, invited me to paint in the afternoon in her mother's backyard right on the river! Johnnie couldn't even be there, but her sweet mom led me out to the riverside and let me paint to my heart's content! Thanks, Ladies!

Side note... As you read this I am already in Wisconsin for the Door County Plein Air Festival week. I am SO EXCITED!!!! Wish me luck and inspired painting, please! I'm not sure if I will be able to post while there, but I'll catch up with you all when I get home!

Maple Canyon

Maple Canyon, L. Daniel, 12 x 9

Earlier this week I spent a couple of days camping and painting in Lost Maples State Park, known for its magnificent fall foliage. It required a little hiking to find the best color, but we strapped our backpacks on and got ourselves to it. There were some pretty spectacular spots along the trail and the weather was just perfect. Although one hiker insisted that it was "WAY better last year", I was pretty impressed. 

Here I am with my painting buddies, Carol Marine and Penny Lentz.  See what I mean about that color behind us??? We had a great time painting by day and giggling by night. :)

Me, Carol and Penny

Hamilton Pool

Hamilton Pool, 12 x 16

Hamilton Pool is a bit of a drive out to the countryside. It requires a steep hike "in" and an equally steep hike back "out"... but the trip is SO worth the effort. This pool and collapsed grotto was formed by thousands of years of water erosion; and when we are not in a drought, a 50 foot waterfall spills over the top of this canyon. Before the 1800's, Native Americans lived in this natural shelter because its water and lush plantlife; and its beauty no doubt.

While I was painting today, another visitor played his wooden flute from inside the grotto. The melody bounced off the canyon walls in a gorgeously haunting way. It was magical!

Lost Canyon

Lost Canyon, 16 x 12

Today was a beautiful, blue sky day with cooler temperatures after our weekend rain - perfect for painting. I met up with my dear friend and great painter, Julie Davis, at a wonderful canyon land that runs through town. This path leads to some beautiful sunning rocks in Lost Creek - a popular hangout spot for the teenagers at this time of year.

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.

Santa Elena Canyon

Canyon Reflections, 12 x 12

Santa Elena Canyon is breath-taking - a massive wall of rock that has been cut through by the flowing river over millions of years. On this particular morning I loved how the sun lit up the rock (although it came and went) and how the reflections shimmered.