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 

Farmyard

Farmyard, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

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This old barn is a remnant of an old ranch just outside of Austin. I love painting on this property because it's very close to home, but feels far away... kind of like taking a little vacation without having to travel. And, I always see something new, whether it is a new vista, or a new subject, or just a new angle on something. This is actually the place where I filmed my instructional video, "Outdoor Painting Basics" (only in the video, I am standing behind the barn painting the countryside, in the shade!) 

Here is a link to that video... available through Liliedahl Art Instruction Videos...

Outdoor Painting Basics

Winter Light

Winter Light, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

Sometimes, when sunlight hits the winter landscape, it offers a surprising and unexpected warmth. I know you have seen it. When it happens, everything about the stark bareness seems to radiate. This old homestead had that irresistible fiery glow. 

Fence Check

Fence Check, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

I love a farmer's field, be it east coast, west coast or middle America, and this one in Washington simply had my name on it. The orange-yellow grasses and patchy blue sky were a delicious combo... and then there was that post and wire fence... irresistible!

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Evolution of a big, big painting

Farmer's Field, L. Daniel, 36" x 60"

Above, close up shots for detail of brushwork and color. 

A couple of weeks ago, I told you I was working on a larger version of one of my plein air pieces from the Adirondacks (click here to see small piece). Well, I finally finished! This is the largest fine art painting I have ever done (prior to this, 30" x 40" was my largest.) The canvas has been in my studio for years but I could never work my way up to it. Why now?? I did it for my biggest fan, my husband, who has a giant wall in his new office space. He has been asking me for his own, NEW painting for quite some time (he always gets the leftovers, sadly), so this one's for him!!! :)  

The following process shots are for all you painter types out there who might find it interesting to see how the painting came together. I had to change my approach a bit since there was so much area to cover. Click images to enlarge.

1 - I began by lightly sketching of my composition onto the canvas with a blue pastel pencil;

followed by Line and Mass Block-in using French Ultramarine & Burnt Sienna.

2 - Focusing on the center section first, I worked outward adding color.

I prefer working with paint while wet (alla prima), so it helped to 

work one area at a time... kind of like the fresco painters of old.

3 - Since the darks dry fastest, I painted into all the dark edges while they were still wet.

This was a good stopping point after a day of painting. 

4 - Next, I added the sky and ground plane.  

This was another stopping point (I actually thought I was finished here, 

but, the ground seemed too orange and the sky needed more action, so...)

5 - Back at the easel, I muted the ground plane and began to add more clouds (in process here)... 

6 - FINAL PAINTING - I finished the clouds (softened) and 

further broke up the tree masses (still fairly subtle but more obvious in real life).

Once I get the painting up in my husband's office, I will try to get a good picture of it. It's always fun to see a painting "in situ". Now, did I mention I have two more huge canvases in my studio just waiting?? :)

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... :)

Autumnal Morning

Autumnal Morning, L. Daniel, 18 x 36

This larger, studio piece is based on a plein air study I did last week. I widened the scene to focus on the long morning shadows and to capture the sense of depth I felt in this farmland. It was a fun way to revisit a lovely morning! 

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.

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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.

Fenceline

Fenceline, 6 x 8, L. Daniel, SOLD

Another gorgeous spot in the Texas countryside... I love fencelines in fields...

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Flaxen Field

Flaxen Field, 12 x 12

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The area surrounding the Davis Mountains is very rural - farm and ranch land. These pale, winter grasses fill the fields as far as the eye can see. I loved the contrast against the dark tree line and mountain range in the distance. I am not sure I caught the feeling of it, but the barn seemed totally hunkered down in the middle of it all.

Morning Harvest

Morning Harvest, 24 x 36

This is an enlargement of my last post - a scene from one of our local organic farms. One thing I loved about this scene was the haze in the distance fields juxtaposed to the lit foreground. I tried to push that relationship a little bit in this larger version.

Side-note: A sweet surprise came my way yesterday - I was the featured artist on Eric Cator's "PaintBlog" site! Please go there and take a look. Eric presents a different artist each day and his blog is a great place to see a variety of wonderful work. Thank you, Eric!!!

Morning in the Field

Morning in the Field, 5 x 7, SOLD

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There is nothing quite like the first light of the day...

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This is the last of my "places I wanted to paint in person but was unable to" series (yes, photographs come in handy in such cases!) I have been painting in Georgia for the last two weeks and just got home tonight. I will begin posting my work from that trip as soon as I get it photographed. Thank you all for your kind words while I was gone; I truly appreciate your encouragement!

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The Road Goes On Forever

The Road Goes On Forever, 5 x 7, SOLD

For the next two weeks I will be on a painting trip in Georgia. While I am out of pocket, I will be posting a series of small paintings based on images from the road. These are painted from photos taken on my travels of places I wanted to stop and paint, but couldn't (for one reason or another.) This is the first of that little collection - a country road in Fredericksberg, Texas.

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