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.