Lake Swan - Fix It Friday #25!

Lake Swan, 8 x 10, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2020

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Can you believe I have been at this for 25 straight weeks? I can't! This series has been a great way to stay in touch while I've been working on larger paintings for my upcoming show in the fall. It has also provided a weekly marker to get me through the Ground Hog Days of quarantining! Fridays = Fix it. TGIF! 

BUT, as fun as it has been, I will be taking a little hiatus from the weekly post...

It's time to change it up. Summer is almost over and my show opens October 24th at the Davis Gallery here in Austin. The next two months will be busy with finishing works for the show, getting them framed, and marketing them! (You will soon start hearing from me about that!) I also have visits with my kids and grandkids planned. So... with great appreciation to all who have followed along with me and sent your encouragements... a heart-felt THANK YOU!!!

Here is Lake Swan, on Fix it Friday #25!!!

 

BEFORE

AFTER

CHANGES

Problem - The lighting in the scene was inconsistent with the lighting on the swan. (Everything in the scene needed more contrast and brightness to be agreement with the swan about the light.)

Fix - Added streak of blue to sky (it transformed yellow haze into a brilliant day).

Fix - Made water more reflective of the blue sky.

Fix - Popped the light on the loose reeds. Sparkle.

Fix - Added highlights on the distant shore. (That is Westlake Beach in the distance, local friends! You know who you are.) ;)

Problem - The water lacked structure so the surface didn't look flat.

Fix - Defined all reflections.

Fix - Reordered the water patterns to recede, making them larger in front, smaller and condensed in distance.

OBSERVATIONS

Throughout a painting session, it's always good to keep remembering where the light is coming from. It's also helpful to make sure the entire painting agrees about where, and how, that light is shining! :) 

I love the swans on Lake Austin. They have babies every year and swim around as a family. Although they never sit still enough or close enough, I constantly try to get pictures. And did you know this? Swans mate for life. LOVE that. 

Lakeside Sparkle - Zoom Class Demo 2

Lakeside Sparkle, 8 x 10, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2020

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This is my "paint-along" demo for day two of my Zoom workshop. If we had been at the Art School, we could have actually set up right at this spot on the lake. As it was, our view was virtual. Besides painting, we all got quite good at pinning, unpinning, muting, and unmuting (please excuse my "zoom talk") as we worked through questions of composition, color, line and mark-making. 

Unfortunately, I have no process shots for these demos. All my devices were being used to make the class happen, and besides that, there was not a minute to spare. :)

A few thoughts about teaching on-line... While I much prefer the "in-person" experience and SO look forward to things getting back to normal, I'm grateful that the creative process can go on. Figuring out the technology was worth the effort. This Covid situation is teaching us to adapt in ways we never thought possible. That is a good thing! 

Our Zoom class photo!!! 

Many, many thanks to these wonderful students!

Awakened to Life - Davis Gallery Group Show

Awakened to Life, 30 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2019

On display in Davis Gallery Group Show, Austin, TX

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Please join me at the Davis Gallery for the opening of our holiday group show... 

Looking Out, Looking In

Davis Gallery Group Show, Austin, TX

Reception Saturday, December 7

7:00-9:00 pm

Runs through January 11, 2020

As usual, this show will be inspiring. Here is the description... 

Davis Gallery is pleased to announce Looking Out, Looking In, an extensive group exhibit focused on the personal philosophies of premiere Austin and Central Texas based artists. This amorphous concept allows artists to explore the theme freely, and in their own voice. Sacred Geometry, the importance of family, life and death, our connection to Nature, and spirituality are among the perspectives that artists have chosen to focus on. Each of the participating artists have created new work, or carefully chosen work from the past, which uniquely recognizes these concepts.

Golden Memories - The Progression of a Commission

Golden Memories, 30 x 40, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2016

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Toward the end of last year, I was commissioned to do a very large painting as a Christmas gift. Commissions are not my favorite thing to do, but I am a hopeless romantic and my client's request was too compelling to pass up! He wanted a painting of the spot where he proposed to his wife at sunset - overlooking Lake Austin - while they were students at UT in the late 80's. After graduation, they moved away, had a family, and their own children are now in college. All these years later, he wanted to surprise her with that scene. Well... how could I say no? 

To make things more interesting, the scene itself is now completely overgrown with trees and shrubbery. The view is gone, and my client didn't have a photograph! Remember the days when we were not obsessively snapping photos on our phones, documenting every activity? Here's the great part - he remembered the colors and the angles, EVERYTHING really... including where the sun went down on the horizon!!! 

As most commissions go, there was a lot of collaboration back and forth, all by computer (since we were working long distance). Between the two of us - using his incredible memory and my research of other spots on that same hillside - we came up with "Golden Memories". Many thanks, MZ, and may the golden memories be always with you!

Here are a few outtakes from our process...

Composition Study, 8 x 10, graphite on paper

This was the final pencil sketch for the design and composition of the painting. I did 7-8 versions before we settled on this one.

Color Study, 9 x 12, oil on panel

As with the composition, the color study underwent several corrections and adjustments. (We even tried adding some bluebonnets, but decided to leave them out in the final.)

Underpainting, 30 x 40, acrylic on canvas

This acrylic underpainting allowed me to get approval for placement and shapes before diving in with oils. I don't usually include this step when painting large work on my own, but it was very helpful for staying on the same page with my client.

Golden Memories, 30 x 40, oil on canvas, L.Daniel © 2016

I had quite a lot of fun working on this, and was very glad I took it on. Receiving the "well done, brushes down" confirmation from my client brought me great joy!

The framed piece. 

H A P P Y   N E W   Y E A R !

High Clouds

High Clouds, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

Clouds above Lake Austin… always compelling! These were moving fast, so after blocking the shapes in, I was mostly painting from memory. (It was very hard to keep from changing them over and over.) Thankfully, new cloud formations kept rolling in and I was able to figure out how to handle the light and shadows from those. :)

Lush Lagoon Study

Lush Lagoon Study, 6 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

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This small study helped me get the grasses and lake reflections in my mind for a larger painting of the same scene. It always helps me to play around with color and composition before jumping to a bigger canvas. I find that the small ones give me a sense of where I want to go without getting bogged down with too much detail. (The larger piece is on it's way to the Greenhouse Gallery for the Salon International 2014!) 

See more Small Works.

Lush Lagoon - Salon International 2014!!

Lush Lagoon, 18 x 18, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2014

Juried into Salon International 2014!!

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I am so happy to share that my painting, "Lush Lagoon", has been juried into Salon International 2014!! This annual show is sponsored by the Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio, and includes some of the best work being done today. I am honored and humbled to be included for the fifth year in a row. The show will be on display from April 5-25, and I can't wait to see it. WOOOOOO HOOOOO!

Lakside Cafe

Lakeside Cafe, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

Today was plein air day for our local painting group. We met up at Ski Shores Cafe, a local burger joint on the lake. This place has been around f-o-r-e-v-e-r and is a favorite with Austinites. I  have to admit that I had a huge struggle settling in with this painting. My first attempt was a total wipe-down and this second one was a mess when I finally packed it in. However, I hate to let a canvas get the best of me so I brought it home and wrestled it to the ground. Sometimes you just have to keep at it. Even if.

Austin friends - this is on the back side of Ski Shores by the playground. ;)

Beside Still Waters, 12 x 12, Oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012

This weekend, my son will marry his true love. It is such a happy occasion for both families and we are celebrating with all our hearts! Such joy! Right before I left Austin for the wedding, I was able to squeeze in a morning to paint at the lake. It was a good way for me to avoid the obsessive nature of all things "wedding"... to just get outside and take a breath and reflect on this most glorious event. I am one happy mom. :)

Autumn Symphony

Autumn Symphony, L. Daniel, 8 x 16, oil on panel - SOLD

A recent day on Lake Austin... a reminder to give thanks for all things.

H A P P Y   T H A N K S G I V I N G   T O   A L L !

October Morning and Banner Project

October Morning, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

I am a little behind in posting, but this is a little plein air piece I did a few weeks ago when it was still October (is time flying by or is it just me?) At that point, our fall color was just emerging and now it's at full peak. It's not like New England, mind you, but it's pretty beautiful. 


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In other news...

"Happy Trails Art Banner Project"

Banners featuring 55 juried artists' work are currently 

hanging in historic, downtown Georgetown, Texas.

I am pleased to have the painting below included the project.

Of course I had to visit the display and get a photo of my banner!

Stormy Sunday

Stormy Sunday, L. Daniel, 12 x 12

...otherwise known as "the day it finally rained"! This weekend was Plein Air Austin's year-end barbecue at Westlake Beach, a old and favorite Austin haunt. We gathered in the afternoon to paint first (because that's what we do) and families joined us later. Well, don't you know, about an hour in, the sky darkened like someone had turned off the lights... and yes... rain happened. We all ducked under pavilions to wait it out and then went back and finished our paintings. It didn't last long, but it was a thrill. (I mean that - an absolute thrill - we are literally praying for the wet stuff.) 

Reeds in the Lagoon - Plein Air Demo

Reeds in the Lagoon, L. Daniel, 8 x 8, SOLD 

Plein Air Demo

Today my fall plein air class started and we met up down by the lake to paint reeds and reflections and little yellow flowers. It was a beautiful, cool, sunshiny morning - a truly perfect fall day. I promised my students that I would post my demo from class step by step, so here you all are!

I began by blocking-in the large masses of my composition 

using a mix of French Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna.

(The stain in the background is just leftover from a wipe-off.)

Next, I painted the darkest darks of the upright planes in foreground and background 

(keeping atmospheric perspective in mind to create a sense of air and depth.)

Then I painted the flower blooms (treating them as large masses) 

and saturated greens in the foreground foliage.

Working to get the canvas covered, I put in the muted tones of the reflections on the water.

I am always comparing value, chroma, and temperature of each component to the next,

because all color and value is relative to whatever is beside or around it. 

Once the values and color of the whole scene were working 

I added the sunlit tips of the reeds and broke up the masses with subtle value shifts.

At the very end, I added the final highlights (very important not to rush this final step.)

Glorious Morning (enlarged)

Glorious Morning, L. Daniel, 18 x 36

This is a studio piece inspired by a smaller, early morning painting finished at the edge of Lake Austin. I did a series of sunrises back in November, and this was my favorite "moment" of the morning. This painting will be included in my upcoming show at the Davis Gallery.

Please visit my website for a preview of all my paintings for the exhibit.
Read my show review in American Art Collector April issue (p. 104).

The Space Between

The Space Between, L. Daniel, 6 x 8

Twenty Eleven.... it's just crazy. We are having some rainy, dreary days here in Austin. I painted this portrait of our weather in my warm, dry studio from a photo. Although I am anxious to get outside and paint again after the holiday hiatus, today was not the day. But it was a great day to get back at it again and work out some of the rustiness. Feels good. :)


Click to purchase $120 + $12 s/h
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Glorious Morning 3

Glorious Morning 3, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

It's so interesting to watch how the rising sun changes the colors of the landscape. This series of paintings depicts the transformation of a single morning in about 15 minute increments. In the final painting, the fog on the water lights up and mutes the distant shore. The cloudy sky also added to the show on this particular morning. It was a fun exercise in observation.

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Below are all three paintings in chronological order...

Glorious Morning 2

Glorious Morning 2, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD 

As the sun rises just above the horizon, there is a moment or two when the sky turns prismatic in color. Painting it en plein air can be a challenge because it all morphs so quickly. I began by blocking in the shapes on the horizon while it was still dark(er), and then focused completely on the the sky as the colors began to emerge. I committed to a moment in time, which meant I was soon painting from memory and NOT chasing the changes in color and light. (Hard to resist, but necessary!) This is the second of my series of three small sunrise paintings. 


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Glorious Morning 1

Glorious Morning 1, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD 

A couple of weeks ago, I got out early in the morning to paint the sunrise. I finished one on location (will show you that tomorrow) and then came home to paint two more of that magnificent, 30 minute light show. It happens fast! This was the "crack" of dawn, which happened just before sunrise, and the first in the mini series of three. 

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PS - I waited to post them until I could finish a larger painting of this one... will post that later as well.

Distant Shore Value Study

Distant Shore, L. Daniel, 8 x 10

This morning, I am heading off to California with my good friend Julie Davis to attend the Weekend with the Masters painting workshops! I went last year and learned so much; and this year's line-up promises to be the same. I have all-day sessions with Camille Przewodek, Daniel Pinkham and Frank Serrano - all painting masters in their own right. I tremble with excitement!! :)

In preparation for the workshops, I have been doing these value studies. It's been such good discipline (hard at times) and practice at distinguishing relative lights and darks. One of my readers asked a great question, would I suggest taking a photograph of my subject and changing it to grayscale in order to "see" the values? My answer was no...

The beauty of doing these exercises is that the more you do, the more your eye will learn to see subtle value shifts in real time. Using a photograph will rob you of some very important sensitivity training and the resulting muscle memory. I am not saying never use photographs for anything (never say never), but don't use them as a shortcut. They are no replacement for direct painting from direct experience; and they may slow down your progress in the long run.

Dock with Umbrella Value Study

Dock with Umbrella, L. Daniel, 8 x 10

My friend Cindy has a great lake house that her grandfather bought many years ago. Several generations have enjoyed the property, each adding new memories. I have been lucky to paint here many times, but painting it in black and white was a new experience. I really loved the brilliance of the sunlit umbrella and it's reflection in the water. (The big, fat #10 brush sure does keep me from getting fussy!)