Beach Yucca

Beach Yucca, 8x6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2023

Click to purchase - $150 + s/h

You can tell I am thinking about the beach! Going soon! :) This is a study from one of my walking photos. I don't know about you, but when I head out for a little exercise, my "art eyes" often take over. The iPhone makes it easy to snap away and snap, I do! I'll admit that I can be annoying to walk with. Oh well. (Sorry, Honey.)

Ocean Point and Workshop Process Shots!

Ocean Point, 8x10, Oil, L. Daniel © 2023

Click for purchase info

Last week I taught a workshop in the Golden Isles of Georgia. So much fun! We spent most of our time on St. Simons Island, but on the first day we went to Jekyll Island. My students were wonderful, and this is my demo from that morning. 

For students and painting lovers everywhere, the following images illustrate and explain my process...

Starting with a mix of Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna, I make a quick outline sketch. This helps me place and contain the elements of the scene I want to include on the canvas. 

With that same mix of Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna, I indicate values within those elements, keeping it thin and dry.

Working dark to light, I paint in the dark uprights in the foreground and background planes.

I mass in color and value for sky plane and ground plane. 

Once large masses of each plane are in place, I begin to break them up with subtle value shifts.

My final marks are saved for the highest highlights and finessing edges. 

Beautiful day... perfect for a little plein airing! :)

Bare Footin' - Figures on Friday #9

Bare Footin', 7 x 5, oil on panel, L Daniel © 2021

SOLD

(Still wet - available to ship on Dec 10.)

Footloose and fancy free! What is better than a walk along the beach with bare feet? This was a fun one for me... So colorful and happy! And if you can't tell, that dog's tail is wagging with full joy! Love that!

Setting Sail and Happy New Year!

Setting Sail, 8 x 10, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

SOLD

"I miss your blog posts..." emailed a friend and blog follower yesterday. Her heartfelt concern and not so little nudge hit the mark and got me going. (Friends are like that. Thank you, JM.) I never meant to be away for so long, but time really flies, especially during the holidays. And then it is hard to get back on track. Have you noticed that?

I spent much of November and December on St. Simons Island in Georgia... teaching a workshop, plein air painting, and enjoying family. It was wonderful to have some down time and a wide open schedule, especially after one of the craziest years ever! This is a piece from those final days of 2020. I loved that I was able to be outside, observing and painting, and soaking up all the peace that nature has to offer.

We find ourselves "setting sail" once again, with a brand new year ahead. May it be a great one for us all! So much possibility! 

2021 spring workshop schedule (click for registration details):

April 8-10 - St. Simons Island, Georgia

May14-15 - Austin, Texas

Workshop fun... 

AND... precious family joy!!!

Pier Reflections - and a good lesson

Pier Reflections, 10 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

NFS

This little piece is one of my favorites of the year, and maybe it's because of how it came about. I was out painting one morning and had really made a mess of things (BTW - you will never see that one!) At lunchtime, it was obvious that rain was coming, but I was not ready to quit. I hate going home with nothing. Thankfully, my painting buddy was in agreement and we decided to go for it and race the storm. 

Well. Something happens when we have to work fast... have you noticed that? Our creative brains take over and our worry (fear) is released. After all, if it doesn't turn out, it's because of the rain, right? But isn't that just when everything clicks? When we stop overthinking and obsessing? Such a good lesson, and one I've had to learn over and over again!

The end of the story? I finished the painting and got it covered just as the clouds burst. I was soaked to the skin by the time I got everything in the car, but I was happy. :)

Sea Breezes and a great surprise!

Sea Breezes, 40 x 30, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2019

Sold at the Anderson Fine Art Gallery

Last week I shipped this painting to the Anderson Fine Art Gallery in Georgia, fresh off the easel. I was very happy with the piece and excited to be replenishing my inventory. What could be better? Well, here is what... my gallery's owner stuck it right in the window of the shop, and two hours later it was SOLD! Yeee Haw!!!! Such a wonderful surprise - Thank you new collectors, and thank you Anderson Gallery!!!!! :)

Palm Tree Promenade - painting in Laguna Beach!

Palm Tree Promenade, 8 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

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This parklike setting overlooks the ocean in Laguna Beach, and has a constant breeze off the water. It was particularly stunning when the sun came out and made everything sparkle! 

A few of you have asked what took me to California... well, lucky girl that I am, I was invited along to an annual conference with my husband. This was our 5th year and it's always fabulous! He did have meetings, but don't worry that he missed out. His afternoons included wonderful golfing opportunities, which he very much enjoyed! Everyone got to do what they wanted! :)

2019 PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

Nov. 8-9, 2019 - Austin, Texas

Contemporary Austin Art School, FULL - Register for waitlist here 

2020 PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

March 30-April 2, 2020 - Wimberley, Texas

Contact Helena Hauk, Wimberley Artists Workshops, 800-327-1913

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

Contact Mary Anderson, Anderson Fine Art Gallery, 912-634-8414 

Distant Shore

Distant Shore, 30 x 40, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2019

from solo show "Beaches, Birds, and Botanicals"

Available at the Anderson Fine Art Gallery

Here is another beach walking memory... and it was all about that little pop of light on the distant shore. Or, maybe it was about the distant shore on beyond that pop of light. This wide expanse seems to go on forever, and there is always something new in the distance to catch my attention and follow! Just a little farther...

Click HERE to see larger version.

Join me for an upcoming workshop...
Fall Plein Air Workshop at Contemporary Austin Art School, Nov. 8-9, 2019 - Register Here

The Heavens Rejoice - Eternal Hope

The Heavens Rejoice - Eternal Hope, 18 x 18, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2018

SOLD in Davis Gallery "Reflector" Exhibit

Last night's opening at the Davis Gallery was a wonderful time! It's always so much fun to see and celebrate the work of the gallery artists all hanging together; and it's also great to have friends and family come out to support us. I was delighted to discover that this piece sold before the show opened last week! YAY! It was shipped out immediately, and consequently, it is not on display anymore... but I can still show it here! :)

Here are some pictures of the party with some dear artist friends...

with Tammy Brown

with Chris De Dier and Joe Hammer

with Lynda Young Kaffie

Morning Search

Morning Search, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2018

SOLD

I titled this painting "Morning Search" for two reasons.... 1) as a nod to those hungry sea birds, who were clearly on a hunt for their breakfast, and 2) as a reference to MY OWN pursuit of the perfect place to set up and paint. My search ended at a narrow beach access, which opened up onto this breezy, ocean scene. I have said this before I know, but the serendipity of discovering hidden, new places is one of my favorite things about plein air painting. I rarely know exactly where I'll end up when I leave the house in the morning. It's like a fabulous treasure hunt!

Craggy Shore and a winter group show in Austin!

Craggy Shore, 30 x 40, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2018

Available at the Davis Gallery

This painting is an enlargement from a small plein air study I did a year or so ago. It was the perfect subject for our current group show, "In Depth", at the Davis Gallery here in Austin. For this exhibit, each gallery artist was asked to consider the 5th element of art - space - as we created works to be included. I always get a sense of HUGE space when I stand at the edge of the ocean. In this scene, the rhythmic pattern of the rocks and water disappearing into the distance helped to tell the story of that vastness.

Below: this painting ended up in the gallery window for the show! YAY! Here is a shot taken from outside after the opening reception. The show is up through February 24th. If you are anywhere near Austin, please drop by!

Also in the Davis Gallery show: 

Beach Cove Overlook, 18 x 36, oil on canvas. 

See blog post on this piece. 

Free to Roam, 18 x 18, oil on canvas.

See blog post on this piece. 

Beach Cove Overlook - and reworking a painting

Beach Cove Overlook, 18 x 36 , oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2018

Available at Davis Gallery

"How do you know when you are finished?" This is an often asked question to which I usually answer, "when there is nothing left in a painting that bothers me." This is one that kept bothering me as it dried on the shelf in my studio. Apparently, I was not done with it.

I stared at it for weeks (sometimes these things are hard to figure out) and finally determined what the problems were: 1) the foreground needed a stronger lead-in, and 2) the cove in the background needed to settle into the distance a little better. Below are the "before and after" shots so you can see the changes.

BEFORE...

AFTER REWORKING

Adding a path was the obvious solution for the lead-in problem, but the cove issue was trickier. Was it the shape? (Yes, too round.) Was it the size? (Yes, too dominant.) And most important - how to fix it? After much thought, I decided to add more grasses to overlap some of the water. It was a scary choice and a bit counter-intuitive to hide a beautiful, natural water feature. 

Well... That small change made the cove more of a sliver, and pushed it into it's proper space in the background. Instant relief! I'm glad I kept at it until it stopped bothering me. :)

Shore Birds - Hurricane Harvey Fundraiser for Rockport Center for the Arts

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

SOLD

You will be redirected to fundraiser check out page at Plein Air Austin.

Painting to be shipped at end of fundraiser, by October 15.

HURRICANE HARVEY FUNDRAISER 

FOR THE ROCKPORT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

On August 25th, Hurricane Harvey came ashore over the coastal town of Rockport. This thriving art community suffered a great loss when their Rockport Center for the Arts was devastated by high winds and rain. In response, Plein Air Austin reached out to Texas artists who have generously donated unframed artwork to raise $10,000 to help our neighbors rebuild. Each painting is $100 and 100% of your purchase will go directly to the center. Purchasers will receive a tax deductible receipt.

View all donated paintings HERE... take home some treasures as you lend a hand!

But friends, a picture is worth thousand words...

 The Rockport Center for the Arts BEFORE Hurricane Harvey...

 ... and AFTER...

Please join us as we help our friends on the coast...

And many thanks to Robin Cheers for her incredible organization of this event!

Cottage View

Cottage View, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

Available

I managed to get back to the Georgia coast for the grand finale of summer. I have had a couple of very full months, and it felt good to get back to the golden isles with my paintbrushes. This lovely view belongs to a woman who grew up not only on St. Simons Island, but on this very seafront property, which she recently inherited. It was a real treat to spend the day painting there, feeling the delicious sea breezes and listening to the constant sound of the surf. Many thanks, AB and RB, for your gracious hospitality!!!!

Fall workshops at The Contemporary Austin Art School are coming up! Please join me!
Still Life: Process and Studies, 9/29-30/2017 REGISTER HERE

Plein Air: Identifying Values, 10/20-21/2017 REGISTER HERE

Bay Pine

Bay Pine, 8 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2016

SOLD

Our last morning in Spanish Bay was gorgeous, but I only had a short window of time to get out and paint. To go or not to go? That definitely was the question. Painting with a ticking clock in my head has its challenges, but sometimes it's perfect for a quick little sketch. Since I had considered painting this sea view several times AND it was close by, I decided to give it a go. What a delightful morning I had! I LOVE those Monterey Pines and when that sailboat showed up, I knew I had made the right choice! 

Ocean Sunrise - Georgia Coast

Ocean Sunrise, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

SOLD

Early morning on the beach is always a surprise and delight. Some days the sun rises like a "red rubber ball" and other days it is soft and shrouded in the cool blues of cloud cover. On this particular morning it was the latter (my favorite actually), and I was happy to be out there, setting up in the dark, full of anticipation. Right on time, the sun slipped up the horizon quietly and subtly, and ever so elegantly. 

See more Small Works

Taking Flight

Taking Flight, 30 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2014

Available at the Anderson Gallery

As the sun rises at the ocean, birds gather attentively along the shore. Every now and then something startles them and they all take flight, only to circle back and resume their "watch". I love witnessing this early morning production. "Taking Flight" is now available at the Anderson Gallery on St. Simons Island, GA. 

Please come join me for these Upcoming Workshops:

January 22-24, 2015 | Still Life | Austin, Texas

March 26-29, 2015 | Plein Air | Austin, Texas

April 30-May 2, 2015 | Plein Air | St. Simons Island, GA

Sea Passage - Enlarged Studio Version

Sea Passage, 18 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2014

SOLD

Sea Passage is an enlargement of one of my spring plein air pieces from the Georgia coast. This view caught my eye because it included marsh waters, the ocean, AND where the two flow together as the tide rises and falls. That confluence between rivers and the sea always intrigues me. It has it's own special eco-system and beauty. 

This piece is on display in the Davis Gallery summer group show - All Summer Long. The cool thing about this exhibit is that purchased work goes home with buyers immediately (instead of waiting until the end of the show for pick up). New pieces replace the sold work, and the show is constantly changing. If you are in town, please go visit the Davis Gallery, 837 W. 12th, Austin, TX.

Sea Passage Study

Sea Passage, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014
SOLD

One thing that fascinates me about marshes is their connection to the sea. The tide pushes ocean water into the marshland, and then the rivers push it back out to the sea. Consequently, the marshland and the beaches are always interacting and in a state of flux. This view from the marsh's edge includes the ocean in the distance as the tide is coming in. 

Beach Shadows - Hawaii

Beach Shadows, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013 

This is my last painting from my visit to Hawaii; and the quiet beach in this scene was a favorite "find" on my way to the North Shore of Oahu. I spent a delightful morning painting here, watching the clouds floating by and listening to the waves crashing into shore. It was hard to leave such beauty (and my daughter and son-in-law), and I am already looking forward to going back! :)