Garden Amaryllis - Small Works Holiday Sale!

Garden Amaryllis, 10x8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2022

SOLD - SMALL WORKS HOLIDAY SALE 

20% off with discount code MERRY2022 at checkout.

Unframed. Online (shop at home). Free shipping. 

Through December 15 only.

This piece was a demo for my spring workshop in Austin, TX. We met in the beautiful garden of my dear friend. It's one of those places that is so full of things to paint that it's hard to settle down and pick something. I opted for this simple outdoor still life, and it's delightful pop of color. Here are some shots from the process. (I forgot to photograph, so many thanks to my thoughtful student who sent these!)

2023 SPRING WORKSHOPS (click here):
April 14-15 - The Contemporary Austin Art School in Austin, TX
May 4-6 - Anderson Fine Art Gallery in St. Simons Island, GA

DEMO SHOTS...

Getting started.

Block in sketch.

Adding color, working dark to light.

Garden Fire - Final week of show!

Garden Fire, 18 x 18, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2020

This is the LAST WEEK of my solo show at the Davis Gallery! Sadly. It has been so fun to have it up, and to have friends and collectors visit the work. All of your wonderful comments have been SO encouraging. Thank you. I love seeing it altogether on the walls... sigh. The search will continue... of course it will!

EVIDENCE OF THE SEARCH

Davis Gallery, Austin, TX

On display through Thanksgiving!

I love these three pieces together. 

Companions for sure (but can be sold separately.)

In the gallery window on opening night...

Bunched - Loquat study with Process Shots!

Bunched, 8 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

Davis Gallery Group Show

Circadian Buzz (through August 31)

SOLD

One of the focuses of the Davis Gallery group show, Circadian Buzz, was to consider how our daily practices fall into certain rhythms. I am an artist who thrives on disciplined patterns. I paint exclusively in the daylight hours, and sleep at night (call me crazy). I stick to a limited palette to keep things simple (only 9 pigments). I work best when I have goals (for the day, for the week, for the month, and for the year). When it comes to painting it's all an experiment, but I find freedom in a consistent approach and the cadence that brings.

The most important daily practice for any artist is to PRACTICE! For me, much of that practice takes place in the form of studies, both in the studio and outside, en plein air. These studies help me study a subject from different perspectives and experiment with composition. The process shots below were taken in as I painted "Bunched" in my back yard garden this spring.

1) I blocked in the composition and basic values,

using a combination of ultramarine and burnt sienna.

2) Working dark to light, I painted the shadow 

family of each element first.

3) Moving to the light family, I was

careful to preserve the values.

4) As I covered the canvas, my focus was on 

establishing large, simple masses.

5) Final steps include breaking up the large masses. 

I use subtle value shifts to add detail 

and save highlights till the very end.

"Bunched" en plein air at completion.

Nature's Patterns

Nature's Patterns, 24 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2019

SOLD

This is another piece in the group show, Circadian Buzz. I know the word circadian typically refers to 24 hour cycles, but all of nature's cycles have an affect on us. With this painting, I chose to celebrate the longer, seasonal cycle of spring awakening. When our loquat trees burst forth with fruit each April, it's always new. I am transfixed by their color and fragrance, and must paint them. Something about the giant leaves and clustered golden orbs is endlessly compelling. I particularly loved the challenge of this unusual angle... separating the light on the tree limb from the dappled light on the ground was tricky! 

This piece is on display through August 31...

Circadian Buzz, Davis Gallery Group Show, Austin, TX

The small pieces below allowed me to study different angles before painting the big one. They are also in the show... of course, I wanted to paint all of them larger, but I had to choose! 

Dangled, 8x8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

SOLD

Dappled, 8 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

SOLD

Bunched, 8 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

SOLD

Winter Berries - Show Tip #23

Winter Berries, 18 x 18, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2016

SOLD

Red berries of many different varieties are prolific in Texas in the winter months. They bring pops of delightful color into an otherwise grey landscape. They are also a reminder that spring is just around the corner; and I like being reminded of that! 

Show Tip #23 - Get the Word Out
I think long and hard about how to let people know about any upcoming shows. Of course, if you follow my blog, you know I have been talking about this since January (alright already!) In addition to that, 4 weeks before the opening I mailed postcard announcements. Three weeks out, I sent my first email blast (which will be followed up with email reminders 1 week out and the day before). Finally, I use Facebook to get the word out on social media. My hope is that this combination of efforts will reach my world with news. We have so many avenues for sharing information these days, and finding the right balance is probably a little different for everyone. 

Postcards printed at Vistaprint.com

Here are links to other Show Tips:

Tip #1 - Stock up on Supplies
Tip #2 - Set up Deadlines
Tip #3 - Determine Subject Matter

Tip #4 - Work in Series

Tip #5 - Establish a Schedule

Tip #6 - Be Kind to YOU

Tip #7 - Follow your Heart

Tip #8 - Stay Flexible

Tip #9 - Whistle While You Work

Tip #10 - Fight Through Fears

Tip #11 - Take Notes

Tip #12 - Know when to Quit

Tip #13 - Stay Updated

Tip #14 - Balance Effort and Ease

Tip #15 - Assign Tasks

Tip #16 - Step Back 

Tip #17 - Sign As You Go

Tip #18 - Take Your Best Shot

Tip #19 - Celebrate Growth

Tip #20 - Varnishing Day(s)

Tip #21 - Frame Incrementally

Tip #22 - Deep Six Your Doubts

Painters - join me at this Plein Air Workshop:

April 28-30, Anderson Fine Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA

Contact Info: Mary Anderson, 912-634-8414

Fruit Bearing - Show Tip #22

Fruit Bearing Loquats, 18 x 18, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2016

Sold in Solo Show, "Chasing Color, Finding Light", Davis Gallery

These pretty little fruits are Loquats. We have several Loquat trees in our backyard and they produce lots of fruit every spring. I am always attracted to their shapes and often paint them. And yes, you CAN eat them (squirrels love them too). They have several pits and taste a bit like apricots. Yum! 

Show Tip #22 - Deep Six Your Doubts

Somewhere along the line, and often as the big reveal of all my work draws near, a case of the "doubts" sets in. I begin to wonder... What I was thinking? Is any of the work good enough? Why did I think I could paint at all? I've come to expect this stage, but it's never fun. Combatting it requires digging deep for hidden courage reserves and keeping a level head (having a trusted friend or spouse who can talk you in off the ledge is very helpful too). It's all related to the fact that these paintings are very personal expressions, and let's face it, the possibility of rejection is scary. I share this tip not because I have a foolproof solution, but because the feeling is pretty universal. Somehow it helps to know that we ALL feel it at some point. 

Here are links to other Show Tips:

Tip #1 - Stock up on Supplies
Tip #2 - Set up Deadlines
Tip #3 - Determine Subject Matter

Tip #4 - Work in Series

Tip #5 - Establish a Schedule

Tip #6 - Be Kind to YOU

Tip #7 - Follow your Heart

Tip #8 - Stay Flexible

Tip #9 - Whistle While You Work

Tip #10 - Fight Through Fears

Tip #11 - Take Notes

Tip #12 - Know when to Quit

Tip #13 - Stay Updated

Tip #14 - Balance Effort and Ease

Tip #15 - Assign Tasks

Tip #16 - Step Back

Tip #17 - Sign As You Go

Tip #18 - Take Your Best Shot

Tip #19 - Celebrate Growth

Tip #20 - Varnishing Day(s)

Tip #21 - Frame Incrementally

Painters - join me at this Plein Air Workshop:

April 28-30, Anderson Fine Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA

Contact Info: Mary Anderson, 912-634-8414