Streams of Light - Finish It Friday!

Streams of Light, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2023

Click to purchase - $1075 + s/h

Welcome to some Friday fun! Today, "FINISH IT" FRIDAY! 

Sometimes when I am out painting, I am unable to finish a piece on location. Things happen. A car parks in front of the view, a boat sails away, a storm comes up, nourishment is required, the calendar beckons... you get the picture. It can be anything! 

So... Last week I was plein air painting on the Georgia coast, and this time it was the incoming tide that shut me down! I worked as fast as I could, but finally had to pack up to avoid getting wet. I made some quick placeholders for the clouds, memorized all the shapes and colors, and brought it back to finish in the studio. 

Here is how it went from unfinished to finished... I think the final decisions are always interesting...

UNFINISHED

FINISHED PIECE

What I did:

1) Built out the sky according to my painted notes. 

2) Adjusted shapes, value, and color on the large masses.  

3) Pulled the elements together, paying attention to edges and transition colors.

4) Popped the highlights (always the last thing I do). 

In the final stages, I am thinking about how to make the painting flow cohesively. Some of the questions I ask myself include: Does the light agree everywhere in the scene? Does the perspective work? Does the distance recede? Does the foreground come forward? Where does the viewer's eye go? These are very helpful for determining when I am DONE! :)

2023 SPRING WORKSHOPS (click HERE for info and registration):
April 14-15 - Contemporary Austin Art School, Austin, TX (Wait list only)
May 4-6 - Anderson Fine Art Gallery in St. Simons Island, GA

The Road Goes on Forever - process shots (and a song!)

The Road Goes On Forever, 8 x 10, oil on panel

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Today's painting title comes from a song of the same name by Texas singer-songwriter, Robert Earl Keen. It's fun to be in a concert when he sings the chorus, "the road goes on forever and the party never ends!", because EVERYONE joyfully jumps in. It's contagious!! Robert Earl announced his retirement last week... but I have to say, it's for all the right reasons. He wants to go out while he still LOVES what he is doing (not because he is sick or tired or bored). Good for him!! 

This painting is a demo from my last workshop. Throughout the painting session we all kept singing that song's refrain (well, some did, and you Texans know who you are), so I had to use it for the title. An homage.

And below... process shots... the road goes on forever... 

1) Sketched outlines of big shapes for placement, size and composition.

2) Blocked in masses of value, to indicate the planes of the landscape:

Upright plane, distant upright plane (or slant), ground plane, and sky plane.

3) Massed in best average value of greens for the uprights.

Distant uprights are cooler and more muted than foreground uprights.

4) Massed in ground plane observing color changes within the overall value.

5) Added sky plane, and included a variety of temperatures at the horizon. 

Broke up masses in each plane with highlights and lowlights. 

... and the party never ends!!! 

Thank you, Robert Earl Keen!

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 

Golden Beach Path

Golden Beach Path, 30 x 40, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2019

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At this time of year, grasses in the landscape begin to differentiate. This is when we get to see the golds and reds pop out, offering a beautiful contrast to all the greens. I absolutely LOVE the opportunity to work that glow into my work!!! 

Just for fun, here is the block in for this piece. I know I am like a broken record on this, but finding the composition and values before tackling color really helps hold the scene. For me, it's a road map.

Block in using Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna...

a good way to start! 

Dappled Trail

Dappled Trail, 8 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2016

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"Dappled Trail" is a late-in-the-day painting on that same unmarked road from my last post. It seemed like there was something to ponder in every direction. In lieu of walking down this path, I stopped to paint it. I may have to go back that way sometime! (Think I can find it again? Oh yes... most definitely, I can.) :)

My apologies for those two miss-fired blogposts in your inbox this week (one was blank and one old one reappeared). It was "operator error" on my part, and I am so sorry!

Garden Gazebo

Garden Gazebo, 16 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

We have had some deliciously warm days here and the botanical garden has been a great place to enjoy them. As I was painting this scene, a little family came by with their grandma who was visiting from Chicago. As her sweet granddaughters led the way through the park, grandma was just so happy to be outside, taking in the warmth and sun before heading back to the northern climes. Summer in January... it's hard not to love. 

Clear Day Study

Clear Day Study, 8 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

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This painting of a local park in Austin was the study for a larger piece I recently finished (will post at a later date). Doing a study helps me to understand color and value relationships, and to work out composition issues. Plus, working with the subject in a small format helps me remember to keep everything simple... which is so important!

Jeep Trail

Jeep Trail, 9x12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012, SOLD

Another view of my friend's ranch... this dirt, jeep trail leads down to the banks of the Llano River. In the distance and in all directions is the rolling hill country. That day the meadow was full of wild, white poppies - a beautiful sight and a most magical place!