April Morning with Process Shots

April Morning, 10 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2022

Available - Click here for information

It has been a busy spring for me... A big museum show in Kerrville TX, a weekend workshop in Austin TX, and a couple of commissions! I got behind in my blogging, and will try to play a little catch up starting with the workshop. I had a great group of students and I always love seeing their work and progress! So rewarding! Here is the break down of my demo on the second day...

Loosely outlined shapes of major masses.

Indicated dark values in the layers to give a road map for rest of painting.

Painted shadow family in upright plane – began to establish foreground, middle ground, background. 

Painted light family in upright planes, muting and cooling as each plane recedes.

Added ground plane and sky plane. It's important to get the canvas covered completely in order to see what is working and what needs adjustment... 

Made adjustments to better define values and separate layers. Saved highlights till the very end. Always!

Lagoon Reflections with Process Shots and Workshop Info!

Lagoon Reflections (workshop demo), 8x10, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

SOLD

Below are process shots of a demo I did for my May workshop in Austin (as mentioned before, I am hopelessly behind in my posting.) My next workshop is coming up in the fall, and will be on St. Simons Island, on the Georgia coast. If you are a painter, please join us! It is always so much fun to meet in person and discover the landscape together!

Click for Workshop Details:

Nov 3-5, 2021 - Autumn En Plein Air - Anderson Fine Art Gallery

Getting started - Block in large shapes and values of main masses.

Mass in Upright Planes (best average value and color).

Mass in Ground Plane (water/reflections in this case) and Sky Plane.

Break up masses with subtle value shifts and save highlights for the very end. 

Workshop fun! Join us for the next one!

Passing Through - wonderful workshop weekend!

Passing Through, 8 x 10, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

Available - click for information

The weather in central Texas has been erratic this fall, and as my plein air workshop approached, I knew to plan for any eventuality. As it turned out, we had one cold wet day (spent in the studio) and one gorgeous sunny day (spent at a local organic farm). As much as I hate to teach plein air painting INDOORS, we make the best of it and some great learning always goes on! "Passing Through" is my demo from the first day using a photo reference. 

My students made the weekend so much fun. They were focused, tenacious, and undeterred. They jumped right in, rain AND shine! Below are shots of a few of them from Boggy Creek Farm where we enjoyed a perfect plein air day!

 Finding a spot in the shade is a "must" in Texas (even in the fall).

 Picnic painting!

Many thanks to all!

Park Trail - Process Notes and Demo

Park Trail, 10 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

Workshop Demo - SOLD

Two weekends ago, I taught a workshop in Austin and actually remembered to take pictures of each step of one of my demos!! I had to really concentrate because I usually get so caught up in painting and teaching that I forget. My wonderful students helped on that front, and as promised, below are step-by-step process notes of how I built and finished this painting. Enjoy!

Reductive Block In 

I started by covering the canvas with a mix of ultramarine and burnt sienna using a paper towel. Wiping away pigment in light areas and leaving the pigment in dark areas, I established my composition and values.

Mass in the "darks" in Upright Planes 

Working dark to light, I identified and painted only the dark values in the Upright Planes (foreground and distant masses that are vertical.) I also added cast shadows early on, to "ground" the verticals and identify the direction of my light source.

Mass in the "lights" in Upright Planes

I am always comparing values and colors throughout the process of any painting. The foreground upright plane will have more contrast and intense color, while the distant upright plane will have less contrast and muted color.

Mass in the Sky Plane and Ground plane

The Sky Plane is usually the lightest of all the planes because it contains the sun. The ground plane is second lightest because it reflects the light in the sky. 

Break Up Masses and Final Marks

At this final stage, I slowed down make thoughtful changes using subtle value and temperature shifts. I want to make sure that all the planes are reading correctly before rushing to detail. LAST, I added final marks, fun details, and spectral highlights.