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. 

Morning Reflections

Morning Reflections, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2020

Available

Last week, I was able to get outside and do some plein air painting in Georgia. Things are beginning to open up there (with lots of caution of course), and it felt mighty good to be out and about. As I drove over to Jekyll Island for the day, this view on the causeway stopped me in my tracks. We had a lovely breeze, and a morning with drifting clouds and calling birds. DELISH!

I'm sure you share my longing for the day COVID is in our rearview... let it be soon!

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!

Winding Path - Zoom Class Demo 1!

Winding Path, 8x10, oil on panel, L. Daniel

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This weekend I taught my first painting workshop on ZOOM! It was originally scheduled as a plein air class, but like everything else this spring, it had to be modified. When our director approached me with the idea to teach it online, I was hesitant. I wasn't sure my students would willingly migrate over to the new format, I wasn't sure an online experience would be satisfying, and I was pretty sure the technology would be a huge challenge. 

BUT... it all worked out! I had four devices connected; giving me the ability to interact, show my palette and photo reference, and what display was happening on my easel. I set the sessions up as paint-along demos, and this is my piece from the first session. My students were fearless, energetically followed along, and each painted one their own (safely and socially distanced in their own homes). 

Modern technology! Wow! I'm not saying it was completely glitch-free, BUT... my students were incredibly gracious and we all had fun (which is always a major goal)!! Thank you, ALL!!!

Farmer's Spring - with Process Shots!

Farmer's Spring, 8 x 10, Oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2020

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I recently came across this plein air piece from one of last year's workshops that I never posted! Hmmmm... not sure how I forgot to do that, but here it is now, complete with process shots. This lovely roadside view is from Wimberley, Texas, about an hour outside of Austin (a great place to paint!) See workshop information at the end of this post, and join me for one this spring!!

Block in sketched with ultramarine and burnt sienna.

Creating a sense of distance requires a variety of greens.

Almost finished, but the piece needed something... 

Pops of more intense color and light finish the painting - added at the very end!! 

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2020 SPRING PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

SEE DETAILS and CONTACT INFO ON MY WEBSITE: laureldaniel.com

March 30-April 2, 2020 - Wimberley, Texas

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

May 8-9, 2020 - Austin, Texas (full with wait list)

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!

Welcome to the Winery - with process shots!

Welcome to the Winery, 10 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

Available

This is a demo from my spring workshop in Wimberley, TX, an all-inclusive art retreat, where it's all art, all the time! It's a perfect way to teach and to learn! So much bonding, so much art opportunity, so many break throughs and so much fun! My next one is on the calendar coming up in March 2020! Join us (see below)!

On one of the days, we painted at a local winery. This is the road that leads to the tasting room and I couldn't resist the tunnel effect of the trees and the one-point perspective provided by the driveway. The workshop was all about composition, and this was a perfect example of using the design to lead the eye. Below are process shots of the piece coming together...

Block in using ultramarine and burnt sienna. Establish focal point from the beginning.

Mass in dark uprights. Use the best average color and value, and go after big shapes. 

(Painting is rubber banded into a wet panel carrier. Please excuse obstructed view.)

Mass in Ground Plane. Again, use best average color and value and simple shapes. 

Break up masses with subtle shifts of temperature and value. This allows detail to be "suggested" without getting too fussy. Add highlights to indicate light and pop the color (be careful not to overdo it!)

You can see that I made some adjustments on the final piece: 1) The tasting room needed defining (it had grown taller than planned) and brightening (it was too muted). 2) The tree shadows broke up the road too evenly, so I tightened up the space between. 3) The tree foliage was pointing out of the picture, so I spread/enlarged the canopy in order to bring the eye back down and INTO the tunnel leading to the winery. 

Regarding #3... sometimes things need adjusting! :)

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2020 PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

March 30-April 2, 2020 - Wimberley, Texas

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

May 8-9, 2020 - Austin, Texas

SEE DETAILS ON MY WEBSITE: laureldaniel.com 

Sunny Fence Line

Sunny Fence Line, 8 x 10, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

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Sometimes the simplest of scenes break my heart. The way the sun beams through, lighting all in its path, casting long deep shadows, and adding a diamond dazzle to everything common... I'm smitten. This little scene is one of those spots. I just want to walk down that path... I'm pretty sure there is a really fabulous gathering going on in there! :)

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2019 PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

November 8-9, 2019 - Austin, Texas

FULL - Register for waitlist Here 

2020 PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP INFO:

March 30-April 2, 2020 - Wimberley, Texas

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

May 8-9, 2020 - Austin, Texas

SEE DETAILS ON MY WEBSITE: laureldaniel.com 

Golden Path and announcing Spring Workshops!

Golden Path, 8 x 10, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2018

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This is another plein air piece from my fall travels. I got down to St. Simons Island (in Georgia) for a few days and was greeted with blue skies, orange grasses, and billowy clouds. It's one of my favorite places to be and paint, and I never quite get enough!

UPCOMING...

I will be teaching 3 plein air workshops this spring... please come join me! 

March 25-28, 2019

Wimberley Artists Workshops

Wimberley, Texas

4-day, all-inclusive artist retreat in the beautiful Texas Hill Country 

April 11-13, 2019

Anderson Fine Art Gallery

St. Simons Island, Georgia

3-days in the Golden Isles of the Georgia coast

May 10-11, 2019

The Contemporary Austin Art School

Austin, Texas

2-days in Austin (the live music capitol of the world!)

Morning Marsh - Georgia Coast

Morning Marsh, 8 x 10, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

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On the second day of my workshop, we painted the marsh. The tide was rising fast... it quickly covered the banks and almost got up to the top of the grasses. The scene changed dramatically and we had a spectacular view for the show!

Tabby Cabin - with process shots

Tabby Cabin, 8 x 10, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

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This past weekend, I had the great privilege of teaching a workshop to some wonderful artists in St. Simons Island, Georgia. We started out on the first morning at this tabby cabin, which is a surviving out-building of the Hamilton Plantation. The word "tabby" refers to the material it is made of, which consists of water, lime and crushed oyster shells. It was built in the antebellum era, before 1833, so that mixture is pretty strong and resilient in the salty, ocean air. 

Below are a couple of shots as the painting developed... many thanks to my hard-working, talented students!

Block-In

Beginning to add color

Finished piece

Painting with palette, and the subject is in the background. 

Summer Cloud Drifts

Summer Cloud Drifts, 10 x 8, L. Daniel © 2016

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There is nothing like drifting clouds on a summer day to calm the soul. Wouldn't you agree? Technically, it is still summer (until the autumn equinox), and here in Texas it still feels like summer. But, September! How did that get here so soon? Kids are back in school, routines are getting established, and activities are starting back up. Routine is good, (we all do much better), but I do love the cloud drifting days! 

2016 Upcoming Workshops:

Still Life: Color and Form - September 16-17, Austin, 512-323-6380 

En Plein Air: Shape and Movement - November 4-5, Austin, 512-323-6380

Both FULL with wait lists.

2017 Upcoming Workshop:

Strong Starts En plein air - March 30 - April 1, 2017, St. Simons Island, GA

Contact Anderson Fine Art Gallery, 912-634-8414