River Wanderings - Show Tip #10

River Wanderings, 24 x 36, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2016

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

Finding remote places to paint is one of my favorite things to do. This painting is a larger version of a plein air piece I did last summer on the Georgia coast. This time I included more of the scene and sky, and I loved revisiting that special place! :)

Show Tip #10 - Fight through Fears

Today I stepped up to the easel to start a new painting and was struck with fear. This happens to most of us every now and then, because the blank canvas (or getting started on any new project) can be daunting. But what to do? Here are a few tricks I use for fighting through that fear: pull out a sketchbook and start with a drawing, tone the canvas and get rid of the white-ness, use a big brush and focus on big shapes, review my process and simply take one step at a time, OR a combination of the above. Today, my answer was to tone the canvas... and dirtying up the canvas made all the difference! 

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

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

River Road - Georgia Coast

River Road, 8 x 16, oil on panel, L Daniel © 2015

I was able to stick around and paint for a week after my workshop on St. Simons Island. The weather was perfect - sunny but not too hot - and ideal for being outside. It felt like a real gift... to get out and enjoy the adventure of plein air from sun up to sundown. This is one of the paintings from some of my off-roading that week! :)

River Marsh - Enlarged Studio Version

River Marsh, 18 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2014

Available now at the Anderson Fine Art Gallery

After an intense period of plein air painting, I am often inspired to take some of my smaller pieces to a larger scale. The plein air study for this piece was only 6x8, and I just had a hankering to see it bigger. Sometimes I make changes as I scale up, and other times I simply try to recreate the same spirit captured in the original. This one falls into the latter category. I loved the scene small and I love it big. :)

River Bend

River Bend, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012 - SOLD

This tranquil spot along the Guadalupe River is another painting spot from my day in Gruene, Texas earlier this week. My friend (and fabulous painter), Johnnie Sielbeck, invited me to paint in the afternoon in her mother's backyard right on the river! Johnnie couldn't even be there, but her sweet mom led me out to the riverside and let me paint to my heart's content! Thanks, Ladies!

Side note... As you read this I am already in Wisconsin for the Door County Plein Air Festival week. I am SO EXCITED!!!! Wish me luck and inspired painting, please! I'm not sure if I will be able to post while there, but I'll catch up with you all when I get home!

Brewing Storm Study

Brewing Storm Study, 8 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012

Rain on the Georgia marshes is a beautiful sight. There is nothing quite like the sight of storm clouds broiling up on the horizon... the breeze and salt air start swirling around... and you can just smell it. By the end of this painting, my brushes were flying - fast and furiously! But I did beat the downpour. This time.

REMINDER TO LISTEN: 

"ARTISTS HELPING ARTISTS" BLOG-TALK RADIO HOSTS ARE INTERVIEWING ME!

Thursday, June 21, live at 9 am PST (that's 12 noon EST)

Click HERE to hear it live OR whenever it's convenient later. 

Once the interview is over you will be able to listen to the recording anytime.