Creek Reflections

Creek Reflections, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel

SOLD

The marshlands of St. Simons have a particular draw for me... but when deep reflections are involved, I am unable to resist! The stillness, the soft ripples, the warm winter grasses... Mmmm Mmm... so delish! I am looking forward to getting back! 

Hillside Meadows - Holiday Group Show at the Davis Gallery!

Hillside Meadows, 24 x 30, Oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2021

Available

Our annual holiday group show opened at the Davis Gallery this weekend. It was wonderful to be together to celebrate Art and this joyful Season of the year! If you are in or near Austin, please drop by and see the work! Here are the details:

"Together Again" 

Winter Group Show - Davis Gallery

834 W. 12th Street, Austin, TX

On Display through January 9, 2022

Lovely turn out throughout the afternoon... 

Mobley, the Art Cat, kept watch over the proceedings. :)

Christmas music topped off the festivities! 

Come Follow - Happy Thanksgiving!

Come Follow, 8 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2021

Available

And so the holidays begin... 

Wishing you a peaceful and bountiful Thanksgiving!

Ruby Sky - Upcoming Show and Process Shots!

Ruby Sky, 24 x 36, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2020

SOLD in my upcoming show at the Davis Gallery

Evidence of the Search - opening Saturday! 

(Click on the link above for bigger and better image)

Last fall, my husband and I went to Dallas for the Texas State Fair and the big UT/Oklahoma game. As we walked from our hotel to the fair on the edge of town, we came upon the vestiges of an old farmstead. The tall granaries and low slung buildings hinted at another era, right in the middle of the city. Civilization had grown up all around it... so unexpected and oddly pristine. :)

On our way home, the sky put on a spectacular show... I shot a million photos and determined I would try to paint that spot. It took me a few months to get back to it, but when I did, the inspiration was still there!!! Magical moments are like that. 

Here are some process shots to see how the piece came together...

Initial sketch for Placement

Used ultramarine & burnt sienna on yellow toned canvas.

Full Block-in 

Painted the dark values with mix of ultramarine and burnt sienna. 

Stained the sky with alizarin crimson (as under-color placeholder). 

The Sky

 Painted large areas of luscious PINK and YELLOW in the sky, as a base for the cloud pattern. (Dark foreground... established by using tight values and low contrast.)

Grey clouds painted OVER the pink and yellow elements of the sky, and blended a bit on the canvas. Reserved areas of sky color that would best guide the viewer's eye to my focal point... the old granary.

And... for my friend, JM... here is that yummy warm pink made from a little red, a little yellow, and a little white. ;)

Flying High - Fix It Friday #21

Flying High, 16 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2020

SOLD

TGIF!! Or, should I say, TGIF-I-F!!! I do love fix it Friday.

This is a painting from last fall that kept catching my attention. I liked it, but something was off and I didn't know what it was. That "nudge" became crystal clear after my last post about finding depth in a painting. (Be careful what you preach... it may come back to haunt you!) ;)

Here's why...

BEFORE

AFTER

CHANGES

Problem - The sky plane was... flat! The cloud layers all had the same treatment of light, shadow, shape, and color. 

Fix - Created scale shift between foreground clouds (made bigger) and background clouds (made smaller). 

Fix - Removed contrast from background clouds (made them more muted, less highlights).

Fix - Added contrast to foreground clouds (gave more color, stronger highlights).

Fix - Increased gradation of blue sky from muted at the horizon to more intense at top.

Problem - Ground plane was also a bit flat.

Fix - Added marsh creek into layers to create a sense of space and depth. (It breaks up the marsh grass and reflects the sky.)

OBSERVATIONS

I remember this day, I was in the moment, responding and having fun. It is so easy to forget principles when we are in the thick of things. And, sometimes it takes awhile for awareness to catch up. Now, I can relax into the scene when I look at it! Ah...

Distant Shore - Fix It Friday #14

Distant Shore, 30 x 40, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2020

SOLD

This was another large-scale "make-over" project... As I shared a few weeks ago, changes can can be scary, particularly when I have worked long and hard on a distinctly large piece. My fearful voice whispers, "leave well enough alone", while my bold voice cheers and cajoles, "don't be a wimp, go for it!!"

BEFORE

AFTER

CHANGES:

Problem 1 - The scene lacked the sense of depth I was going for.

Fix 1 - Enlarged the foreground clouds. This not only brought them closer (which helped push back the distant shore), it also provided the "reason" for such extensive beach shadows.

Fix 2 - Defined the distant figures to help reinforce the sense of scale.

Problem 2 - The sky lacked movement and drama.

Fix 1 - Gave the clouds more action by breaking up the edges.

Fix 2 - Added more layers of stratus clouds in the distance to enhance sense of movement.

OBSERVATIONS:

So what was I going for?? I wanted to capture that expansive, immenseness of nature's elements. I think I got a little closer in the second version, but it's a never ending pursuit. Creation is wonderfully grand.

Click Here to see Fix It Friday #1

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #2 

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #3

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #4

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #5

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #6

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #7

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #8

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #9

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #10

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #11
Click Here to see Fix it Friday #12
Click Here to see Fix it Friday #13

Breaking Through - with Process Shots!

Breaking Through, 30 x 30, Oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2020

SOLD

One of my goals for this quarantine is to work on larger paintings for an upcoming solo show that is scheduled at the Davis Gallery this fall. That show may be pushed out due to rescheduling of all the canceled shows before mine... HOWEVER, I need goals. Especially now. (I'm sure you know what I mean. We are all in the same situation.) 

SO, I am going to proceed as if everything is still "on". This may be an obvious sign of my personal denial - but it's a coping skill, and I am going to use it. Somehow it helps me stay productive. ;)

I did remember to take some process shots on this one, so here you go... enjoy!

I started my block in on a toned canvas (Indian yellow painted on and vigorously wiped off), hoping to achieve some "glow". The sketch was done with a mix of ultramarine and burnt sienna (my favorite combination for under drawing).

Using a variety of grays, I blocked in the large shapes of my backlit clouds. My goal was to establish a sense of depth from the beginning. 

Once the shapes were arranged in a hierarchical order, I began to bring in some color to both the sky and the clouds. While the variety of grays helped me establish depth in the block in, they were too warm and fought with the warm sun popping through. 

The final piece - the adjusted color gave me the drama I was looking for. I happy to see how the cooler clouds gave a wonderful contrast to the warm sun as it "breaks through". 

__________________________________

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO?

CHECK OUT MY INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS...

CLICK HERE FOR INFO!

they are downloadable and great for sequestering artists!

Austin Country Club Commission... installed and unveiled!

Davenport Clubhouse, 4' x 5', oil on canvas, Laurel Daniel © 2020

Austin Country Club Commission - SOLD

(If you follow me on social media or get my newsletter, you have seen these photos already. Please forgive my repetition, but I feel compelled to share this story here as well, since it represents a big chunk of my time and energy over the last months!) 

Here is a little bit of the story...

I was commissioned last September to do this 4' x 5' painting for the Austin Country Club (ACC), in Austin, TX. So I cleared the decks and worked on it fairly exclusively until the end of the year. Though it was not a secret endeavor, I never feel comfortable sharing much about a commission until it's totally finished and approved. On February 4th, it was installed and unveiled (literally) at a champagne reception in the main lobby of the club. Such fun!

My painting is part of a larger project that highlights and celebrates the club's history. The master plan includes a painting of each of the three clubhouses from which ACC has operated in its 100+ years. Mine depicts the current clubhouse, while the earlier two locations were interpreted by Texas artists Tom Evans and Dan Blagg. There is a fourth painting, a portrait by Carol Ivey, of three of the club's most famous golf members (Harvey Penick, Tom Kite, and Ben Crenshaw.)

It is a huge thrill and honor for me to be a part of this expansive and local project! Many thanks to the ACC board and to all who made this happen! 

A real "unveiling"... my first ever! It was actually a little tricky to get that sheet off without yanking the painting right off the wall. As you can see, I did get some help to prevent that!

The classic grinning-artist-in-front-of-painting-shot (a must have)! ;) 

Left: Hancock Clubhouse by Tom Evans

Middle: Davenport Clubhouse by Laurel Daniel 

Right: Riverside Clubhouse by Dan Blagg

Such a pretty setting, right? I am simply delighted!

Crooked Little Tree - repeat post with active link for purchasing

Crooked Little Tree, 8 x 6, Oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

SOLD

Due to technical difficulties (okay, okay, due to operator error) I posted this small painting two days ago with a broken link to PayPal. If you were interested in purchasing it and couldn't get through, please try again. It wants to find its forever home! :)

Drifting Dunes

Drifting Dunes, 30 x 40, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2019

Sold in solo show, "Beaches, Birds, and Botanicals"

Anderson Fine Art Gallery

I love the beach, especially when it glows in the early morning sunlight. It has a nourishing quietness that can sustain the rest of the day... one of those things that elicits the phrase, "if only we could bottle that up!" Painting is one way for me to do just that. It's my own private bottling factory that allows me to revisit some of my favorite moments.

Join me for an upcoming workshop...
Fall Plein Air Workshop at Contemporary Austin Art School, Nov. 8-9, 2019 - Register Here

The Heavens Declare - Divine Presence... and a group show!

The Heavens Declare - Divine Presence, 24 x 30, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2018

SOLD

I am pleased to be part of the summer group show at the Davis Gallery! This piece and another are on display. Please join me at the opening reception tomorrow night!

Reflector - A Group Show

Davis Gallery, Austin, TX

July 28 - September 8

Reception July 28, 7-9 pm

Sorry for my recent silence - it's all due to my ongoing work on the three 10-foot commissions. They are keeping me busy... brushes moving, pigments swirling! I will have more to share on that soon. 

Evening Song

Evening Song, 30 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2017

SOLD

A few weeks ago I posted a study for this larger work that is now on it's way to the Anderson Fine Art Gallery on St. Simons Island in Georgia!! On occasion, my heart breaks with the beauty of the low country and it's dramatic skies. I can never get enough! As I took this piece larger, I didn't want to lose any of that drama, and that required staying committed to the dark passages. Below is an image of my block-in, where I laid those darks in pretty boldly. 

Evening Song Block In

You may be wondering about that little passage of yellow... Early on in the block in, I used Indian Yellow to lay in some of the light areas. Indian Yellow is transparent, and is a perfect "place holder" for passages that will be that color. The transparency allows it to save the yellow areas without contaminating the darks that need to surround it. I used it to hold the spots higher up in the sky as well, I just forgot to take another photo. Try to imagine! :)

Western Sky (Study)

Western Sky (Study), 8 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

SOLD

This was truly a fleeting moment that I was happy to capture on my camera, so that I could revisit it in the studio. Skies like this happen almost nightly on the Georgia coast. I never tire of the sun's dramatic exit!! I did this small study in preparation for a larger piece I just finished. I will share that one a little later when it is signed, sealed and delivered to the gallery (or at least on it's way.)

Stormy Fields and Upcoming Workshop

Stormy Fields, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

On stormy, overcast days, I notice that color in the ground plane is much more intense. This piece is from late fall and I just kept forgetting to post it. Sometimes life gets busy! I loved the combination of colors this day... a muted, periwinkle sky with those rich, yellow grasses. 

UPCOMING WORKSHOP (still a couple of spots):
En Plein Air: Strong Starts
March 30 - April 1, 2017
Contact: Anderson Fine Art Gallery
Email: mand@mindspring.com
Phone: 912-634-8414
More details, click HERE.

Rising Tide Waters and a visit to St. Simons after the hurricane

Rising Tide Waters, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2016

GIFTED

Many of you have been kind enough to remember my connection to St. Simons Island on the Georgia coast, and to ask how our family weathered Hurricane Matthew. Thank you for that. It was a nerve-racking time for us to be far away as the wind and waves were charging the coast. 

The island was closed for 5 days, and as soon as it opened back up, I got myself down there to check on things. Felled trees were the biggest problem across the island, and some areas were hit pretty hard. One neighborhood lost 700 trees... hard to believe... and if you have been there you know how beautiful those trees are. Overall, I am thrilled to report that the island was spared the widespread flooding and damage that was predicted. Our family and home-away-from-home are safe and sound. I even got out to paint a few times, and was relieved to stand before this gorgeous, golden marsh again, with brush in hand. 

But here is the most important thing to know... I saw neighbors helping neighbors and a very grateful community working together. Disasters often bring out the best in people. Have you noticed that? There is still work to be done (there and all along the coast where Matthew hit), but the camaraderie was a beautiful sight to witness. And our sparkling little island is still there. Thanks be to God! 

A Moment's Peace - Show Tip #14

A Moment's Peace, 24 x 36, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2016

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

If you have been following my blog for awhile, you know I love the beach. We spend a lot of time on St. Simons Island, where daily walks at the seaside are just part of the plan. It's peaceful and the best way to start any morning. 

Show Tip #14 - Balance Effort and Ease

"Be in a position of energetic rest", said my pilates instructor one morning. "Energetic Rest," I repeated, "isn't that a bit of an oxymoron?" She went on to explain that for this exercise (and actually for all exercises), I needed to balance effort and ease; to be engaged but not straining. Now isn't that a great image for painting, and for just about everything we do? Too much effort (straining) has obvious harmful outcomes like tightness, fear, and overall negative energy. Too much ease (not being engaged) results in poor discipline, low yield, and lack of passion. It's up to each of us to find that balance in our own daily routines, and probably a lifelong task.

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

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

Hillside Ridge - Show Tip #9

Hillside Ridge, 24 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2016

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

Texas skies always call to me. I have my favorite places to go on big sky days and this is one of them. To just BE in the landscape with giant clouds floating by is peaceful, calming and a reminder of the BIGness of it all. 

Show Tip #9 - Whistle While You Work
I think Snow White was on to something with this little ditty as she cleaned up the cottage for the The Seven Dwarfs. :) Pairing up a rhythmic activity to enhance and encourage work flow is a practice used by people in all professions (athletes, car mechanics, dentists, you name it). And it certainly works for me... if I have music or an audio book going in my studio while I paint, I am much more immersed in my work and way more likely to stay in the flow. My favorites are music with Pandora (you can pick a favorite artist and the app will populate a music station with music in that style) and Books by Audio (actors with great accents read unabridged books for hours of listening pleasure). And by the way, the act of listening engages the logical side of our brains, so that the intuitive side stays unencumbered for the creative process. Try it, it really works!

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

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

Majestic - Show Tip #8

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

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

When clouds and atmosphere collide with warming sun rays, it can make for a majestic sky morning. I am always happy to witness the drama and find the imagery very inspiring. 

When I first started this painting, I blocked it in as a horizontal. I loved the farm buildings but realized that I really needed more room to develop the amazing sky. Darn it. 

It was hard to wipe down after I had carefully sketched in all the forms, but once I turned the canvas and began again, I was glad I did. 

The new start... with room for the sky... ahhh!

Show Tip #8 - Stay Flexible

It doesn't take very long to become "married" to an idea, but sometimes a great plan needs to be slightly adjusted (or completely revamped). It's especially hard for me to let go once I have invested time and care into a good start. However, I learned a long time ago that getting attached too soon (and ignoring a problem area) can ruin not only the final piece, but also my enjoyment of the whole process. It's so important to stay objective. In the case above, I argued with myself about whether or not I had time to start over. Ultimately, I didn't have time NOT to start over!

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

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

Swirling Sky

Swirling Sky, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

SOLD

A weekend trip to the Georgia coast brought me to this gorgeous marsh scene in "afternoon shower" mode. The roiling clouds were full but the distant rains never made it over the marsh to where I was painting. Dramatic skies like this always take my breath away; and it's a joy when I get to stop and paint them.

Dusky Road Value Study

Dusky Road, 8 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

 Click to purchase $120 + $16 s/h

This is another value study for my Daily Paintworks Challenge to "take a break from color". A friend of mine asked why it helps me to paint a value study like this. The thing is, I always try to observe these value patterns first and foremost in any subject I paint. If I can get these values correct, and hold them onto them as I mix colors, I am closer to what I am trying to achieve. This exercise truly helps me train my eyes to see and my heart to remember.

Please join me for these upcoming Workshops:

March 26-29, 2015 | Plein Air | Austin, Texas (FULL with wait list)

April 30-May 2, 2015 | Plein Air | Click here to register: St. Simons Island, GA