Beach Yucca

Beach Yucca, 8x6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2023

Click to purchase - $150 + s/h

You can tell I am thinking about the beach! Going soon! :) This is a study from one of my walking photos. I don't know about you, but when I head out for a little exercise, my "art eyes" often take over. The iPhone makes it easy to snap away and snap, I do! I'll admit that I can be annoying to walk with. Oh well. (Sorry, Honey.)

Seaside Blossoms - Getting Started with a Strong Underpainting

Seaside Blossoms, 36 x 18, Oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2019

Painted for solo show, "Beaches, Birds and Botanicals"

SOLD

I receive many inquiries from budding artists about how to get started on a painting. My answer is always the same, "Invest in your block-in and under painting." What does that mean exactly? For me, it begins with a loose, painterly sketch using ultramarine and burnt sienna... 

My first concern is for placement of the subject and establishing my composition. I establish linear boundaries to contain the various areas of the painting. This helps prevent elements from growing.

Next I consider placement of values (meaning lights and darks of the overall painting), and begin to develop the shapes. This is also the best time to make any needed adjustments to the drawing and overall composition. 

Ultimately, I want my block-in to be a road map to my finished painting. If I take the time to invest in this stage of a painting, it usually tells me exactly where to go next.

Seaside Blossoms, 36x18, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2019

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

Soaptree Sentinel

Soaptree Sentinel, 12 x 6 (18 x 12 matted and framed)

Oil on paper, L. Daniel © 2012

Available at Davis Gallery

"Works on Paper" Show

This is another piece completed for the "Works on Paper" show that opens this weekend. The Soaptree is fascinating plant that livens up the barren, desert landscape (I especially loved its quirky seed pods up top.) See other works in show on my website. 

A word about framing these works on paper... 

A lot of people have written to ask me if using this paper required framing with a mat and glass. Would they be okay without glass? In theory, the carton board paper is treated so it should hold up over time. However, I chose to frame it under glass for a few reasons: 1) to protect them from dust (not sure how one would clean them otherwise), 2) because they had to be mounted onto something sturdy for presentation anyway, and 3) it's standard framing procedure for works on paper. 

Framing with glass just seemed like the right thing to do to make sure the pieces hold up over time. It also sets them apart from my works on canvas and was a different way to "finish off" this special project. Oh, and one final thing... when I matted them I did allow a 1/4 inch margin around the loosely painted edges - so the image areas are just like the photo above. 

"Works on Paper" Summer Group Show

Davis Gallery, 837 W. 12th Street, Austin, Texas

June 30 - July 31, Reception June 30, 7-9 pm