Morning Playtime

Morning Playtime, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

Available - Click for information

This morning was a lovely playtime for me, AND playtime for lots of children in the botanical gardens here in Austin! Knowing I wanted to include figures today, I started painting and waited for my "subjects" to show up. When this little momma and her kids showed up, I knew they were mine. She is also a painter, so how fun is that? Many thanks to my new friends!

This is my quick pencil sketch of Mother and Baby...

it helped me make sense of things when I went at it with paint!

Butterfly Ginger

Butterfly Ginger, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

Can you believe this exotic plant grows in Texas? Yes, it does. On a recent painting trip to our local botanical garden in Austin, I came across large Butterfly Ginger plants that were in full bloom. The flowers are hearty, but they are also delicate and fringy; and lots of fun to paint. 

Garden Gazebo

Garden Gazebo, 16 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

We have had some deliciously warm days here and the botanical garden has been a great place to enjoy them. As I was painting this scene, a little family came by with their grandma who was visiting from Chicago. As her sweet granddaughters led the way through the park, grandma was just so happy to be outside, taking in the warmth and sun before heading back to the northern climes. Summer in January... it's hard not to love. 

Tumbling Falls

Tumbling Falls, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012

Summer is officially over and we are actually experiencing some cooler temperatures here in Austin! Mornings have been especially delightful and I've celebrated with paintbrush in hand! This waterfall is in a quiet corner of Zilker Botanical Garden and it's a pretty peaceful place to paint.

Glowing Pavilion

Glowing Pavilion, 12 x 9, Oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012

This pavilion is in the Japanese section of our botanical gardens at Zilker Park here in Austin. When I happened upon this scene and saw that wall of light, I stopped dead in my tracks. Then I saw the glowing interior and that was all she wrote. A delightful morning it was!

Water Lily Patch

Water Lily Patch, L. Daniel, 12 x 12

.

This painting is from another recent Plein Air Austin outing. We painted at Zilker Gardens, a beautiful botanical garden right here in our own backyard. This variety of water lilies always stops me in my tracks. The leaves reach up to the light, just like the lotus blossoms. They have such a dynamic quality!!!

Blossoming Spring

Blossoming Spring, 6 x 8, SOLD

.

For friends and family who live in colder regions - New York, Michigan, Canada (and others) - I would like to offer a little hope about the reliability of spring. We are getting it here and I know it's coming your way too, so hold tight. Bare trees are setting buds and the flowering trees are blooming out. Wherever home is, I think we are all "ready" when spring arrives. There is something so comforting about life returning to the earth...

.

Thanks for all the get well wishes! I am feeling much better. (Tamiflu works wonders but I am still laying low... I got this painting in on Thursday morning before the onslaught.)

.

See more Small Works