Spring in my backyard

Georgia Sweet Peas, 12 x 16

This Sweet Pea vine comes from some pea pods I brought back from a visit with my daughter in Atlanta (it's like having a little piece of her here with me!) They bloomed all last summer and now they have come back to life in their sunny protected spot. Unlike the bare trees of yesterday, they are lush with green and even have some tiny purple flowers coming out. Maybe it's because it's so warm here... I got hot standing in the shade today!

Warm Winter Day

Bare Trees, 12 x 12

I am not going to lie, bare trees completely intimidate me. I love seeing the "bones" of the landscape sticking out with all its soft purples and greys, but I can not figure out how to represent them with paint. Today, I couldn't avoid them... a leafed out tree was not to be found at our paintout location. I think I need to keep practicing... it makes me really appreciate those snow country painters!

Tree Sketch, 6 x 8

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I thought a warm-up might help before starting. Did I mention there were no leaves, anywhere?

I do love trees...

Leaning Pine, 6 x 6, SOLD

I love trees of all sizes and varieties - I always want to paint them; I always find them compelling. I did this small study with an eye for editing down the form to simple, expressive shapes. This is always the goal for me whether working large or small.

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Overcast and raining, but still painting...

Zilker Field, 6 x 8

This morning our Plein Air group met in spite of the forecast for showers (we are a committed bunch.) Sure enough, after setting up and getting started it began to rain, the wind kicked up and "that cold front" came on in. So here is a glimpse of our dark, cold morning. (And don't you know that the last two days were clear and sunny?)

Afternoon Shadows

Long Shadows, 30 x 30

You know this time of day - when the sun drops on the horizon, colors deepen and shadows stretch out forever. There is nothing quite like that afternoon glow to take your breath away.

For Lady Bird

Field of Maize, 20 x 20

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I posted a small study of this image last week. Several of you encourgaged me to stick with the centered composition, so I took your advice for the resulting larger one (although I did move the horizon line up a little). I guess it doesn't hurt to break the rules occasionally! This painting is headed to an annual Art Auction here in Austin which benefits the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Lady Bird created such beauty while she was here, it's a joy to contribute in a small way to her ongoing legacy.

Happy Valentines Day!

Brass Heart, 6 x 6

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"May your heart always be joyful,
may your song always be sung,
and may you stay forever young."

- BOB DYLAN

See more Small Works.

At the end of Congress Avenue

Sunlit Granite, 12 x 12

When I first moved to Austin, my kids and I took the tour of this towering landmark. The tour guide made a point of telling us all that it's taller than our U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. AND that it was built completely by Texans. He was very proud of that! Who knew there was a competition on this? But you know what they say, "everything is bigger in Texas." I painted this yesterday with my plein air group... we all met downtown to do cityscapes.

Unearthed Beauty

Uprooted Bulb, 6 x 6

The odd-shaped bulb and it's shadow - simply irresistible! I am going to save these guys and try planting them outside in the fall. Then I will watch my garden for signs of life...

The gift that keeps on giving!

Spent Bulbs, 6 x 6

A bowl of Paperwhite Narcissus arrived on my doorstep at Christmastime from my dear friend Jennifer. They bloomed and filled the room with gorgeous flowers... and then died back. When I pulled them up, I was thrilled anew. I think I love the bulbs themselves just as much as the flowers! They have such great shapes and hold a sweet promise of blooms to come! I used them in my still life class today and had to come home and paint them myself.

Breaking the rules...

Field of Maize Study, 6 x 6

I am always, always drawn to bits of light that peek through large tree forms. I love the shapes and mystery. Here I also experimented with placing the tree grouping and horizon line right in the middle of the canvas (which is generally not advised.) Sometimes it's fun to go ahead and break the rules intentionally. Just to see... :)

Click here to purchase at Small Works site ($100 + $12 s/h)

New Online Gallery and Store

Long Shadows, 6 x 6, SOLD

Many of you have inquired about purchasing my work online, especially these smaller pieces. So... today I am launching my new online gallery and store called "Laurel Daniel Small Works" where I am selling small original oil paintings at affordable (even gift-giving) prices. How will it work? Whenever I post a small piece on this blog, it will have a link to the gallery site where you can view that piece (and others) and make a purchase. You can also go straight to the site at http://www.laureldanielsmallworks.blogspot.com/

Thank you for your continued encouragement and support!

Still Life Treasures

Threads of Prayer, 10 x 10

My friend, Becky, is a knitter and has a huge yarn collection. In her many bins, she has special yarns that she uses for "prayer shawls". These are given (with many prayers knitted in) to people in nursing homes and hospice. Families report back about the many comforts these shawls provide... for the recipients themselves and for faithful caretakers who stay by their sides. Becky let me raid her bins and special threads for some still life objects this week - that's just the kind of girl she is. And this one is for her (with prayers painted in).

Cool Air, Crisp Light

Winter Light at the Creek, 12 x 16

On Thursday, I painted outside with a new painting friend from Idaho, Bob Bissett. Since Austin was in one of its every-other-day temperature swings, I had on my fingerless gloves and was all bundled up. He thought it was comfortable... hot even. But that cold air seems to clarify the light somehow - it was glorious to be out.

From small to large

Standing Guard, 30 x 30

This is the large version of yesterday's study. This line of trees juts out into the lake and appears to be standing guard at the foot of the mountains. I loved how beams of light were able to sneak through here and there...

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Monarch Lake, near Granby, CO

Planning Ahead

Standing Guard (Study), 6x6, SOLD

Painting smaller studies in the studio can be helpful for planning a painting... I can work up different compositions, tweak color and simplify shapes before committing to a huge canvas. I finished the large one last night and will post it tomorrow (need to photograph). The little paintings have a certain charm of their own, and the trick is to try and stay this loose in the larger scale.

From drawing to painting

Loading Time at the Garden Shop, 18 x 18

graphite sketch, 8 x 8

This painting came from a graphite drawing I made a few Saturdays ago when I was out doing the International SketchCrawl event. You may remember the image. It was so cold that day, but the bright light and blue sky made it satisfying to be out.

Classroom Leftovers

Pretty in Pink, 12 x 12

Today my still life class started back up and I always get a hankering to paint while I am strolling around the room. So, when I got home, I painted this vase of orchids which was from one of my still life setups. It was like a little treat for myself.

A Mountain Adventure

Mountain Pass, 24 x 24

Encountering these soft, misty mountains from the sunlit meadow literally stopped me in my tracks. The warm light was moving in while remnants of morning fog seemed to be pushing back, layer upon layer... it was stunning.

This studio piece is based on a small plein air study; on the way to Columbine Lake, Tabernash, Colorado.

In the studio...

Afternoon Grazing, 24 x 30

This week I have been working on some larger works in the studio. For these, I typically revisit my smaller plein air work where I can really observe nature firsthand... so important for a landscape painter. This piece comes from a September study done in Livingston, Montana.

"Nature must not be forgotten... she demands that she be not occasionally but often consulted. Otherwise there is liable to be trouble."

- Edgar Payne

Cold Day at the Horse Farm

Spicewood Farm, 12 x 16

The arctic front moved in but we still painted at Spicewood Farms this morning. I guess compared to some parts of the country 44 degrees seems warm today. However, when the ranch hands were "blanketing" the horses, I knew that it really WAS chilly.

SketchCrawl

Over the Back Fence, 7 x 5.5

Garden Shop Lineup, 6 x 9

Loading Time at the Garden Shop, 8 x 8

Today our Plein Air Austin group joined an international drawing marathon - the 21st SketchCrawl (to be exact with the title.) The idea is that artists all over the world go out on the same day and sketch... and crawl... and sketch some more (kind of like the English pub crawl idea.) I did these drawings at The Great Outdoors Nursery, a very cool garden shop here in Austin. It was so much fun! Thanks Kate, for organizing us!

Places of the Heart

Sea Marshes, 12 x 16

We all have special places of the heart and this is one of mine. My husband's great-grandparents built this beach house on St. Simons Island, GA in 1927 as a summer getaway from Atlanta. It was well-loved by five generations of family who gathered there for vacations, reunions, birthdays, funerals and weddings. Bill and I even spent our honeymoon there. Without too much effort, the memories flood back... the outdoor shower, the screen door slamming, kids running through on some grand adventure, and gathering for meals (kids first, adults second). Although Sea Marshes is gone, we will always carry a piece of it with us. That's how it is with places of the heart.

This is a special request painting for Rawson, my son, part of the fifth generation to love the beach house. xoxo

Taking Notes

Colors of the Dusk, 24 x 30

When I was in Georgia at Christmastime I saw this incredible sunset. Though I didn't get to paint it at the time, my brother-in-law took a photograph and sent it to me. I had to paint this small glimpse of eternity before the memory disappears... like taking notes of the really important stuff.

Ringing in the New Year

Village Creek Landing, 20 x 24

It's 2009 and time to get started on all those new goals! Mine include lots of painting, so there is no time like the present to get back at it. :) I have been working on some larger pieces in my studio this week - this one is an enlargement of a plein air piece I did in August. I loved the reflections in the creek and the light on the marsh in the distance... it was fun revisiting the moment. Happy New Year!

Holiday Eclipse

Paperwhite Narcissus, 6 x 6

Don't the holidays totally eclipse everything? Today was my first day back at the easel after several weeks of festivities and honestly, it was like starting over! After several wipeoffs of a larger canvas (and I mean multiple, full wipedowns), I decided to just try something small and ease my way back. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

PS - We had a wonderful Christmas visit with our family in Georgia - it was worth it! :)

Big Bend finale

Desert Ocotillo, 6 x 8

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This is my last Big Bend painting. I painted this typical desert scene along the Maverick Road, a "drive at your own risk" washboard with very few takers on this particular day. The light kept changing and everything looked completely different 30 minutes later. That's the fun - seeing all the different faces and colors of a place. It was a great trip...

Ghost Town

Sunlit Pueblo, 12 x 12

Terlingua (a quirky little town just outside of Big Bend National Park) has a the remnants of a ghost town - an old mining village. There is still enough left of the old pueblos to fuel the imagination of life in another time. And because they are made of the earth, they appear to be truly part of the landscape.

A little bit of history: Mercury-bearing ore was discovered in Terlingua in the 1800's. The mining population grew from 300 to 1000 by the turn of the century and they even had a post office. "Terlingua" means "three languages" because the inhabitants spoke 3 different languages. The mine was closed in 1905.

Cottonwoods in the Desert

Cottonwood Oasis, 12 x 12

Cottonwoods at Sunset, 12 x 12

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Driving through the desert, I was amazed to see some trees changing color. These cottonwoods thrive next to streams and creeks, and I found their appearance in an otherwise starker landscape very compelling.

Terlingua Creek

Dry Creek Canyon, 12 x 16

This is another piece from my Big Bend trip. Terlingua Creek runs through the town of Terlingua and empties into the Rio Grande. It's pretty low right now but it fills up fast when the rain finally comes.