Leaning Oak (Demo)

Leaning Oak (Demo), 5 x 8

I promised my students that I would post this demo of the block-in technique we worked with this week in class. I must give credit to Kevin MacPherson, who teaches this approach in his workshops and book, "Fill Your Oil Paintings with Light & Color". (Please read it for further explanation and fabulous examples.)

Blocking-In with Simple Shapes and Values...

Sketch. Begin with a simple, outline sketch of your subject for placement purposes and overall composition of canvas only. Keep loose and avoid detail.

Colorful shadows first. Paint shadow patterns throughout canvas - using best average color and value for each area. Keep shapes simple and flat; you are still avoiding any detail or modeling.

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Fill in lights. Paint light patterns throughout canvas - again using best average value and color for each area. Canvas will be covered; shapes will be simple, flat and undetailed. "Block-in" is complete at this point. Double check value and color relationships and make any needed corrections.

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The Finish. This is where individual mark-making, personal finessing, and adding desired detail takes place. Using subtle value changes and temperature shifts, break up large masses (only as needed - this is easy to overdo). Be careful to keep shadow family and light family separate (subtle shifts stay within each family.) Step back often and quit before you go too far. RESTRAINT is a good word to keep in mind.

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The point of this block-in approach is to work quickly to cover the canvas with accurate value and color. When details are added too soon, we get attached to those details and lose objectivity. We resist making important corrections because of that loss.

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Finally, this should all be fun so enjoy the process. That is the most important part. :)

Western Skies (enlarged)

Western Skies, 18 x 18

This is the first larger piece of the big skies out west. I made a few small changes from the smaller study, but the most significant change is the addition of the fence opening. It seemed an important element for drawing the viewer "in" and when I played around with it, I liked it better.

I also want to let you know that Daily Paintworks has a new member! Welcome to Susan Abbott of Vermont, an outstanding artist who works in several different media and genres. I think you will love her work which you can see on her blog. And if you haven't visited the Daily Paintworks site lately, stop by and see what all twelve of us are doing!

Western Skies Study

Western Skies Study, 6 x 6, SOLD

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I am working on a series of big sky paintings that got into my head when I was out in West Texas and the Davis Mountains. I have done several small studies for this series and will post them as I complete the larger versions. I love how the open range goes on for miles and miles out there; it makes the sky seem bigger and more dramatic.

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New Sweden Church

New Sweden Church, 12 x 12

Today a group of us met at this lovely vintage church out in the countryside. It was established by Swedish immigrants in 1876 and this building was built in 1923 (they had outgrown their original stone building down the road, where the cemetary still stands.) The copper steeple is 104 feet tall and can be seen for miles in the surrounding farmland. Being a good Scandinavian myself (my maiden name is Anderson) I felt right at home here. :)

Blossoming Spring

Blossoming Spring, 6 x 8, SOLD

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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...

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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.)

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After the Cloudburst

After the Cloudburst, 12 x 16

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On Wednesday afternoon, we had a short but dramatic thunderstorm - there was even lightning. It just kind of rolled in and rolled out leaving large cloud banks lingering on the horizon. Since I had been teaching all morning my stuff was already in the car, so I got myself down to the lakeside as quick as I could to catch a few of them.

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In a health and wellness side note: remember that great husband of mine who brought me the beautiful flowers on Valentine's Day? He is just so giving - this week he brought me the flu! Hopefully my Tamiflu prescription will keep me from getting it too bad, but I am down for the count. So not fun.

Crossing the Creek

Crossing the Creek, 16 x 12

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Last week, Julie Davis and I met up to paint at one of our local parks. It is one of those places with hidden trails through a wooded neighborhood that no one really knows about. This hidden spot is along that secret trail... just over the creek.

City Silhouettes

City Silhouettes, 8 x 6, SOLD

Last week Plein Air Austin met at Ladybird Lake to paint off the pedestrian bridge. I was too late to catch the sunrise, but the Austin city skyline was still shimmering in silhouette. It's nice to be up early.

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Old Pueblo and Newspaper Feature!

Old Pueblo, 9 x 12

This is the last of my Davis Mountain paintings. This crumbling pueblo sits in a small neighborhood in Fort Davis. No one has lived in it for a very long time but thankfully it stands as a reminder to a different time. Life carries on all around; I could hear the constant bleating of a neighbor's goat and a radio blasting as one family enjoyed their Sunday afternoon. It made me wonder about the families who lived and loved here.

On a completely different note... May I share a bit of personal joy?? I was featured in the profile section of our local community newspaper!! A astute little boy summed it up for me last night when he saw the paper on the coffee table. "You have a great life," he said. SO TRUE. You can read it online by clicking here: "Laurel Daniel - Changing Light", Westlake Picayune, 3/4/10.

Sunlit Valley Morning

Sunlit Valley Morning, 9 x 12

This was the view off my porch while I was in the mountains. Early in the morning, the valley would slowly light up as the sun peaked over the mountain tops. Those terrifically long shadows get me every time.

Evening Tree Sketch

Evening Tree Sketch, 16 x 12

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(Back to the Davis Mountains paintings...)

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This whimsical tree was just dancing on the hillside as the sun lowered in the sky, but I had too large a canvas and only enough time for a quick sketch. Details gave way to simplicity and the bare essentials; a "good" lesson forced on me by the unforgiving, retreating sun. It was pitch black out when I packed up. I am pretty sure I left a brush or two behind. :)

26th World Wide SketchCrawl

Texas State Capital Building, 8 x 8

(Interrupting my Davis Mountains trip postings; back to that tomorrow.)

Today, Plein Air Austin participated in the 26th World Wide SketchCrawl. This is a drawing phenom where artists around the world pick up their sketchbooks and just sketch - and crawl - and sketch again. Then everyone posts their drawings. The global aspect is fun. After drawing all morning, we celebrated with a fabulous lunch outside and passed our sketchbooks around the table. These are my sketches... and you can click HERE to see other drawings from our group. Many thanks to Robin Cheers and Kate Merriman who organized the event! We had a great time.

Down Tenth, 5 x 7

Ninth Street Alley, 7 x 8

State Theatre, 7 x 9

Patio Shadows, 5 x 6

Flaxen Field

Flaxen Field, 12 x 12

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The area surrounding the Davis Mountains is very rural - farm and ranch land. These pale, winter grasses fill the fields as far as the eye can see. I loved the contrast against the dark tree line and mountain range in the distance. I am not sure I caught the feeling of it, but the barn seemed totally hunkered down in the middle of it all.

Dusk

Dusk, 6 x 8, SOLD

The ranch where I stayed in the Davis Mountains was a great place to catch the light as it began to change at the end of the day. I was particularly interested in this nearly silhouetted tree form against the evening sky - it seemed to be glowing in the warm rays. I think I will be painting those skies for awhile.

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Tin Shed

Tin Shed, 12 x 12

The town of Fort Davis is really small and it has some really interesting streets and alleys. Driving through the neighborhoods, the strong patterns of light and shadow on this tin shed caught my eye. There was also a good vantage point across the street where I could park my car and set up my gear (an important component, believe it or not.)

While I was painting, the owner of the shed drove up, gave me a nod, and went inside. Minutes later, he came back out and drove around the block, clearly to see what I was doing. He didn't stop, he just took a long look and quietly went back in his house. It's funny how different people react; sometimes they stop and chat, sometimes they ignore me completely... I think this was my first "drive-by"...

Side note: Thank you Sally Dean and M.F. Bruno for the Sunshine award!!!

Mountain Morning (and SNOW in Texas!)

Mountain Morning, 12 x 16

I just got back from a plein air painting trip in the Davis Mountains (west Texas) with painting buddies Jill Carver, LaNell Arndt and Kraig Kiedrowski. It was fabulous to get away, totally off the grid, with no agenda but to paint! My drive home today included eight hours in a snowstorm! AND, the little boys next door had made this happy snowman in our yard to greet my arrival!

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Texas Snowman

Pink and Exotic

Pink and Exotic, 7 x 5, SOLD

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I have searched for a name for this sturdy little flower, but the closest I can find is that it may be in the Etlingera family. I know, not your common, household name. Some look a little like this, but many go another direction completely so I am not really sure about it. Not that I have to choose, but it's my favorite of the bouquet...

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Heliconia Plant

Heliconia Plant, 7 x 5, SOLD

You see these growing everywhere in Hawaii... and apparently they are related to bananas. They really come in many shapes and sizes, and this pretty pink one is a beauty!

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Ginger Blossom

Ginger Blossom, 7 x 5, SOLD

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My sweet husband brought me the most beautiful valentine bouquet this weekend. Its big exotic blooms just screamed out to be painted, and of course, made me feel very loved!

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Stormy Weather

Stormy Weather, 6 x 8

Rain and cold have been the norm around these parts for the last few weeks. We have had to cancel several outdoor painting excursions due to what the weatherman calls a "wintery mix". Yes, we are wimps for complaining at all, but today the sun finally came out and it was quite wonderful. AND we have water in the lakes again - so good!

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I also want to thank Julie Davis and Roisin O'Farrell for giving me the Sunshine Award for positive and creative blogging. Thank you both so much, I am very happy to receive this!

Southwest Corner

Southwest Corner, 8 x 8

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"Cold and sunny" was the forecast for Saturday morning; and sure enough, the temperature gauge in my car read 31. The snowflake symbol was on. (I know, really, in Texas?) In spite of the arctic conditions, four hearty souls came to our Plein Air Austin paintout! Ya gotta love that kind of bravery. We painted at the Art School at Laguna Gloria, and this corner of the Villa was absolutely glowing in the morning light. Fingertips were numb by the end, but we had a great time.

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Click to purchase $140 + $12 s/h

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Grand Oak

Grand Oak, 6 x 6, SOLD

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...and this has been a grand week. I just finished teaching a 2-day workshop where I met some fabulous painters who are now like old friends. It's always a joy to watch artists at work and participate in the creative process with them. It's a privilege I never take for granted; and I'm sure I'm the one who learns the most. Many thanks to my students - new and old!

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The Road Home (large version)

The Road Home, 30 x 24, (see previous post for small study)

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As I traveled through this tunnel of gold throughout the days of autumn, I was struck by how some of the most rapturous images are the ones we pass every day. Whether or not it was more colorful than in other years (or maybe it was that my eyes were more open), these sparkling oranges and yellows were absolutely spectacular.

The Road Home (study)

The Road Home (study), 8 x 6, SOLD

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I painted this little study in the fall, but have been saving it to use as reference for a larger version. The autumn color is long gone and this tunnel of trees is completely bare now. But we have a pretty short winter so it won't be long till the trees begin to bud out again. Side note: I did get the large version painted last week and will post it sometime soon. :)

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Dinner Veggies - Still Life Demo

Dinner Veggies, 6 x 8

Still Life Demo: Line and Mass Block-in
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I did the following demo for my still life class and thought I would share it here. The "Line and Mass Block-in" is a pretty traditional method of starting a painting, but sometimes it helps to see an example. So here it is broken down. (And no, the canvas is not blue... it's white. I am not quite sure why it photographed that way.)

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Step one: Plan composition and sketch large, basic shapes

using dark neutral mix of alizarin crimson, french ultramarine and raw umber.

Keep paint fairly dry to enable painting back in (soupy paint will make this difficult).

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Step two: Step back; correct drawing and composition if needed,
and begin massing in large areas of values.


Step 3: Continue massing in values and make final adjustments to composition
(better to make changes here before beginning with color.)
Paint directly into this underdrawing when adding color.


Step 4: It is important to maintain the massed in values as color is added.
Painting directly into the underpainting, add color and work from dark to light.
(Sorry, no progression shots of the color.)

Ledges at Bull Creek

Ledges at Bull Creek, 9 x 12

Today was my first chance since the new year to paint en plein air. After several paintout cancellations due to cold and rain in the last six weeks, it was a joy to be out in the sunshine. Not only that, but this creek was full and flowing - something we haven't seen since before the draught. A glorious sight!

Watery Reeds

Watery Reeds, 6 x 6

We are having a cold snap here in Austin - I about froze just running outside to take this picture. These are the days that we stay tucked in our studios with scarves on, and wonder how our friends in the north manage to survive (and thrive) in much colder temps. Stay warm, all!!

Click to purchase $100 + $12 s/h
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Canyon Ablaze

Canyon Ablaze, 24 x 36, Christmas commission piece

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I have been on a bit of a hiatus, completely enjoying my family and the holidays... and now we are in a new decade and I am ready to get back to work. Being a goal setter (I'm a big believer in writing them down and being specific), I'm busy making lists that will lead to some familiar paths as well as to some new ones. But it's the unknown, unanticipated surprises that are always the most fun! Happy 2010!

Oh, Christmas Tree

Oh, Christmas Tree, 6 x 6, SOLD

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MERRY CHRISTMAS

and

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

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Branches Bare

Branches Bare, 6 x 6

Today is the Winter Solstice - the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year (at least in the Northern Hemisphere.) It all has to do with the fact that the "top" half of Earth is tilted away from the sun at its most extreme angle. Trees are baring and plants are going dormant... all part of the cycle.



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