Chapel Dulcinea

Chapel Dulcinea, L. Daniel, 9 x 12

Yesterday our Plein Air Austin painting group met up at Chapel Dulcinea, a free, open-air wedding chapel in the hill country. The chapel is named for the love interest in the story of Don Quixote. Dulcinea is the peasant woman who unknowingly inspires all of Quixote's exploits (the "impossible dream" and "unreachable stars" are all for her). 

The chapel owners must be total romantics. They explain their connection to Cervantes' story this way (from their website):

"Don Quixote sees himself as her knight and champion, 

and Dulcinea as the most perfect woman on earth. 

Every groom is Don Quixote. And every bride, his Dulcinea... 

It is our hope that every visitor to Dulcinea will leave with a 

fresh commitment to see the beauty rather than the flaw, 

and the courage to follow the dream that whispers to the heart."

So inspiring... I love it that a place like this exists.

Congress Avenue

Congress Avenue, L. Daniel, 8 x 10, graphite

If I am downtown with a sketchpad, I inevitably end up finding an angle of our beautiful state capitol. Congress Avenue leads straight up to the big front lawn and it's always a striking sight to look up and see the many layered building.

Kruger's Corner

Kruger's Corner, L. Daniel, 7 x 10, graphite, SOLD

Today was the 30th World-Wide Sketchcrawl, an event that has been going on for 6 years. Our Plein Air Austin group has participated for the last few years and it's always a really fun event. We meet up at a local coffee shop (first things first) and then everyone wanders off to sketch whatever catches his or her fancy. My first stop was this old jewelry store basking in the sun (though I was personally a bit chilly sitting in the shade on the other side of the street.)

Morning Breaks

Morning Breaks (study), L. Daniel, 6 x 12, SOLD

This is the image I ended up painting again in the larger format. I have been on a wide and skinny jag and this angle seemed to suit that need perfectly! What I really love is how the church, though still prominent, blends into the countryside and meshes with the humbler buildings next to it. It establishes a certain connectedness between the earthly and the spiritual.

ALSO... I am so very proud to announce a newly updated, searchable Daily Paintworks, the online gallery I am part of with 11 other incredibly talented artists. You can now search by Artist, Title, Keywords, and even Colors through the over 4,000 paintings on the site. It is inspirational to be able to see so many paintings at a time and it's really easy to navigate.

Click here to visit Daily Paintworks
And click here to see my new, personalized Daily Paintworks gallery page

Hilltop Chapel

Hilltop Chapel, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

Oh, the morning light on this little chapel... so gorgeous!!! This little painting is one of several studies done in preparation for a larger piece I painted this week. Sometimes it helps me to paint something from several views just to get the subject in my heart and head. 


Side note: I have a big show coming up in April at the Davis Gallery here in Austin, so I am in full painting mode and will be for awhile!!! For now, I will just post the studies and save the larger pieces to show until later. 


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Old Granary

Old Granary, L. Daniel, 8 x 6, SOLD

I spotted this old granary on a drive through Fredericksburg, and was instantly drawn its simple shapes and neutral colors. I was especially stunned by the warm afternoon light as it reflected off the adobe walls and tin roof.


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Hillside Wonder (study)

Hillside Wonder (study), L. Daniel, 6 x 8 

I have a "thing" for silhouettes against big skies... they always bring out the wonder in me. This sky was almost swirling with the color and movement of the clouds. 


Donated to Help Japan Auction - click here for info.
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The Space Between

The Space Between, L. Daniel, 6 x 8

Twenty Eleven.... it's just crazy. We are having some rainy, dreary days here in Austin. I painted this portrait of our weather in my warm, dry studio from a photo. Although I am anxious to get outside and paint again after the holiday hiatus, today was not the day. But it was a great day to get back at it again and work out some of the rustiness. Feels good. :)


Click to purchase $120 + $12 s/h
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Reflections Blue

Reflections Blue, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

It's a quiet morning at my house... misty outside and warm inside. The holidays are coming to a close, another new year is about to begin, and it's time to think about goals for 2011.  That came fast, didn't it? I know my "List" will come (I am a bit obsessive about identifying and writing down my hopes and dreams very year) but for now, I am just enjoying this peaceful interlude. Happy New Year, everyone, and thank you for following my work!


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Country Corner

Country Corner, L. Daniel, 6 x 6, SOLD

I like the solitary quality of this wintery road, especially since every where I go this week seems to be crowded with people and cars! A quiet moment is somewhat hard to come by in the days before Christmas. I am not complaining though, I love this time of year and am so happy to have my family gathered (and gathering) around! 


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Bare Sentinels

Bare Sentinels, L. Daniel, 6 x 6, SOLD

We are having unseasonably warm weather in Texas, but the bare trees are a reminder that its actually winter. I really love the faded colors of the landscape at this time of year; and views typically blocked are now wide open. There is always something new in nature...


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A New Day

A New Day, L. Daniel, 8 x 6, SOLD

I must say it is great to be painting again after my little technology detour!!!!  For this scene I worked from a photograph snapped on my way home from the coast last month... a stunning morning on the water when the early light was piercingly bright. It was one of those moments where I just had to pull over and let myself be mesmerized for a minute. (That morning, it happened several times!)


Thanks to all of you who visited my new website, for all your kind words of encouragement, and for signing up for my newsletter! BTW, I am inviting you all to sign up for my newsletter because I can't send it to you without permission (I could get in trouble for spamming.) Individuals must personally subscribe. So please check out my new site and sign up for the newsletter if you are interested!  www.laureldaniel.com


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Upper Falls Flowing

Upper Falls Flowing (enlarged from a plein air piece), L. Daniel, 18 x 36

I have been seriously "Missing In Action" for the last couple of weeks; completely consumed with changing and updating my website. It took way more time than I expected but I am very excited with the results! My new one displays way more artwork and is much easier to keep updated, so it was well worth it. Please check it out: www.laureldaniel.com - and sign up for the newsletter while you are there. (I promise I won't send many... just occasional show announcements and updates.) 


Now I can get happily back to painting!! :)

Backlit

Backlit, L. Daniel, 8 x 6, SOLD

This is my final painting from Lost Maples... another stand of trees with the light coming from behind. I just couldn't resist the brilliant colors!


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Maple Trail

Maple Trail, L. Daniel, 9 x 12

I found myself especially smitten by the glow-y quality of sunlit maple trees in Lost Maples Park. Something about the extremely saturated color punctuated with dark, vertical tree trunks kept calling my name. For this one I set up right on the trail, which was kind of an open invitation for hikers to stop and look. They were very respectful and most gave a little encouraging word as they passed. Several asked if they could take pictures... funny to think I will be showing up in vacation albums!!! :)

Winter Grasses

Winter Grasses, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

In addition to beautiful trees, Lost Maples State Park has expansive meadows with these gorgeous, soft grasses. When a breeze passes through, they blow this way and that and almost seem to have currents. And when the light hits them, they seem to glow.


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Maple Canyon

Maple Canyon, L. Daniel, 12 x 9

Earlier this week I spent a couple of days camping and painting in Lost Maples State Park, known for its magnificent fall foliage. It required a little hiking to find the best color, but we strapped our backpacks on and got ourselves to it. There were some pretty spectacular spots along the trail and the weather was just perfect. Although one hiker insisted that it was "WAY better last year", I was pretty impressed. 

Here I am with my painting buddies, Carol Marine and Penny Lentz.  See what I mean about that color behind us??? We had a great time painting by day and giggling by night. :)

Me, Carol and Penny

A Moment

A Moment, L. Daniel, 16 x 12

Last night, I joined some friends for a figurative painting session and had such a blast. This was so far out of my comfort zone, but all in a GOOD way. Challenges are like that. I tried to focus in on big shapes and not worry too much about details, but it was hard! Maybe next time I will get a face painted on the figure...  :)

Harbor Channel

Harbor Channel, L. Daniel, 9 x 12

This is the last painting from my trip to the Texas coast... the "backyard" of a bait and fishing shop near Aransas Pass. It was really fun to explore new territory and discover new images down there to paint. In the spring, one or more of these paintings will be on display in the Outdoor Painters Society's annual exhibit, "Plein Air Southwest 2010-11". I am pleased to be juried in and participating for a second year! 

Beach Shop

Beach Shop, L. Daniel, 16 x 12

This little house turned shop is called "Potters on Cotter" and, you guessed it, the owners sell beautiful,  hand-thrown pottery. I love the way the morning sun lights up the front of the store - it's a very welcoming little spot just a few blocks from the beach. Another one from my trip to the Texas coast. 

Dockside

Dockside, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

Back to paintings from Port Aransas on the Texas coast with Outdoor Painters Society... In the afternoon on that first windy day, we found a sheltered spot behind a building on the bay. This small shrimp boat was tied up to a wonderful, dilapidated dock. The scene had so much character; but it was tricky and I think I had to start over 4 times!!! Though it may sound counter intuitive, my final solution was to go smaller (I had been working on a 9x12). The reduced format forced me to simplify and got me over the hump. Whew!


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Sundown on the Lake

Sundown on the Lake, L. Daniel, 9 x 12

November skies in Austin are so incredible... last night Plein Air Austin met to paint the sunset over Lake Travis. This has become an annual event for us and last night was no disappointment. The sky was extra dramatic because of a large cloud coverage. In the last 20 minutes before the sun disappeared the sky changed about 5 times, and each new color was more stunning than the last. It was like watching fireworks, audible "oohs" and "ahs" rang out as we painted fast and furiously!

In For Repair

In For Repair, L. Daniel, 9 x 12

Last weekend I went down to paint on the Texas coast for a few days with good friend and painting buddy Lynn Cohagan. We met up with other members of the Outdoor Painters Society and had a great time. The sun could not have been sunnier... and the wind could not have been windier! We attempted to avoid 20+ mph gusts by hiding behind my car in this boat yard. Though you can't see it my painting (which looks remarkably calm) we were literally holding onto our easels to paint!!! You know what they say, "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger!" :)

Glorious Morning 3

Glorious Morning 3, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

It's so interesting to watch how the rising sun changes the colors of the landscape. This series of paintings depicts the transformation of a single morning in about 15 minute increments. In the final painting, the fog on the water lights up and mutes the distant shore. The cloudy sky also added to the show on this particular morning. It was a fun exercise in observation.

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Below are all three paintings in chronological order...

Glorious Morning 2

Glorious Morning 2, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD 

As the sun rises just above the horizon, there is a moment or two when the sky turns prismatic in color. Painting it en plein air can be a challenge because it all morphs so quickly. I began by blocking in the shapes on the horizon while it was still dark(er), and then focused completely on the the sky as the colors began to emerge. I committed to a moment in time, which meant I was soon painting from memory and NOT chasing the changes in color and light. (Hard to resist, but necessary!) This is the second of my series of three small sunrise paintings. 


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Glorious Morning 1

Glorious Morning 1, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD 

A couple of weeks ago, I got out early in the morning to paint the sunrise. I finished one on location (will show you that tomorrow) and then came home to paint two more of that magnificent, 30 minute light show. It happens fast! This was the "crack" of dawn, which happened just before sunrise, and the first in the mini series of three. 

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PS - I waited to post them until I could finish a larger painting of this one... will post that later as well.

Marina Storage

Marina Storage, L. Daniel, 16 x 12

Last week, I made a visit back to Westlake Beach, the site of many of my small paintings in August. This scene has been in my head since my very first painting there. The play of the light and shadows stops me every time and I have stored up my observations in anticipation. I wanted to wait until it was cooler and I could take more time to really "get" all the elements. A sunny, fall day was just the ticket! :)

7th and Main

7th and Main, L. Daniel, 9 x 12

Saturday morning a bunch of plein air painters met to paint in the historic square of downtown Georgetown (about 30 miles north of Austin). It was quite a happening place: a beautiful morning with a huge flea market set up just a block away. What a combo! I can't tell you how many times I gave directions, "yep, just another block that way and turn right". One sweet couple came back several times to check on my progress and to give an encouraging word. It was a wonderful, warm small town experience. :)


HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Day's End

Day's End, L. Daniel, 9 x 12

Yesterday eve I headed out for and end of day painting on the edge of town. The late afternoon light is always the most beautiful, casting everything in a wonderful warm wash of gold. However, at this time of year, the light on the grasses is just unbearable. As I applied the final strokes it was almost too dark to see, but I was done anyway. It was good.

Autumnal Morning

Autumnal Morning, L. Daniel, 18 x 36

This larger, studio piece is based on a plein air study I did last week. I widened the scene to focus on the long morning shadows and to capture the sense of depth I felt in this farmland. It was a fun way to revisit a lovely morning!