Misty Lake Study

Misty Lake Study, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

This atmospheric valley, seen through the lone backlit trees, had a soft and completely irresistible glow to it. Misty edges always catch my fancy... :)


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Plein Air Demo - Garden Portal

Garden Portal, L. Daniel, 8 x 8, SOLD

Yesterday my plein air class started. It's a little bit early yet as spring is just beginning to make an appearance here; so finding this lovely green spot on the grounds of Laguna Gloria felt like a huge gift. This piece is the finished demo from class and below is an incremental record of the process. I actually painted the ones below ahead of time for easy reference, and promised to post them here for my students. Hope it's helpful!

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"Garden Portal" - Landscape Demo

(images below are 6 x 6)

1) Line and mass block-in

Using Burnt Sienna and French Ultramarine, I blocked in simple shapes and values. This dark underpainting established my composition, laid the foundation for my darkest darks, and gave me an overall map of where I was going. A big step back before moving on helped make sure the composition was working.

2) Shadow family in uprights 

Working dark to light, I painted the relatively darker areas of all the verticals in the upright plane. It's important to constantly compare one to another as all color is relative. Notice that the large, simple masses have no detail - this is very important. At this point in the painting, establishing temperature and value are the main goal. Save details for the end.

3) Light family in the uprights

Staying in the upright plane, I laid in the sunlit areas of my subject and began to break up the large masses with small value shifts. I purposely chose to work out all of the color and value relationships in the upright planes first. Once I got those working together, I knew where I needed to go with the sky and ground planes. 

4) Sky and Ground planes, plus final touches

I saved the sky and ground planes until the end so that the other values could help me determine how light I would need to go. Since the sun is in the sky, that will most often be the lightest plane in any painting. The ground reflects the sky and is the next lightest plane (thank you, John Carlson). I also went through and broke up the masses a little bit more, being careful not to overdo it. The highest highlights are the final touches saved till the very end. Yes, delayed gratification, but totally worth the wait.

Emerald Sunset Study

Emerald Sunset Study, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD 

It's hard to believe that March is here! Am I the only one who feels like this year is going WAY too fast??? As you know, I have been working pretty constantly on a body of larger work for my upcoming show at the Davis Gallery here in Austin. This study was preparatory for one of those larger pieces... a favorite scene from the Georgia coast. (I will post the larger works in the coming weeks.)


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PS - Due to problems with USPS, I am now shipping with UPS. Unfortunately, the cost is higher, but the service is far more reliable. 

Orchid Drops

Orchid Drops, L. Daniel, 8 x 6

These orchids had a long stay at our house. They came in a beautiful arrangement, went to my still life class for a set-up and then came back to a smaller container. They lasted several weeks before they finally dropped. Even the drops were pretty.


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Dune Grasses

Dune Grasses, L. Daniel, 6 x 8 

I am painting a lot of grasses these days. They are such challenge. I particularly loved how some of these were in shadow and the contrast that shadow presented. 


Click to purchase $120 + $8 s/h
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Ocean Beach (study)

Ocean Beach (study), L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

This painting takes me back to my visit to St. Simons Island, GA last spring. I am pretty busy in my studio right now, completing larger works for my upcoming show in April. Doing this small study helped me warm up and get mentally back to the sights and sounds of the sand and surf. I'll post the larger one (a 24 x 48 diptych) as the time gets closer to my show. For now, I am dreaming of beach days. :)


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Double Pomegranates

Double Pomegranates, L. Daniel, 8 x 6, SOLD

These mini-poms were growing side by side on the branch sharing the same source of life. Seeing them growing like that kind of reminded me of double yoked eggs or pairs of twins (I do love twins of any kind!). These two needed a painting of their own. :)


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Winter Fruits

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

I found these lingering mini pomegranates on our bushes just before the cold snap. The foliage was gone but the fruits were still hanging on. One them had burst open revealing the juicy, red seeds inside. Instead of eating them I painted them; and now they are drying out in my studio. 


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Snowy Path

Snowy Path, L. Daniel, 6 x 8

This is another painting from our snow day on Friday. It was so fun to observe our transformed scenery. My Canadian friend commented on the oddity of seeing green leaves sticking up out of the snow. In the North, the landscape is mostly neutral all winter; but here so much stays green year 'round. However, it's all a distant memory now as we are completely back to our warm winter temps! You know what they say, "if you don't like the weather in Texas, just wait a day!"

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Snow Day

Snow Day, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

This morning we woke up to a blanket of snow on the ground!!! This is pretty unusual for central Texas, so I couldn't resist the urge to paint it. I love the way snow makes everything quiet, and here it's especially true because everything shuts down. I grew up in Wisconsin and we used to pray for Snow Days as kids... I love them. :)


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PS - Thank you all for sharing my excitement about the Greenhouse Gallery show. It was great to hear from so many of you and the encouragement is always welcome!!! 

Salon International 2011!!!

Hillside Wonder, L. Daniel, 18 x 18, Oil on canvas

Today I received the GREAT NEWS that my painting, "Hillside Wonder", was juried in to the 2011 Salon International Show at the Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio. There are so many incredible artists in this show and the exhibit will be inspiring; it's a huge privilege to be included! The show opens on April 2nd and runs through April 22. If you will be in the vicinity, please mark your calendar and try to stop by! I am so happy and excited! :)

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!