Leaning Tree in Sunlight

Leaning Tree in Sunlight, L. Daniel, 9 x 12

A few days ago I posted a painting of this scene at Rosario Beach (in WA) on an overcast, drizzly morning. I had several people mention that they would love to see the scene on a sunny day. Well, here it is. The day I scoped out painting sites was a brilliant, sunny afternoon, and I took photographs to remember some of my ideas for my days of painting. Of course, when I went back it looked totally different, but the time I spent painting it on location (studying the shapes and relationships) helped me bring the sunny day photo to life back in the studio. 


The plein air piece of the grey day is below - just for the fun of comparing and contrasting. You can see I painted new one from farther away and corrected the shape of the peninsula while I was at it. :)

 Leaning Tree, L. Daniel, 9 x 12

Help Africa and Demo Announcement

Garden Quiet Study, L. Daniel, 6 x 6

Proceeds from sale of this piece went directly to the 

American Red Cross for the children in Africa

My colleagues over at the Daily Paintworks gallery site have initiated an online auction to raise money for Africa. Due to the devastating drought, the UN estimates that up to 400,000 children in the Horn of Africa could die if they do not receive aid; AND up to 11 million people require food assistance at this time. I donated the painting above to the effort and I invite you to place a bid and help us make a difference! 

SOLD - Thanks to Carol and David Marine for organizing this effort!

UPCOMING DEMO INFO:

On Thursday night this week (9/1/11), I will be doing a painting demo in Fredericksburg, Texas for the Die Kunstler Von Fredericksburg art group. If you are anywhere nearby, you are welcome to come join us free of charge. The meeting will be held in the EMS building on 221 Friendship Lane from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. I would love to see you there! 

Cool Mist

Cool Mist, L. Daniel, 8 x 6, SOLD

This has been a summer of any thing BUT cool mists here in Texas. Thankfully, I have been able to take a couple of excursions to places where jackets were needed and water actually fell from the sky. It's a beautiful thing. This piece is a revisitation to the drippy skies of upstate New York.


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Woodland Window

Woodland Window, L. Daniel, 12 x 9

Up near the Puget Sound where I was visiting last week, I was constantly aware of being surrounded by water. The San Juan Islands glisten in the distance and the forested areas are deeply luscious. The foliage seems to understand that summer is very short, because it leafs out (rich and green) like there's no tomorrow. Coming from dry and thirsty Texas, it was quite refreshing.

Side note: While there, I also kept thinking about the Canadian painter (British Columbia), Emily Carr, who painted in the Pacific Northwest in the early 1900's. She was a bold and adventurous plein air painter who completely broke with tradition and defied the mores of her time (woman painter, traveled into the wild to paint alone, mixed with native peoples, painted in a crazy newfangled style, and painted totem poles no less!) Susan Vreeland wrote a great book about her that I highly recommend - a fictional piece called "The Forest Lover". It captures a sense of the times and the strength of her great spirit. Being in her territory gave me new insight into what her work was all about.

Leaning Tree

Leaning Tree, L. Daniel, 9 x 12

This past week I had the great fortune to visit my daughter and son-in-law's new home outside of Seattle, WA. It was actually quite cool and refreshing there, in the middle of August!!!!! (Can you imagine?) We did a lot of hiking and I managed to get a couple of painting sessions in as well. This particular morning at Rosario Beach was pretty fogged in... but so beautiful in its quietness. I had to paint fast because the tide was coming in. How do you know when you are finished?? When the water is lapping at your feet! :)

I can see in this picture of my set up that I kind of shortened the peninsula... hmmmmm...

Evolution of a big, big painting

Farmer's Field, L. Daniel, 36" x 60"

Above, close up shots for detail of brushwork and color. 

A couple of weeks ago, I told you I was working on a larger version of one of my plein air pieces from the Adirondacks (click here to see small piece). Well, I finally finished! This is the largest fine art painting I have ever done (prior to this, 30" x 40" was my largest.) The canvas has been in my studio for years but I could never work my way up to it. Why now?? I did it for my biggest fan, my husband, who has a giant wall in his new office space. He has been asking me for his own, NEW painting for quite some time (he always gets the leftovers, sadly), so this one's for him!!! :)  

The following process shots are for all you painter types out there who might find it interesting to see how the painting came together. I had to change my approach a bit since there was so much area to cover. Click images to enlarge.

1 - I began by lightly sketching of my composition onto the canvas with a blue pastel pencil;

followed by Line and Mass Block-in using French Ultramarine & Burnt Sienna.

2 - Focusing on the center section first, I worked outward adding color.

I prefer working with paint while wet (alla prima), so it helped to 

work one area at a time... kind of like the fresco painters of old.

3 - Since the darks dry fastest, I painted into all the dark edges while they were still wet.

This was a good stopping point after a day of painting. 

4 - Next, I added the sky and ground plane.  

This was another stopping point (I actually thought I was finished here, 

but, the ground seemed too orange and the sky needed more action, so...)

5 - Back at the easel, I muted the ground plane and began to add more clouds (in process here)... 

6 - FINAL PAINTING - I finished the clouds (softened) and 

further broke up the tree masses (still fairly subtle but more obvious in real life).

Once I get the painting up in my husband's office, I will try to get a good picture of it. It's always fun to see a painting "in situ". Now, did I mention I have two more huge canvases in my studio just waiting?? :)

Earthen Vessels

Earthen Vessels, L. Daniel, 8 x 6, SOLD

The thing I love about gardens is that they offer many opportunities to study intricate layers of light and dark in a close range. There is always something popping up to interrupt the light; and I'm attracted to both the extreme contrasts and subtle nuances that result. These urns in my garden are situated "just so" to perfectly punctuate an early morning sunbeam. 


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Sun-Kissed Blossoms

Sun-Kissed Blossoms, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD 

Last week when I mentioned that I was calling this little garden series "Other People's Gardens", I got some ribbing from my blog friend, Kirby. He kindly wondered was something wrong with my own garden? (Perhaps the drought had killed everything???) Certainly we all know that the other man's grass is always greener, but it got me thinking... no, my flowers are alive and well (in spite of 40 days of triple digits.) SO, the next few garden paintings will be from my own backyard. I shall re-title the series "Gardens" and leave it at that. Much more freedom all the way around! :)


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Garden Embrace

Garden Embrace, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

I am quite drawn to the intimacy of private gardens, so today's paintout with Plein Air Austin was a perfect location for me. We met up at the Barr Mansion, which is a beautiful Victorian home from the 1800's that is now a popular wedding venue outside of Austin. It is surrounded by well-tended gardens from which this statue greets the morning each day. The unabashed praise of this young gardener is simply contagious. 


I can't help but think of these words from "Morning Has Broken", the old gaelic melody sung by Cat Stevens...

"...Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning

Born of the one light, Eden saw play

Praise with elation, praise every morning

God's recreation of the new day..."

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Blazing Palm

Blazing Palm, L. Daniel, 8 x 6, SOLD

Sometimes the sunlight hits things just right. You know what I am talking about... it stops us from whatever we are doing and we are compelled to look twice. When this palm has its daily "moment" in the sun, it gets me every time.


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Lily Dance

Lily Dance, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

This group of dancing lilies absolutely sparkled in the morning sunlight. They were a little parade-like, I thought, all decked out as they were. This would be another in a series that I could entitle, "Other People's Gardens"...  a favorite subject of mine. :)


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Farmer's Field - Adirondack Trip (last)

Farmer's Field, L. Daniel, 6 x 12, SOLD

This is my final painting from the Adirondack Invitational trip with Plein Air Magazine. And what a fabulous trip it was! Beautiful country, wonderful people, a great adventure! This row of trees on the horizon called my name as I was scouting out some country side roads late one afternoon. I found a tree that protected me from both sun and rain while I was painting... it was that kind of day. 


Thank you for your many notes of encouragement about these paintings, I really appreciate being able to share the experience with friends. AND, right now I am actually painting a giant version of this scene in my studio (3' x 5')... so stay tuned... I will post about it later, when it is finished, dry and photographable. Extending the fun... :)

Stormy Meadow - Adirondack Trip

Stormy Meadow, L. Daniel, 12 x 16

Sometimes when the sky is darkest, the ground takes on an incredibly intense hue. In this meadow, the grass sparkled a brilliant chartreuse while the distant mountains came in and out of view with the fickle mist. Occasionally some light would push through on the horizon, but only for a moment. It was just one of those rainy mountain days... cozy...

Mountain Chapel - Adirondack Trip

Mountain Chapel, L. Daniel, 16 x 12

This charming old chapel sits on a triangular corner in the tiny mountain town of Bloomindale, New York. It obviously served the spiritual needs of the community for some time, and most recently served as an antique store. But sadly, it now sits vacant. It's so charming and gingerbread-y that it would be perfect for something. (It would make such a cool studio I thought to myself). Hopefully, it won't be empty for long.

Disappearing Creek - Adirondack Trip

Disappearing Creek, L. Daniel, 12 x 12

One afternoon, all the painters who came to the Adirondack event gathered to paint at the Saranac Gun Club AND to pose for a group photo. We lined up in this field and painted together until the appointed time for the photo "op". It was a memorable event - this many plein air painters all in one place is rare indeed! (Normally we all like our privacy.) As for our subject matter... this is actually the Saranac River though it looked more like a creek in this location... hence the title.

Here we all are, hard at work... 

See all the easels lined up in the background?? 

Black Pond Forest - Adirondack Trip

Black Pond Forest, L. Daniel, 12 x 12

Another misty, rainy day led me into the forest to paint in the dripping quiet. I set up my umbrella early on because the trees were shrugging off water droplets from an earlier storm. Well, it turned out to be fortuitous because an hour or so into the painting, the sky started raining with gusto. The umbrella worked like a charm. I stood my ground and was still painting long after the shower stopped (so empowering, I felt like I had won a battle!)  


By the way, I love those trees they have out there in upstate New York! :)

High Falls - Adirondack Trip

High Falls, L. Daniel, 12 x 12

Hiking down in to this falls was well worth the effort. When I stepped into the clearing and caught my first view, I absolutely squealed with delight. It's sheer power was evidenced by the roaring, gushing water and the misty overspray; completely enveloping everything in the vicinity. It is a truly awesome place. (see picture below)


In other news - Many thanks to Raymond Logan for reviewing my work in his "Daily Painter Review" blog. Please check it out and see some of his other reviews at the same time! Thank you, Raymond!!!!!

This is me painting the waterfall - picture by Maria Amor (thanks, Maria!)

Rock Island - Adirondack Trip

Rock Island, L. Daniel, 12 x 12

I just returned from a fabulous week of painting at the Publisher's Invitational in the Adirondack Mountains. It was a wonderful gathering of over 80 like-minded plein air painters from all over the US (and one person from Russia)... brought together by Eric Rhoads, publisher of Plein Air Magazine. We had a bit of rain and overcast skies, but it didn't deter any of us. We painted every hill and dale, creek and waterfall we could find. In the evenings we shared stories and inspirations - an incredible time all the way around!!!!

Sunlit Arbor

Sunlit Arbor, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

This garden gate leads to a quaint beach cottage on St. Simon's Island. I love intimate garden glimpses; and this one really struck me. It was on my walking route while I was visiting in April and May. Each morning I looked forward to seeing the sunlight beaming through the pretty picket fence. 


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6th & San Jacinto

6th and San Jacinto, L. Daniel, 12 x 16

A couple weeks ago, Plein Air Austin met downtown to paint our city streets in the quiet of the morning. As you can imagine, it wasn't deserted for long. Soon it was hopping with cars and people. This corner is smack in the middle of Austin's famous "6th Street" - at night, it completely transforms into a wild music and party scene. College kids love it.


Tomorrow I am headed to New York to paint in the Adirondacks for a few days and visit my sister. I look forward to painting in some of the same locations as the Hudson Valley River School Painters of the middle 19th century. It's beautiful country with an inspiring artistic history. So excited - it will also be a little cooler there... :)

Rio Vista Rapids

Rio Vista Rapids, L. Daniel, 12 x 16

Today our painting group met up on the San Marcos River, where the water is still flowing in spite of the drought we are having. It's a great place for tubing and kayaking and just staying cool in the heat. Lots of moms were there with their kids enjoying the glad freedom of summer.


AND, I got the funniest plein air comment yet...
While I was painting, a little girl named Amanda came over to watch. After awhile she announced, "I am going to be a painter when I grow up, too. I am going to practice and practice and when I get good enough to make a painting like this I am going to give it to you!" Then she thought about that for a minute and added, "that is, if you are still alive... But if you're not, don't worry, I will just put it on your grave." 


True story... And I took it as a compliment! :)

New Gallery and a Summer Show

Dune Grass, L. Daniel, 9 x 12

I am very pleased to announce that I have recently joined the Buchanan Gallery on Galveston Island! It's a wonderful gallery and a beautiful space, and I look forward to seeing what will come of this new relationship. In addition, I was invited to participate in the Summer Group Show featuring 9 gallery artists, and tomorrow (June 11) is the opening reception. If you are in Houston or anywhere near Galveston, please come by, I would love to see you!

"Summer Group Show"

Buchanan Gallery

220 25th Avenue (one block off The Strand)

Galveston Island, Texas

Opening Reception June 11, 6-9 pm

Show runs through July 9

Visit my website to view works in the Buchanan Gallery show. 

In addition to the Buchanan, my work will continue to be represented 

by the Davis Gallery in Austin, Texas and by the 

Anderson Fine Art Gallery in St. Simons Island, Georgia. 

Holy Ground - Wedding Joy

Country Pavilion, L. Daniel, 9 x 12, NFS

I painted this wonderful old, rock pavilion last fall after my daughter chose it as her marriage site. Last Saturday was her wedding day and she married the love of her life. I felt as if I was on holy ground as they exchanged vows and committed the rest of their lives to one another. It was truly a magical time.


Many of you have sent me kind notes of congratulations - thank you so, so much. Here are a few pictures of the beautiful day...

Happy Bride and Groom.

Proud father takes his daughter to the altar.

Husband and wife pass under the military 

sword arch into their new life together.

My son ushers me to my seat.

Stolen Moment

Stolen Moment, L. Daniel, 8 x 6, NFS

Back in Austin, I am immersed in the final preparations for my daughter's upcoming wedding - just 8 days away. It seems like we have been thinking about it and planning for it for so long, and now it's here. It's a deliriously wonderful and emotional time. I catch myself tearing up at the strangest things. Today it was the little pre-school aged girls in the grocery store pushing their mini carts through the aisles. I remember those days like they were yesterday.

So, with that as a backdrop, this painting truly represents a "stolen" moment in an otherwise ridiculously hectic week. Yesterday morning, Julie Davis and I met up under the low water bridge to paint before facing the demands of the day. It was much needed time to just stop and take in... and I went away completely refreshed!

Sylvan Glow - a study, a larger piece and a friend

Sylvan Glow Study, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

This glowing tree in St. Simons Island, GA was so captivating that I had to paint it twice. The top piece was first. My challenge was to capture the glowing quality of the foreground tree as well as the glowing road behind. AND it included Spanish Moss to just make things more tricky. :)

It was a study in temperature. Observing the relative warms and cools was important to getting it to work. Several days later I went back in the same kind of light to try it again (see larger piece below). This was a very helpful exercise to really understanding the light and color. 

Sylvan Glow, L. Daniel, 12 x 16

Available at the Anderson Fine Art Gallery 

in St. Simons Island, GA

Alyson Tucker and Laurel waiting for ferry on Sapelo Island.

This is my fabulous painting buddy from St. Simons Island, Alyson Tucker (and me on right). We have fabulous painting adventures whenever we get together, and this year was no different. We painted almost every week day I was there, and I SO appreciate that she is always ready to go anywhere, anytime! Thank you for a great visit, Alyson!!!! 

Boat Shed

Boat Shed, L. Daniel, 12 x 16

I painted this plein air piece the small, rural town of Meridian, Georgia. This shed sits right next to the local post office and I am pretty sure that every member of the community stopped by for their mail while we were painting. They were a friendly bunch and more than several of them stopped to tell us the history of the old shed...


Apparently, there was once an old country store next door that purchased "deertongue" by the pound (named for it's appearance - it looks like a deer's tongue). Deertongue is an indigenous, vanilla flavored plant that was used by the tobacco industry back in the 1900's to flavor cigarettes and pipe tobacco. Folks would collect these leaves in the countryside and bring them to the store for extra cash. One guy remembered working in these old sheds as a kid, processing and bundling the herb. Lots of history in this place! :)

Sapelo Lighthouse

Sapelo Lighthouse, L. Daniel, 8 x 6, SOLD

This lighthouse on Sapelo Island, Georgia looks like a toy, don't you think? Not only in my painting but in real life - I think it's something about the red and white stripes. While I was painting, another visitor to the lighthouse took the picture below and emailed it to me. It lets you see the story book quality of the scene... thanks MC!

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Coast Guard Lookout

Coast Guard Lookout, L. Daniel, 12 x 12

St. Simons Island has a wonderful, historic Coast Guard station that sits overlooking the ocean. It was built in 1936 and after many years of service was refurbished into a maritime museum. Sitting right next to the main public beach, it is also a major landmark for meeting up and the location of much summer fun. :)


I have some other fun news... yesterday, I had a visit from a blog friend, Kathy Cousart! She was traveling through the area with her husband and they stopped by to see us. This was the first time we ever met in person (though we have exchanged many a communication through email and our blogs). It was pure delight! We visited, talked plenty of "art" and instantly felt like old, old friends. It's a wonderful, small world. Thanks for visiting, Kathy!!!

Me and Kathy Cousart meeting up in Georgia!!!!