Laurel Daniel Oil Paintings

Hidden Beach Path

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 02:27:15 +0200

Another plein air day in Georgia last month found me caught up in the "tangle"...

What do I mean by that? Well... physically, the vegetation itself was CRAZY and I kept getting lost in the vines and branches and layers. But mentally, I forgot to bring my tripod, and had to make do without it. Not good! I started out at a picnic table, but that had the wrong angle. Sitting on the ground? Not at all comfortable (Have I mentioned that I really prefer to stand?) When all else failed, I discovered that a garbage can was a PERFECT support for my paint box!!! Who knew? :)

2023 SPRING WORKSHOPS (click HERE for info and registration):
April 14-15 - Contemporary Austin Art School, Austin, TX (Wait list only)
May 4-6 - Anderson Fine Art Gallery in St. Simons Island, GA

Streams of Light - Finish It Friday!

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 01:21:09 +0200

Click to purchase - $1075 + s/h

Welcome to some Friday fun! Today, "FINISH IT" FRIDAY!

Sometimes when I am out painting, I am unable to finish a piece on location. Things happen. A car parks in front of the view, a boat sails away, a storm comes up, nourishment is required, the calendar beckons... you get the picture. It can be anything!

So... Last week I was plein air painting on the Georgia coast, and this time it was the incoming tide that shut me down! I worked as fast as I could, but finally had to pack up to avoid getting wet. I made some quick placeholders for the clouds, memorized all the shapes and colors, and brought it back to finish in the studio.

Here is how it went from unfinished to finished... I think the final decisions are always interesting...

UNFINISHED

FINISHED PIECE

What I did:

1) Built out the sky according to my painted notes.

2) Adjusted shapes, value, and color on the large masses.

3) Pulled the elements together, paying attention to edges and transition colors.

4) Popped the highlights (always the last thing I do).

In the final stages, I am thinking about how to make the painting flow cohesively. Some of the questions I ask myself include: Does the light agree everywhere in the scene? Does the perspective work? Does the distance recede? Does the foreground come forward? Where does the viewer's eye go? These are very helpful for determining when I am DONE! :)

2023 SPRING WORKSHOPS (click HERE for info and registration):
April 14-15 - Contemporary Austin Art School, Austin, TX (Wait list only)
May 4-6 - Anderson Fine Art Gallery in St. Simons Island, GA

Waiting

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 03:24:07 +0200

Click to purchase - $150 + $15 s/h

Oh, how I love these birds! They stalk the marsh and beach, just waiting for breakfast. Standing ever so still, they "hide" in plain sight... but when a morsel of food swims by, they are quick to pounce. Mesmerizing!

2023 SPRING WORKSHOPS (click HERE for info and registration):
April 14-15 - The Contemporary Austin Art School in Austin, TX (Wait list only)
May 4-6 - Anderson Fine Art Gallery in St. Simons Island, GA

Brogen's at the Pier - Fix It Friday!

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 06:09:39 +0200

NFS

Brogen's is a favorite bar and hamburger joint in the village on St. Simons Island, GA. The food is delish and it's right on the water. When I painted it en plein air, the waitress brought out some onion rings for a little work break. How nice was that?

Well, the painting had a few problems that needed addressing!:) Here is the "before" image...

BEFORE

AFTER

Problem - Alley way lacked shadow and failed to recede. The scene was flat and one-dimensional.
Fix - Darkened the value on the pink wall leading into the alley.
Fix - Popped highlights on front of Brogen's decks and awnings.

Problem - Palm tree, ground, and building were blending together. (More flatness!)
Fix - Changed the color of the palm's trunk to differentiate it from the building.
Fix - Lightened ground plane in front of door.

OBSERVATIONS

I had a hard time seeing the true value of that pink wall when I was in the field. It was in shadow, but I painted it like it was in the light. Even very light colors appear dark when they are in shadow. The only way to observe the value correctly is by squinting way down. And I will admit it, I kind of loved the idea of that funky pink wall. But in the end, I had to mute it out altogether! It just wasn't working!

Fun side note: My niece is having one of her wedding events at Brogen's in the fall, so this piece will go to the sweet newlyweds!

2023 SPRING WORKSHOPS (click HERE and join me):
April 14-15 - The Contemporary Austin Art School in Austin, TX (Full with wait list)
May 4-6 - Anderson Fine Art Gallery in St. Simons Island, GA

Saturday Schemes - Figures on Friday!

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 02:00:00 +0200

Click to purchase - $150 + $15 s/h

I happened upon these two young guys down at Lost Creek in Austin (I mean, isn't that name just fuel for the imagination?) I was painting further up the creek while they had taken up this spot under the bridge... clearly making plans for their afternoon. Oh, the joy of that fabulous young freedom! "The world is our oyster", "we can do anything"... those feelings were so evident and compelling. I took a quick snap on my phone and kept going. Plans like these are not to be disturbed! ;)

Here is how the piece started out...

Block-In

Finished piece

Since the background was so dark, I toned the canvas to bring the value to a more workable starting point. Also, you can see where I had to make some corrections in my drawing. I originally made the torsos too short. Note to self: Check and double check dimensions after the block in, and make adjustments before moving forward.

A Good Day

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 01:28:08 +0200

Click to purchase $200 + $20 s/h

Some days are just GOOD. And I am so grateful for those days! A friend of mine recently reminded me how easy it is to miss that goodness. Maybe it's because life is full of challenges and maybe we just aren't paying close enough attention. It can take intentionality to find the good, but it is SUCH a better perspective when we do! Thank you for the reminder, SS!

Park Gazebo - Fix It Friday!

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 01:58:07 +0200

I do love a Friday Fun Day... A different perspective and freedom to play...

Today I am revisiting FIX IT FRIDAY - a practice from the cooped up Covid days of 2020! During that time, I posted a new "fixer upper" for 25 straight weeks in a row! It got me through the dog days of staying home and social distancing. From there, I moved to FIGURES ON FRIDAY (like the one I posted HERE last week). Both practices offer a little break and are good for my soul. ;)

BEFORE

AFTER

Problem - Lighting is overall muted and flat.

Fix - Increased the contrast by "pushing" the darks and lights on the structure and foreground trees.

Fix - Brightened the sky with a more intense blue and contrasty clouds.

Fix - Changed the gazebo roof to a cooler, crisper color (which makes its shade below it feel like a cooler place to be too.)

Problem - Figure on left was not working for me. Too large? Proportions off?

Fix - When in doubt - DELETE! What a relief!

Fix - Narrowed the path which got too wide trying to accommodate my odd figure.

OBSERVATIONS

Sometimes I can see that I have fallen short with my value range. (It's always so much easier to see after the fact. We get retina fatigue and just stop too soon.) That was happening here. It just needed that final pop of values to set the light and overall tone of the painting.

Now I can feel the ocean breeze and the sunshiny reflection off the water. Ahhh!

2023 SPRING WORKSHOPS (click HERE and join me):
April 14-15 - The Contemporary Austin Art School in Austin, TX (Full with wait list)
May 4-6 - Anderson Fine Art Gallery in St. Simons Island, GA

And the Walking Girl Walks - Figures on Friday!

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 02:00:00 +0200

NFS

Meet my sister. Two years my elder, we grew up together through thick and thin! She is fiercely independent, a brilliant musician, the leader of the pack, and a lover of the morning walk (the earlier the better.) Maybe you can catch a glimpse of her personality in this painting... not much gets in her way!!!

Oh, and always the wild one... she got grounded for life by our dad in high school (a week-long penalty never quite got her attention). So, technically, she is still grounded! ;)

2023 SPRING WORKSHOPS (click HERE and join me):
April 14-15 - The Contemporary Austin Art School in Austin, TX (Full with wait list)
May 4-6 - Anderson Fine Art Gallery in St. Simons Island, GA

Fall Fade with Process Shots!

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 21:49:49 +0200

Available - Click for information

The muted tones of fall are deliciously soft and comforting. Nature seems to be going to sleep to rest up for its spring display. I love the cycle.

Below are some process shots...

I kept my dark underpainting very thin and sketchy.

As I added color, I toggled back and forth between the trees and sky, kind of mushing them together. I wanted to hang on to the softness and branchy-ness.

To finish it off, I used my warmest tones and greatest contrast in the front row of trees and grasses. This added some depth. It helped push the background back and pull the foreground forward.

2023 SPRING WORKSHOPS (click here and join me):
April 14-15 - The Contemporary Austin Art School in Austin, TX (Only 1 spot left!)
May 4-6 - Anderson Fine Art Gallery in St. Simons Island, GA

Sunflowers - Warming Up in a New Year

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 01:45:44 +0200

Available - Click for Information

If you are like me, getting back to your routines after the holidays is a challenge! Whatever it is we are trying to accomplish, this often requires warming up, psyching up, and pushing ourselves into action. It's the same with painting. One thing that works for me is setting up a still life, squeezing out a good deal of paint, and focusing in. The key is to get the brushes wet and keep them moving.

So... here are some sunflowers for the the new year. They are also the happiest flower created, and they bring great joy into the room with their sunny disposition!

2023 SPRING WORKSHOPS (click here and join me):
April 14-15 - The Contemporary Austin Art School in Austin, TX
May 4-6 - Anderson Fine Art Gallery in St. Simons Island, GA

Morning Breaks Eternal and Happy New Year!

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 02:31:15 +0200

Available through the Davis Gallery - Click for Purchase Info

This early morning scene took my breath away. The rim of mountains in the distance and glorious sky beckoned a new and glorious day. What a sweet way to get started!

Happy New Year to all! Heartfelt, though a little belated! :)

2023 SPRING WORKSHOPS (click here and join me):
April 14-15 - The Contemporary Austin Art School in Austin, TX
May 4-6 - Anderson Fine Art Gallery in St. Simons Island, GA

Shrimp' Time and Small Works Holiday Sale!

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 01:08:11 +0200

Available in Small Works Holiday Sale!

20% off with discount code MERRY2022 at checkout.

Unframed. Online (shop at home). Free shipping.

Through December 15 only.

Click show title to see them all!

Shrimp boats don't often stay docked long enough to get a painting done, and I was sure this session would be cut short. BUT, this was my lucky day. I had to paint fast, but I got 'er done!

Marsh's Edge and Small Works Holiday Sale!

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 02:47:58 +0200

Available

SMALL WORKS HOLIDAY SALE

20% off with discount code MERRY2022 at checkout.

Unframed. Online (shop at home). Free shipping.

Through December 15 only.

MANY, many thanks to all who have purchased a painting (or paintings) in this holiday season! I love sending these small gems off to new owners and there are still a few left to choose from. Sooooo... Click the sale title above and check it out!!! Great for gift giving!

2023 SPRING WORKSHOPS (click here and join me):
April 14-15 - The Contemporary Austin Art School in Austin, TX
May 4-6 - Anderson Fine Art Gallery in St. Simons Island, GA

Stable Door - Small Works Holiday Sale!

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 02:17:59 +0200

Available in the Small Works Holiday Sale

20% off with discount code MERRY2022 at checkout.

Unframed. Online (shop at home). Free shipping.

Through December 15 only.

This sketchy study has an immediacy and freshness that I kind of love. It came about at the end of a plein air session, after a very full day. "Quittin' time" so to speak. But as I started to pack up my gear, nature offered up a different plan. The late afternoon light filtered down through the trees and set that little sapling aglow. It was just too pretty to leave behind.

2023 SPRING WORKSHOPS (click here and join me):
April 14-15 - The Contemporary Austin Art School in Austin, TX
May 4-6 - Anderson Fine Art Gallery in St. Simons Island, GA

Garden Amaryllis - Small Works Holiday Sale!

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 02:00:00 +0200

Available - SMALL WORKS HOLIDAY SALE

20% off with discount code MERRY2022 at checkout.

Unframed. Online (shop at home). Free shipping.

Through December 15 only.

This piece was a demo for my spring workshop in Austin, TX. We met in the beautiful garden of my dear friend. It's one of those places that is so full of things to paint that it's hard to settle down and pick something. I opted for this simple outdoor still life, and it's delightful pop of color. Here are some shots from the process. (I forgot to photograph, so many thanks to my thoughtful student who sent these!)

2023 SPRING WORKSHOPS (click here):
April 14-15 - The Contemporary Austin Art School in Austin, TX
May 4-6 - Anderson Fine Art Gallery in St. Simons Island, GA

DEMO SHOTS...

Getting started.

Block in sketch.

Adding color, working dark to light.

Radiant Light Study, and Small Works Holiday Sale!

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 13:30:00 +0200

Click to purchase ~~$200~~ ($160 with discount code MERRY2022)

SMALL WORKS HOLIDAY SALE!

Unframed small studies and demos.

Use Discount code MERRY2022 for 20% discount at check out.

Free shipping to 48 contiguous US states.

Sale through December 15th only!

These small paintings make perfect Christmas gifts for art loving family and friends (and maybe you'll find a little something for YOU!)

Over 25 little treasures... 5x7's, 6x8's, 8x8's, and 8x10's.

Click HERE to see them all on my website!

April Morning with Process Shots

Sun, 29 May 2022 01:02:32 +0200

Available - Click here for information

It has been a busy spring for me... A big museum show in Kerrville TX, a weekend workshop in Austin TX, and a couple of commissions! I got behind in my blogging, and will try to play a little catch up starting with the workshop. I had a great group of students and I always love seeing their work and progress! So rewarding! Here is the break down of my demo on the second day...

Loosely outlined shapes of major masses.

Indicated dark values in the layers to give a road map for rest of painting.

Painted shadow family in upright plane – began to establish foreground, middle ground, background.

Painted light family in upright planes, muting and cooling as each plane recedes.

Added ground plane and sky plane. It's important to get the canvas covered completely in order to see what is working and what needs adjustment...

Made adjustments to better define values and separate layers. Saved highlights till the very end. Always!

Creek Reflections

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 01:51:07 +0200

Creek Reflections, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel

Available - Click for information

The marshlands of St. Simons have a particular draw for me... but when deep reflections are involved, I am unable to resist! The stillness, the soft ripples, the warm winter grasses... Mmmm Mmm... so delish! I am looking forward to getting back!

Sand Castles - Figures on Friday!

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 02:30:28 +0200

Gifted!

I have so much respect for portrait artists. Capturing someone's unique personality and one of a kind facial expressions is HARD! This "quick" little study of my niece became a multiple day challenge for me. I could not get her face right and had to keep wiping out her entire head to begin it again. It took WAY more time than I expected, but I am finally happy with it. Whew!

Oil Painter Friends, here is a take away tip:

If you run into a problem area like this one while painting... Resist the urge to keep adding more and more paint on top of the problem. Stop. Admit defeat. Deep breath. THEN... Scrub out the small section that you are "fixing", wiping it completely down to the canvas. (Completely.) I use a paper towel carefully wrapped around my finger to tackle the specific area. When area is clean, rebuild the passage from the ground up. Start with the dark neutral underdrawing and re-sketch, then build the color from dark to light. Highlights last. You might have to do it more than once, like me, but you'll be surprised how well it works!

From The Clearing

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 19:21:50 +0200

Click to purchase $150 + $18 s/h

I loved seeing this little cabin through the trees, all lit up by the morning sun. I have painted it before from several different angles, but this more "distant" view was a new one... very compelling. Was it the light? the mystery? Probably a little of both! ;)