Dungeness Gate - Georgia Coast

Dungeness Gate, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

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This elegant gate was once the entrance to Dungeness, a 59-room Queen Anne style mansion on Cumberland Island, GA. It was built by the Carnegies in the 1880's, and quite a grand place. The Carnegies moved out in 1925 and estate burned down in 1959, leaving only ruins and the hint of stories from yesteryear. Oh, to know some of those secrets! ;) 

Nowadays, the island can only be visited by ferry, either on foot or by bike. That blue bike was mine for the day as I rode around the island (easel on my back) and painted. See why I love painting in the Golden Isles so much??? Always an adventure to be had!

Shifting Sands - Georgia Coast

Shifting Sands, 8 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

Available (arriving soon at Anderson Fine Art Gallery)

The way beach sands shift and move always amazes me. Tides, winds, currents, and storms all have a hand in that process and it seems to change almost by the day.

These partially buried beach rocks tell a story of change on St. Simons Island. They were originally placed along this beach after Hurricane Dora in 1964, by President Lyndon Johnson (referred to as the "Johnson Rocks".) The storm had caused so much damage and flooding that the large granite rocks were placed strategically along the beach to prevent further loss and erosion. As nature would have it, the sands have continued to shift, and now, over 50 years later, they have completely returned (and then some). The beach is greatly expanded, and has filled in and covered many of the Johnson Rocks on this beach. 

It's always a treat to walk down there and see what's new! :)

Local Color - Georgia Coast

Local Color, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

Available at Anderson Fine Art Gallery

The Crab Trap, a restaurant on St. Simons Island, has been around for ever and ever it seems... through changing times and all the new trends. There is nothing quite like their fried shrimp and hush puppies. But besides all that, they have the best display of flowers! I love driving by and simply taking in all the colors!

Just as I was finishing up this painting, a sweet little girl and her dad came over to see it. She told me (quite confidently) that she will be an artist when she grows up. So, of course, she happily took me up on my offer to make a little painting right there on the spot. My apron was a bit long, but she had a ball! I believe she is ALREADY an artist!

Well done, my little artist buddy!

Quiet Moment Under the Lych Gate - Georgia Coast

Quiet Moment Under The Lych Gate, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

Available at Anderson Fine Art Gallery

Christ Church, Frederica is a beautiful, historic church on the north end of St. Simons Island, GA. It is surrounded by gardens, a cemetery (where some our family are buried), and huge live oak trees that were standing when it was first established by the English colonists in 1736. The term "Lych Gate" refers to a covered gateway to an English-style churchyard. This one does just that, and its path leads through a dappled yard to the gothic-style episcopal church. A few years ago I painted the church entrance and steeple - see below. Together, these two paintings may give you a bit of the very quiet and dappled feeling of this hallowed place.

Sunlit Steeple, 16 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

collection of the artist

Crooked Creek - Georgia Coast

Crooked Creek, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

Available

I have been enjoying some much needed painting time on St. Simons Island... my workshop is behind me and each day is free for me to explore and discover. Sooooo wonderful! This is a marsh view that I dearly love. In fact, it is literally across the way from where my husband's grandmother lived most of her life. The old family beach house was on the same property, and we all had many happy times there. That place is gone now, but the memories (and the creek) are strong as ever!

Morning Marsh - Georgia Coast

Morning Marsh, 8 x 10, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

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On the second day of my workshop, we painted the marsh. The tide was rising fast... it quickly covered the banks and almost got up to the top of the grasses. The scene changed dramatically and we had a spectacular view for the show!

Tabby Cabin - with process shots

Tabby Cabin, 8 x 10, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

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This past weekend, I had the great privilege of teaching a workshop to some wonderful artists in St. Simons Island, Georgia. We started out on the first morning at this tabby cabin, which is a surviving out-building of the Hamilton Plantation. The word "tabby" refers to the material it is made of, which consists of water, lime and crushed oyster shells. It was built in the antebellum era, before 1833, so that mixture is pretty strong and resilient in the salty, ocean air. 

Below are a couple of shots as the painting developed... many thanks to my hard-working, talented students!

Block-In

Beginning to add color

Finished piece

Painting with palette, and the subject is in the background.