Shops on the Corner - with process shots!

Shops on the Corner, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2019

SOLD

This is one of my favorite plein air paintings from this year. Why? Well... because it was just so darn fun to paint! The little shops were inspiring with their tropical color and feel, and the shadow patterns added fabulous structure and interest to the scene. This corner WANTED to be painted! :) 

I did manage to get some process shots along the way, so I can share with you how the piece came together. 

Block in using ultramarine and burnt sienna mix: I was going for a correct, but loose, sketch of the structures. 

Lay-in of values and color in the upright plane: Capturing the color of the shops early on was very important to my process. It's what attracted me to the scene AND what kept me inspired! I didn't want to lose it.

Final painting: I was happy I could retain the "sketchiness" to the end. 

Cottage View

Cottage View, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

Available

I managed to get back to the Georgia coast for the grand finale of summer. I have had a couple of very full months, and it felt good to get back to the golden isles with my paintbrushes. This lovely view belongs to a woman who grew up not only on St. Simons Island, but on this very seafront property, which she recently inherited. It was a real treat to spend the day painting there, feeling the delicious sea breezes and listening to the constant sound of the surf. Many thanks, AB and RB, for your gracious hospitality!!!!

Fall workshops at The Contemporary Austin Art School are coming up! Please join me!
Still Life: Process and Studies, 9/29-30/2017 REGISTER HERE

Plein Air: Identifying Values, 10/20-21/2017 REGISTER HERE

Cottage Balcony - Georgia Coast

Cottage Balcony, 12 x 9, Oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

SOLD

The morning light on this Jekyll Island cottage added an irresistible warmth to an already charming scene. I can't help but think of Romeo and Juliet when I see garden balconies. They add automatic romance, don't you think?

Dungeness Gate - Georgia Coast

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

SOLD

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!

Hill Country Bell Tower

Hill Country Bell Tower, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2016

Available 

Today was a beautiful fall day in Texas... a liiiiittle bit cooler (okay, to some of you it would still seem hot, but we'll take it) and crystal blue skies. Plein Air Austin had a paintout scheduled at this lovely outdoor chapel in the Hill Country, called Chapel Dulcinea. It's not only a great painting place with quiet vistas all around, it's a gorgeous, intimate wedding venue. A pretty cool fact is that getting married here is actually FREE... couples need only reserve it with a down payment that is returned when they use it. How awesome is that? Pretty rare in this day and age... Read about it HERE.

NEW INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO AVAILABLE: 

"Laurel Daniel - Oil Painting for Beginners" 

Available at Liliedahl Art Instruction Videos 

4 Hrs 15 min - DVD or Digital Download - $35 + s/h

Courtyard Umbrellas

Courtyard Umbrellas, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2016

Available at the Anderson Fine Art Gallery

This is one of my favorite plein air pieces of the summer, and another from my painting days on Jekyll Island. This courtyard sits outside of Crane Cottage which was built in 1917 for Richard T. Crane. Crane, a manufacturer from Chicago, was part of the "Millionaire's Club" that gathered for fun and frolic on the island back in the day. Now, this cottage is home to a restaurant called "Courtyard at Crane" that serves up delicious lunches. I brought my own lunch that day, but it's charm, charm, charming inside too!

Morning Solitude

Morning Solitude, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2016

SOLD

"Keep the Momentum" was the last of my show tips as I presented my solo exhibit at the end of April (see blog posts from January-April 2016). Although that really IS good advice, what I didn't mention was that I would be traveling for the next two months (which blew my momentum right out of the water)! I went from Texas to Georgia to New York to Italy, and back again. I saw children and grandchildren, in-laws and siblings, and lots of dear friends. I played with my grandsons (never enough!), collected pottery shards at the seashore, ate delicious food (Neapolitan pizza and pistachio gelato are just two highlights), saw beautiful cities and countryside, and danced at two weddings! It was a whirlwind of fun and rejuvenation!

Now that I am home, I am excited to be loading my brushes again and getting back in the flow. "Be it ever so humble..." there really is no place like home.

Thank you all for your kind "welcome backs" and words of congratulations...

It truly means the world to me. 

A note about "Morning Solitude" (painted en plein air in May, while still in Georgia)... This particular painting location was a sweet reward for following my gut and an unmarked road. Marshes and creeks always bring me joy, but this one was exceptionally quiet and tranquil. Well worth the detour!!

Swirling Sky - Plein Air Magazine Photo Essay

Swirling Sky, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2016

SOLD

Sorry to have disappeared for the last two months... I have been off traveling and visiting with family, and having a grand old time!!! More to come on that! 

Meanwhile, I am thrilled to share that my plein air painting "Swirling Sky" was published in a photo essay in the June/July issue of Plein Air Magazine. The essay, entitled "The Many Moods of Clouds" by John D. Cogan, is illustrated with the works of 18 distinguished landscape painters, and I am honored to be included. If you receive the magazine, check it out on page 21! Thank you, Plein Air Magazine!

Courtyard Color - En Plein Air Texas!

Courtyard Color, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

En Plein Air Texas!

SOLD

The last day in the afternoon... we had a formal luncheon (and attended in our paint clothes) and then went out to find one more painting. Everything had to be framed for the competition and turned in the next morning, so although I was tired, I didn't want to miss this last opportunity to paint. I had several courtyards that interested me, so my host called around and got me permission to paint in this lovely backyard!! (She was the greatest!) As the light peeked through the trees, these wonderful shadows began to grow on the wall and I had my last painting. 

Well, there was one more... the Quick Draw on Saturday was actually my last... and I'll share that tomorrow! Thanks for following along! :)

Morning Playtime

Morning Playtime, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

Available - Click for information

This morning was a lovely playtime for me, AND playtime for lots of children in the botanical gardens here in Austin! Knowing I wanted to include figures today, I started painting and waited for my "subjects" to show up. When this little momma and her kids showed up, I knew they were mine. She is also a painter, so how fun is that? Many thanks to my new friends!

This is my quick pencil sketch of Mother and Baby...

it helped me make sense of things when I went at it with paint!

Angel Perch

Angel Perch, 12x9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

Available - Click for information

Today Plein Air Austin met up to paint together at Chapel Dulcinea outside of Austin. It's a wonderful wedding venue, complete with garden vignettes and walking trails that overlook the rolling hill country. I found this little cherub statue perching on a garden wall, and had to try and capture the scene. I loved the combination of straight and curvy. It was also great to see old friends and meet some new!

Please join me for my last workshop of the year...
En Plein Air: Strong Starts, November 6-8, 9am-1:30pm
Register @ The Contemporary Austin Art School

Old Water Tank

Old Water Tank, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

Available - Click for information

I have been spying this water tank for quite some time, and finally had the chance today to get out and paint it. As the sun lit up the tank against a cloudy sky, it absolutely glowed! It was a lovely combination of color and light. 

Swirling Sky

Swirling Sky, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

Available - Click for information

A weekend trip to the Georgia coast brought me to this gorgeous marsh scene in "afternoon shower" mode. The roiling clouds were full but the distant rains never made it over the marsh to where I was painting. Dramatic skies like this always take my breath away; and it's a joy when I get to stop and paint them.

Jennifer's Garden

Jennifer's Garden, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

Available - Click for information

A recent visit to my friend's garden presented me with this little scene. It felt a bit like being in a European village, and spending a morning painting there was exactly like being on a lovely vacation! My great thanks to Jennifer, who always leaves her gate open and the light "on". I so appreciate her generosity! :)

Blue Meadow

Blue Meadow, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

Available - Click for information

Here is another piece from my week of expeditions into the bluebonnet fields. While I was out painting, some friendly hikers shared their thoughts... a cute couple from Minnesota was quite adamant that "Bluebonnets really are purple, not blue" (I think they are both/and), another group pointed out that we have it all wrong here because "in California these flowers are called Lupines" (same plant family), and I got lots of offers for "posing" if I wanted to include a person or two. Never a dull moment. :)

H A P P Y    E A S T E R    E V E R Y O N E !

Please join me for this upcoming Workshop (last till fall):

April 30-May 2, 2015 | Plein Air | Click here to register: St. Simons Island, GA

Overcast Morning

Overcast Morning, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

Over the long weekend, I was happy to get out and paint, even if it was just a couple of times. The weather was cold and harsh, but rain or shine, I love being at the Georgia coast with paintbrush in hand. 

Please join me for these upcoming Workshops:

March 26-29, 2015 | Plein Air | Click here to register: Austin, Texas

April 30-May 2, 2015 | Plein Air | Click here to register: St. Simons Island, GA

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

Butterfly Ginger, 12 x 9, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2014

M E R R Y   C H R I S T M A S 

A N D   H A P P Y   H O L I D A Y S   T O   A L L !

Thank you for your support and friendship, 

and for following my work through this blog. 

I appreciate the encouragement more than you can know. 

Many blessings, 

Laurel

High Clouds

High Clouds, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

Clouds above Lake Austin… always compelling! These were moving fast, so after blocking the shapes in, I was mostly painting from memory. (It was very hard to keep from changing them over and over.) Thankfully, new cloud formations kept rolling in and I was able to figure out how to handle the light and shadows from those. :)

Butterfly Ginger

Butterfly Ginger, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

Can you believe this exotic plant grows in Texas? Yes, it does. On a recent painting trip to our local botanical garden in Austin, I came across large Butterfly Ginger plants that were in full bloom. The flowers are hearty, but they are also delicate and fringy; and lots of fun to paint. 

Blue Hole

Blue Hole, 12 x 9, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

This weekend, I met up to paint with old friends and new from the Plein Air Austin group. We converged at the Blue Hole… a swimming hole on the San Gabriel River in Georgetown, just north of Austin. It's a great place hang out and stay cool in the hot summer. There are walking trails and picnic tables, and swimming of course, but best of all are the picturesque limestone bluffs that line the river. It's a beautiful spot.