Bending Sea Grasses - Fix It Friday #9

Bending Sea Grasses, 40 x 30, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2020

(Soon-to-be) Available at the Anderson Fine Art Gallery

This large piece is making its way to the Anderson Fine Art Gallery, in St. Simons Island, GA, as soon as the fixed parts dry. While it sat curing after the first go round, I started having my doubts. Why did I stop? Why did I think it was done? Well... you know what happened next... back to the easel it went!

Here are the before and after shots, with thoughts about the changes...

BEFORE

 AFTER

CHANGES:

Problem 1 - The painting was cut in half visually, with all the action in the bottom half.

Fix 1 - Added height to the mass of clouds, extending them up past the horizontal midline.

Fix 2 - Added light reference into the top half with cloud highlights, connecting ground and sky planes.

Problem 2 - Same volume in the grasses and cumulous cloud mass is repetitive and monotonous.

Fix 1 - Added volume to the clouds to differentiate them from the grasses in shape.

Problem 3 - The "spit" of land on the horizon line was too dominant and contributed to the "cutting in half" issue. 

Fix 1 - Muted down the spit of land in color and in highlights... Made it "blend" better with the environment. 

OBSERVATIONS:

It's hard to completely change a painting this size. I'm not going to lie, I was scared. What if I was wrong? Why not leave well enough alone? But I knew I had to do it. I've heard it said that if we are not always on the verge of ruining everything, we are being too cautious. 

How the change began... a few dark blobs... so scary...

Click Here to see Fix It Friday #1

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #2 

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #3

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #4

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #5

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #6

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #7

Click Here to see Fix it Friday #8

Golden Beach Path

Golden Beach Path, 30 x 40, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2019

Available at the Anderson Fine Art Gallery

At this time of year, grasses in the landscape begin to differentiate. This is when we get to see the golds and reds pop out, offering a beautiful contrast to all the greens. I absolutely LOVE the opportunity to work that glow into my work!!! 

Just for fun, here is the block in for this piece. I know I am like a broken record on this, but finding the composition and values before tackling color really helps hold the scene. For me, it's a road map.

Block in using Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna...

a good way to start! 

Stormy Fields and Upcoming Workshop

Stormy Fields, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2017

Available

On stormy, overcast days, I notice that color in the ground plane is much more intense. This piece is from late fall and I just kept forgetting to post it. Sometimes life gets busy! I loved the combination of colors this day... a muted, periwinkle sky with those rich, yellow grasses. 

UPCOMING WORKSHOP (still a couple of spots):
En Plein Air: Strong Starts
March 30 - April 1, 2017
Contact: Anderson Fine Art Gallery
Email: mand@mindspring.com
Phone: 912-634-8414
More details, click HERE.

Bright Spring Morning and Workshop Info

Bright Spring Morning, 8 x 16, oil, L. Daniel © 2017

Available

When spring arrives I am always ready to get outside and paint again. This particular day was a little chilly and lots of trees were still bare, but I was able to find a well-lit green spot at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The leftover winter grasses were glowing red, and offering up a delightful pop of complimentary color. It was great to be out!

WORKSHOP:
Painters - I still have a few openings in my workshop on St. Simons Island on the Georgia coast... If you can get away, come join me! Focus - Discover how a disciplined approach to your plein air work can lead to free and expressive painting sessions... 

En Plein Air: Strong Starts
March 30 - April 1, 2017
Contact: Anderson Fine Art Gallery
Email: mand@mingdspring.com
Phone: 912-634-8414
More details, click HERE.

Dune Shadows - Georgia Coast

Dune Shadows, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2015

Click to purchase $120 + $16 s/h

Slumping sand dunes and soft cast shadows always grab my eye... there is something so peaceful about the horizontal-ness of it all. This was a windy morning (though you can't see that in my painting), so using an umbrella was impossible for this little sea-grass study. Painting small and fast was the order of the day. 

River Grasses - Big Bend, Texas

River Grasses, 9 x 12, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

Big Bend, Texas

Standing on the Texas side of the Rio Grande River, it's hard to believe that Mexico is just a stone's throw away. I could've waded over, but alas, did not have my passport with me. I was quite happy observing these backlit grasses along at river bank. They brought an irresistible warm glow to the soft desert neutrals. Inspiring. 

See more plein air Field Work.

Beach Study

Beach Study, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

Click to purchase $120 + $16 s/h

Available for shipping March 3rd. 

I spent most of this week working on a large beach scene that includes this clump of grasses and their wonderful shadows. This little piece helped me work out colors and forms before starting. I am busy painting a new body of work for my upcoming show at the Anderson Gallery, which opens April 25th on St. Simons Island. It's titled "Marshside to Seaside" and will feature scenes from the low country of the Georgia coast - one of my favorite places. I'll be sharing images of the larger work as the date gets closer. 

Meanwhile, I am heading off on a plein air painting excursion in Big Bend (taking just a little a break from beaches and marshes). While I am gone, I have some surprise posts planned… so please stay tuned!!! No hints! ;) 

See more Small Works.

Golden Marshland Study

Golden Marshland Study, 6 x 8, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2014

SOLD

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

The colors of wintertime on the Georgia coast are intoxicating. At this time of year, the marsh grasses turn a soft neutral tone and are absolutely emblazoned by the warm afternoon light as it slips toward the horizon. Maybe this is one of the reasons these barrier islands are often referred to as "the Golden Isles"… golden, they are.  

See more Small Works.

Autumn Blaze

Autumn Blaze, 8 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

We have had some cold snaps down here (back in Texas) and the landscape has quickly made its transition into winter mode. The soft light of a gray day made the golden colors extra vibrant and dramatic last week. It was worth enduring a chilly, "wintery mix" to get outside and paint those beautiful transient tones. 

See more Small Works. 

Winter Grasses and Sitting Room Quietude

Glowing Winter Grasses, 18 x 36, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2013 - SOLD

Sitting Room Quietude, 18x 24, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013 - SOLD

Silence is golden. 

Another pair headed to the Davis Gallery show in October. 

Skyworks and Kitchen Warmth

Skyworks, 24 x 24, oil on canvas, L. Daniel © 2013

Kitchen Warmth, 24 x 18, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

Places of warmth - both outside and inside - draw me hopelessly in. A field of golden grass, an exploding sky, a table streaked with sunbeams... each has the capacity to stop me in my tracks. And it's good to be stopped in my tracks once in awhile... 

These paintings will both be available in my upcoming show, "Landscapes: Interior-Exterior", opening October 5th at the Davis Gallery. 

Beach Breezes - Georgia Coast

Beach Breezes, 8 x 6, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

SOLD

Painting on the beach can be challenging because of the blinding light, so finding a beach with a little bit of shade is always my preference. On this day, strong breezes added to that challenge. Although I found a spot that was sheltered, I still had to hold on to my easel the whole time I was painting to keep it from blowing over. It was a bit of a battle (with several wipedowns), so I was happy to walk away with this small piece. 

Twisting Turns - Georgia Coast

Twisting Turns (study), 6 x 8, Oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

SOLD

Oh, the marsh... I am already missing its lovely twists and turns... and its hourly changes. Here is just one moment in time that I was able to capture while painting in the low country. We had an uneventful (thankfully), 18 hour road trip driving home from Georgia. I have unpacked, sorted, laundered and put away... and am now trying to remember what "normal" is like in Texas. It's good to be back.

Winter Grasses

Winter Grasses, 12 x 16, oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2013

Today started out chilly but ended up warm and sunny; and perfect for painting outside. A few of us met up to paint together at a favorite spot along Bull Creek here in Austin. These golden winter grasses growing in the limestone creek bed had a glow that was simply irresistible.

Shallow Creek Bed

Shallow Creek Bed, 12 x 9, Oil on panel, L. Daniel © 2012

The creeks are flowing here in Texas, due to September rains... and let me just say, we love rain, no matter when it falls. This creek is a popular spot for teenagers, particularly when spring fever hits. But this week? Quiet and peaceful. Only the occasional dog and master passed me by, so I had it all to myself. The river grasses are warming up with that warm fall glow... just delicious. 

Stormy Sunday

Stormy Sunday, L. Daniel, 12 x 12

...otherwise known as "the day it finally rained"! This weekend was Plein Air Austin's year-end barbecue at Westlake Beach, a old and favorite Austin haunt. We gathered in the afternoon to paint first (because that's what we do) and families joined us later. Well, don't you know, about an hour in, the sky darkened like someone had turned off the lights... and yes... rain happened. We all ducked under pavilions to wait it out and then went back and finished our paintings. It didn't last long, but it was a thrill. (I mean that - an absolute thrill - we are literally praying for the wet stuff.) 

Reeds in the Lagoon - Plein Air Demo

Reeds in the Lagoon, L. Daniel, 8 x 8, SOLD 

Plein Air Demo

Today my fall plein air class started and we met up down by the lake to paint reeds and reflections and little yellow flowers. It was a beautiful, cool, sunshiny morning - a truly perfect fall day. I promised my students that I would post my demo from class step by step, so here you all are!

I began by blocking-in the large masses of my composition 

using a mix of French Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna.

(The stain in the background is just leftover from a wipe-off.)

Next, I painted the darkest darks of the upright planes in foreground and background 

(keeping atmospheric perspective in mind to create a sense of air and depth.)

Then I painted the flower blooms (treating them as large masses) 

and saturated greens in the foreground foliage.

Working to get the canvas covered, I put in the muted tones of the reflections on the water.

I am always comparing value, chroma, and temperature of each component to the next,

because all color and value is relative to whatever is beside or around it. 

Once the values and color of the whole scene were working 

I added the sunlit tips of the reeds and broke up the masses with subtle value shifts.

At the very end, I added the final highlights (very important not to rush this final step.)

Cliffside Breezes

Cliffside Breezes, L. Daniel, 6 x 8, SOLD

Before I left for the Weekend with the Masters in Monterey, I pre-posted of some smaller studies I've been working on over the past weeks. They are a little like postcards to myself as I used them to process a few memories of my trip to the Pacific Northwest. Hiking next to the waters of the Puget Sound, we came across this bending tree, it's growth greatly impacted by the sea winds. It interested me to think about how the tree has adapted for survival there, hunkered in and clinging to the cliff. Nature always finds a way.


See more Small Works

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. 

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.)


See more Small Works


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