Framed Oil on Canvas "Fall Pasture" Pastoral Scene by Laurel Daniel

With a degree in studio art and 19 years in the graphic design business, Laurel now paints full-time and teaches at The Contemporary Austin Art School. She is an avid plein air painter and says, "Plein air painting is a huge part of my process - it feeds, motivates, and is the source for studio work. It is an excuse to be outside, experiencing nature firsthand. The whole process is irresistible to me." "My lifelong love for nature inspires me to contemplate the landscape. As a plein air painter, I begin outside, working quickly to discern the shifting patterns of shadows and light. Back in studio, I try to paint with the same closely-observed spontaneity. Capturing a moment in time is an impossible task, but for me, an endlessly compelling one." - Daniel