Tuesday, December 29, 2009

You Give Me Fever


You Give Me Fever, 10 x 8

My husband came up with the title.....and it was clever enough that I finally had to cave in to the temptation to name a cedar painting something related to allergies. This again is at the top of Mt. Bonnell in Austin; a scraggly cedar, probably wind-worn and hail damaged at some point so high up on the edge of a cliff, but hanging in there nonetheless.

-julie davis

Monday, December 28, 2009

Red Barn in the Morning

Red Barn in the Morning, 6 x 8

Getting back to painting after even four days off is always tricky for me, but I jumped in today hopeful that it wouldn't be as painful as I imagined. It was. Every bit. Partly, I really want to be outside, but for various reasons can't. I slogged through this one, and am happy with the light in it, but can't wait to try again tomorrow!

-julie davis

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Red and Green

Red and Green, 8 x 6
sold

As cold and bare and brown as it is here, I thought I'd deviate a little and post a bit of Spring green with a little red thrown in for Christmas. A family member (who shall remain nameless) shared that this barn could perhaps be all red, rather than just the side........but, I replied, it really does have just a red side. Sometimes you run out of paint, sometimes you use what you have, sometimes you want the barn to be red on one side. Applies equally well to painters or those who build barns. Here's to a little or a lot of color in your holidays. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all. :)

-julie davis

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Mt. Bonnell Cedars

Mt. Bonnell Cedars, 8 x 10
sold

"The Allergens" or "Cedar Fever" were two other names I considered for this piece, but I didn't have the heart to prematurely condemn it through the eyes of so many Central Texans who might read this blog. So, I gave it a dull name based on where the scene actually is....atop Mt. Bonnell in Austin. Lake Austin flows behind and far below these cedars. This is a slightly larger version of "Roadside Cedar Trees" (couldn't go with the names then, either). Merry Christmas Eve.

-julie davis

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Cold December Morning

Cold December Morning, 8 x 10
sold

My husband and I took a day trip out to the Hill Country on Friday, and I was able to take some photos here and there. Barns are impossible to pass up, especially those that have been around awhile. Add that to the delicious color of the grasses in the winter, and my bare branch phase right now, and I had a pretty fun composition. This barn was between Johnson City and Fredericksburg.

-julie davis

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Losing It

Losing It, 6 x 6

I'm still exploring bare branches, and am determined to find time all week to at least paint for an hour a day. I'm up to 192 paintings including this one since I started the blog last February 28 (some never made the blog, but were done nonetheless). My goal is to hit 200 by the end of 2009--11 days, 8 paintings to go. Think I can make it!

-julie davis

Monday, December 14, 2009

November On Red Bud Isle

November On Red Bud Isle, 6 x 6
sold

I revisited a subject from November when Laurel and I went out to Red Bud Isle to paint. The fall color was amazing for Austin, and when I saw the painting I'd done indoors, I laughed at how vibrant the colors were (it was a bright day). I toned them down in this one--hopefully a bit more reflective of what was there.

-julie davis

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Mesquite Bouquet

Mesquite Bouquet, 6 x 6

Anyone who has spent much time in West Texas can easily spot a mesquite tree--they're quite common and are usually small and often found in groups, thus the name here.

I find I'm in a tree phase again, and these 6 x 6 panels are a nice size for a study of one tree, one subject, but I'm itching for several hours to do something larger. December madness dictates otherwise, I guess.

-julie davis

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Intersection


Intersection, 6 x 6

Trees can look so indecisive for a brief period in early winter, when some branches have foliage and others do not. This one was no exception. I'd like to explore painting bare branches on a larger canvas this winter -- it's a challenge to keep them looking elegant. Laurel Daniel painted a tree in this "transition" recently. It's beautiful. Check it out.

-julie davis

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Neighbors

Neighbors, 6 x 6
sold

Some cedars from nearby Mt. Bonnell. The rocks define the trail area in this spot. I find it interesting that two trees of the same variety (and especially one as unvaried as the cedars here) growing right next to one another can still have a slight variation in coloration in the light.

-julie davis

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Roadside Cedar Trees

Roadside Cedar Trees, 6 x 6

Cedars don't have the best reputation around Austin due to their ability to make some of us miserable with allergies this time of year. As trees, however, I find them fun to paint. They have an elfish quality, the little branches reaching upward like pointed ears. And that fits right in to the Christmas theme, so how about that for a timely post?

-julie davis

*I've taken the "click here to purchase" button off the pieces in my show, but if you're interested in one, just email Shannon at Wendow and she'll help you out (shannon@wendowfineliving.com).

Sunday, December 6, 2009

December Walk

December Walk, 8 x 10
sold

Finally got a little time to paint inside today where I can think! I painted outside Thursday with our Plein Air Austin group, but the cold temperatures numbed my fingers and I think my brain as well from the looks of the painting I did. That one won't be posted, but today's felt better.

If the overall color appears different, it's because I had to take the photo indoors. It gets dark so early these days I often run out of time to snap a photo in the daylight. The subject is a path at Mt. Bonnell, a small park that overlooks Lake Austin.

-julie davis

Saturday, December 5, 2009

The Shortcut

The Shortcut, 16 x 20

This is the largest painting I have in my show at Wendow right now, and it's a piece that reflects where I am and want to go right now in size, style, and somewhat in palette. 7 more pieces sold yesterday, so it's been a good week.:)

-julie davis

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Photos from the Wendow show






So, first a plug for Wendow. What a fantastic venue for any artist to show his or her work. Shannon and Catherine have excellent taste, and made last night entirely easy and beautiful.

Second, great night. Despite bitterly cold, rainy weather, many friends and acquaintances braved the night and came out. I sold six pieces (!), and the work will be up through January, so perhaps a few more will make their way out the door. :)

-julie davis