Sendero

Sendero

16 x 20 in.. oil on panel

donation to Wildflower Center Art Auction

sold

I said I'd post this yesterday, and I'm a day behind--my apologies.  The Wildflower Center hosted a reception Thursday evening for all participating artists, an event I always enjoy.  I get to explore the walls of donated art, but more importantly, get to connect with artist friends I've come to know over the four years I've participated as a donor.  Local artists Chris DeDier, Lisa Beaman, Laurel Daniel, and Valerie Walden were all participating.  As much as painting has added to my life, the bigger bonus is the wonderful people I've come to have something in common with all over the country--and world, for whom I am so grateful.

-julie davis

Shady Spot

Shady Spot

9 x 12, oil on panel

sold

Wednesday was another beautiful day, and I took advantage by heading out to the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center to paint.  I always love the clusters of oaks typically seen here....they're not only like small families, they pretty much are small families.  

The Wildflower Center is having it's annual gala tomorrow evening; I've donated a painting to the art auction again--such a favorite cause of mine.  It's a larger version of Sendero, posted earlier this year.  I'll post the donation tomorrow.

-julie davis

Rising Above

Rising Above, 8 x 6 in.

sold

Monday I painted at another old haunt, Mayfield Park, which, since we moved in the fall, is fabulously close to our house.   Instead of painting in the gardens, as I have in the past, I walked around to one of the trails and found a beautifully tall tree to paint.  :)  I know, you're shocked.  The funny thing was, in order to stand in the shade and to get the view I wanted, I had to stand near a port-a-potty.  No, I wouldn't have stayed had it smelled!  But I did get some quizzical looks, and one man even asked, jokingly, if I was painting the port-a-potty (since I had my easel turned toward it to avoid sun on my panel!)

-julie davis

Through the Trees

Through the Trees

9 x 12 in., oil on panel

Thursday I met up with PAA and painted at a ranch in Dripping Springs....a beautiful spot with long views and a quiet peacefulness.  The wind whipped up occasionally Thursday, but I found a spot under some oaks and protected from the wind, and painted what I saw ahead of me.  The spindly trunks of these young oaks reached and twisted so playfully up to each tree's canopy, I couldn't help but be intrigued.  My apologies for the poor photo quality here... darker colors give me fits with reflection, and I admittedly rushed myself for this one....

-julie davis

Morning Rolls In, Ladybird Lake

Morning Rolls In, Ladybird Lake, 9 x 12 in.

Yesterday I made my way to Red Bud Isle after dropping the kids at school, and set up to paint this view. Red Bud Isle is a leash-free dog park, so during my time there, I made friends with a few happy, wet dogs, one in particular was a golden retriever named Buttercup. (She's a good swimmer, and managed to get me pretty wet at one point post-swim).

The sky was filled with light pink and purple--the clouds were seemingly on their way somewhere west, and floated magnificently along as I tried to pin them down in paint. I tried to capture that lightness and movement. Admittedly, clouds are something I need to study more, and the more I do, the more I find them analogous to trees. (Trees are not a solid mass, though they appear to be, and we can easily make the mistake of representing them that way). There is always more to learn. :)

-julie davis

View to the South

View to the South, 8 x 10 in.

sold

Yesterday was another gorgeous day here. I painted out near my church--there are some lovely views on the west side of Austin. The wildflowers are dying away in many areas now, so the colors of the grasses are more subdued, and the yellows and grays of summer are starting to take hold.

-julie davis

Quiet Cove, Spring

Quiet Cove, Spring, 11 x 14 in.

Austin's weather this time of year is fantastic, and today was no exception. It did begin a little bit overcast, and this painting reflects that. I went back to an old haunt today--the little inlet behind our art school at Laguna Gloria. It's actually very close to my house--and it was nice to be back. I pulled out an old painting tonight for comparison (my first plein air painting from 4 1/2 years ago) -- it was the same scene -- truly, stuff like that will keep one humble. And no, don't ask me to post it. Not happening.

-julie davis

Heaven in Texas

my painting companion today

Heaven in Texas....redundant statement

Heaven in Texas, 11 x 14 in.
sold

I'll start by explaining my post title. It really was sunny most of the morning (despite the overcast sky in the second photo); a sunny, 80 degree April day in Texas where the wildflowers are in full bloom--how can it get any better? Did I mention I was surrounded by bluebonnets?

Several of us in Plein Air Austin met at McKinney Falls Park in Austin today to paint. The water was flowing, but the flowers were impossible to pass up. They'll be gone soon, and I'm hoping the water will be there a little longer than the flowers, though after last summer one never knows. The butterfly above kept me company for half and hour or more today--brave little guy.

-julie davis

Sketch-y

untitled sketch, 6 x 4 in.

I didn't begin painting until I was 37, five years ago. Prior to that, my only real "art" experience involved a ton of sketching and drawing as a girl. I love pencil and paper--the sound the graphite makes on the surface of the paper, the mess it can make on your hands, the ability to erase!

I don't do much drawing anymore--simple thumbnails before I paint are as far as I tend to get. But just sketching this brief piece brought back tactile memories, and a renewed fondness for the line....(something that doesn't truly exist in nature, but sure works when you're drawing). Working a little more drawing into my life might not be such a bad thing. :)

-julie davis

Arthouse Five x Seven event donations

Neighboring Field, 5 x 7 in.

sold

Abundant Field, 5 x 7 in.

sold

Each spring in Austin, AMOA-Arthouse on Congress Avenue has an annual fundraiser called the Five x Seven. It's an art sale and exhibition that benefits AMOA exhibitions and educational programs. The big "Splurge" (art grab) was last Wednesday, and I donated two pieces to the cause, both of which, happily, sold right at the buzzer to some good soul(s). All the art stays on view through April 22, then those not sold immediately travel to Houston and Dallas.

The big excitement of this event is that all artists must sign their pieces on the back, so no one knows which artist created the pieces until they purchase it by plucking its tag when the buzzer sounds. All work is $100. It's a fun event, and a great way to get lots of people excited about art. The best part this year was that two of my daughters decided to participate by donating their photography to the cause--talk about a proud mom!

-julie davis