Three in A Row - Best of Show

Three in a Row - Best of Show

8 x 16 in., oil on panel

sold

This is my winning piece from KOPE (Kerrville Outdoor Painters' Event) in the hill country (October). (My apologies that it took me a month to post--between high school-age daughters, a new puppy, a cat we had to put down last week, Thanksgiving, the holiday show at Davis Gallery, and many other excuses, I haven't posted it and it's well overdue.

The judge for the event was Joe Anna Arnett- of the PBS series "Passport and Palette".  I was thrilled to win, and still am.  It validated a lot for me, and I'm excited going forward what that means for my confidence in my approach to my work in many ways.  

I've completed several new pieces (now a part of the Holiday Show at Davis Gallery) that I'll post over the next week or so.  The show is up through January 4, so please stop by and see it if you're in the Austin area - 827 W. 12th St.

-julie davis

End of the Line

End of the Line

8 x 16 in., oil on panel

nfs

On the second day of KOPE I painted at a farm that I'd been to last year--lots of goats roam freely on this one.  Unfortunately, goats aren't my subject of choice or I'd have been in heaven.  :)  There was, however, this old garage and shed behind it at the end of a drive with a little bridge leading up to them.  I found shade in a field under the hatchback of my car (is that even the right word anymore?) and painted among the goats.  I kept this format throughout the competition, and love the way it suited the landscape.

-julie davis

KOPE participation 2013

Surrounded by Sunflowers

8 x 16 in., oil on panel

The show for the Kerrville Outdoor Painter's Event in Kerrville, Texas, in which I took part earlier this month, came to a close this weekend.  At the close, I was able to get some better photos of the pieces I entered (the ones I took initially were, frankly, terrible quality, so I haven't posted them), but I'll post the new ones over the next week.  This was the first painting I did during the competition; I kept all of them in this 1:2 format for the remainder of the week.

-julie davis

Best of Show win!

With my winning painting, Three in a Row at KOPE Saturday night

I'm still grinning after my Best of Show finish at Kerrville Outdoor Painter's Event this weekend in Kerrville, Texas.  I'm honored that one of my paintings received first place (!) -- there were so many excellent plein air pieces displayed by the group of participating artists --I was just happy to be there!  Thank you to everyone at KACC for another well-run and fun week, and to everyone in Kerrville who so kindly thanked us for being there.  It's great to paint in such a friendly town!

-julie davis

* above, a photo of (part) of the scene I painted before I began. 

and below, some of the rowdy crowd surrounding me during my Friday effort...

Cloud Study 2

Cloud Study 2

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

Another study of clouds.  I struggled to get a true photo of this one--the blues kept photographing with greater contrast against the sky than actually exists in the painting.  But I grew tired of trying retakes, so here it is. :)  I think it's the time of day I chose to take the photo, so I'll try again another time and see what happens.  Anyway....this was one of those "just rained, clouds clearing, days end" evenings.  I enjoyed the scattered complications of the clouds.

-julie davis

Hay There

Hay There

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

Another quick sketch from a recent trip north of Austin.  I love it when the hay is in the fields.  Couldn't resist the title....

-julie davis

Ag Exempt

Ag Exempt

6 x 8 inches, oil on panel

sold

These are the kinds of scenes I fall in love with when I'm looking at art, but that I find frustrating to paint on a 6 x 8 panel--because brushstrokes are so small and restrained--and unforgiving.  The value in each spot has to be right--there is no fudging it.  I'm not saying I did things perfectly here, but I do like this piece a lot.  I'm working on a larger version in the studio.

-julie davis

Cloud Study 1

Cloud Study 1

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

Lately I've wanted to study clouds...this looking-straight-up view was the result of many photos I took last month that have been in my studio waiting for me.  I had fun with this--don't know where it will lead, but I plan to do more.  I want to become as confident about painting clouds as I am about trees.

-julie davis

Barn, Late Evening

Barn, Late Evening

8 x 6 inches, oil on panel

I'm back from my summer posting hiatus, and happily so.  Our family took priority this summer--lots of travel and down time with the girls and Ben. Our eldest is a senior this year, so my tendency to put my kids above my painting has been in full force.  Now that they're back in school and I have blocks of time, though, I'm diving headlong into my work with a healthy mixture of fear and anticipation.  Fear that I've forgotten everything (including how to post) and anticipation of the lofty goals I've set for myself.  Bear with me as I "brush" the rust off and get back in the flow.

This piece is from a scene I came across this summer in a valley in northern California.  I wish I could've stayed there and painted for a month. So many beautiful scenes, and this subtle evening light was delightful.

-julie davis

Summer Road

Summer Road

9 x 12 in., oil on panel

sold

Busy time of year!  I last posted a month ago before the gallery show and time has escaped me since then.  I've been painting, just not posting-I plan to improve on the latter, though! 

Summer is quickly approaching here in Texas; we've had a gorgeous spring with needed rain, but the heat is on the way.  At least things are green!

-julie davis

Home Field

Home Field

16 x 8 in., oil on panel

Davis Gallery "No Place Like Home" Group Show

Saturday, April 20, 7-9 p.m.

837 West 12th Street

Davis Gallery in Austin is having a group show opening reception this weekend--Home Field is one of three pieces I just delivered for the show.  If you're in the Austin area and have a chance to stop by, please do!

-julie davis

Enclosure

Enclosure

11 x 14 in., oil on panel

donation to Elizabeth Ann Seton Board Gala auction

I donated this painting to an event that took place last night in Austin, and when I looked for it on my blog to designate it as a donation, I realized I hadn't posted it on my blog yet, so here it is.  The subject is on some property just on the outskirts of Kerrville, Texas--a property with so many compelling scenes.  

-julie davis

Early April

Early April

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

I've at last had a chance to work on some 6 x 8 studies--something I love to do because of the amount of practice it allows.  When I'm able to do a few in a row it's great practice in composition, and it keeps me interested. :)

I actually started this piece a little over a week ago as a quick sketch after I wiped down a larger plein air piece (of a totally different subject). I had to stop about 10 minutes into it at the time, but picked it up today, and I like where it went.

-julie davis

Single Bale

Single Bale

16 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

"Everybody who has any respect for painting feels scared when he starts a new canvas."

-Robert Henri

I've reminded myself of that little nugget a lot lately, as I've been attempting some "new to me" work.  Though the above piece is not what I'm talking about (it's "small") and I love it, and love the format, lately I've been a bit off the radar because I'm pushing myself to try some larger pieces in my studio.  (Lots of fear involved for me!)  There is a lot I find frustrating about it, but I'm learning, and am confidant I'll crash through on the other side more able and less fearful, and hopefully, with some nice, larger work to show for it!

-julie davis

Rock Bottom Creek

Rock Bottom Creek

16 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

Last Thursday I painted at Bull Creek here in Austin.  It was a gorgeous January day--something like 38 f in the morning when we started painting, but it warmed up quickly.  I had fun with the very vertical composition I decided to do with this one.  I've done another since and I have to say, I'm enjoying the unique perspective.

-julie davis

Summer Fields

Summer Fields, Study

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

I experimented with a broader view than I usually take on in this little painting--a type of painting to which I'm always attracted.  I like the result, but have to say I did not enjoy the process - too tedious!  In the future, bigger will be better for me with this type of composition.

-julie davis  

Tree Study

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

I'm finally back into a bit of a painting "routine" post-holidays and now that the kids are back in school and settled.  This tree study was a warm-up before I worked on another piece.  I'm trying to jump back in with plenty of quick studies, but my ultimate goal for the year is to paint larger...I've created one already that's bigger than anything I've ever done, and I'm about to start another.  Kind of exciting, and intimidating!

-julie davis