Adare Castle

Adare Castle

9 x 12, oil on panel

sold

Adare Castle is one of the pieces I had in the Collective Chemistry show at Davis Gallery this month--it sold to a dear friend who thoughtfully surprised his wife with it at Christmas.  When we were in Ireland this summer, we stayed across the River Maigue from this medieval castle--near Adare in Country Limerick.   It's inspiring and frankly, amazing, that a 13th century structure still stands so imposingly.  

-julie davis

An Austin Christmas

An Austin Christmas

8 x 6, oil on panel

sold

Well, I got my act together and managed to paint this morning--early--before anyone in my house awoke (it's actually a nice time to paint).  For those of you who do not live in Austin, this piece is emblematic of some of our roadsides during the Christmas season.  You'll find hundreds of cedars that dot the landscape along our major roads decorated by folks who feel inspired...some have themes, but this one is how I like them best. I really enjoy the holiday spirit, and equally appreciate the good citizens who take it upon themselves to pick up after the season ends to leave these cedars back in their natural state.

I found this particular tree on Mt. Bonnell road, on the bend just past the Dry Creek Cafe. 

Merry Christmas, everyone.

-julie davis

Exciting end to the year, and "General Store"

General Store

11 x 14, oil on panel

available, $900

This was supposed to be a 6 x 8 of an Austin side-of-the-road cedar tree decorated with ornaments (they are one of those traditions that keeps Austin a little weird).  However, I received a Christmas present early and found out Saturday night that General Store (larger version of The Warehouse) won an Honorable Mention in Oil Painters of America's Fall 2014 Online Showcase, so I had to share!  I can't fully explain how entirely geeked up I was after hearing the news.  There were over 800 entries, and they award first through third places, and ten honorable mentions.  I am super honored and pretty ecstatic, and really, really affirmed after the past few months.  

Should I have my act together by Christmas, I will post the cedar on Thursday.  Merry Christmas!

-julie davis

Van Gogh's View

Van Gogh's View

9 x 12 oil on panel

sold

You might notice this piece is the larger version of a 6 x 8 study I posted on October 27th (still available)...it's a partial view of the lavender field and gardener's cottage that Vincent Van Gogh would have seen from his hospital window in St-Remy-de-Provence.  Van Gogh's View belongs to a dear friend now, and I couldn't be more delighted.  I will get to visit it (as I do her) often. :)

-julie davis

Successful Holiday Show

Irish Barn

9 x 12 in., oil on panel

available, $800

Davis Gallery put on a festive opening reception Saturday night -- everything looked great and I'm delighted to report that I sold four of the five paintings I had on the wall! The above piece was one of them. Below are a few photos from the evening. Thank you to all friends and patrons who came by--that always means more than you know!

-julie davis

...and, my fabulous girls and husband.

Collective Chemistry: Davis Gallery Holiday Group Show - Scattered Storms, The Off-Season

Scattered Storms

12 x 9 in., oil on panel

sold

The Off-Season

9 x 12 in., oil on panel

available at Davis Gallery, Austin, $800

These new pieces will be a part of Davis Gallery's 16th annual Holiday Group Show, which opens this Saturday evening in Austin, and runs through January 10th.  I'm really excited about my recent work--and these two pieces are no exception. Please come by if you're in the area, I'd love to see you!

Collective Chemistry   |   Davis Gallery

Opening Reception: December 13, 7pm - 9pm

837 W. 12th Street, Austin, TX

Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm | Sat. 10am-4pm

Now Open

Now Open

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

I love that this delightfully green little structure plainly expresses that it is "Now Open," but leaves the passerby guessing as to what type of business it is that is "now open."  I've passed this many times and have not figured it out yet.

-julie davis

Well-Traveled Path

Well-Traveled Path

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

Another piece from our time in France.  Though this is a simple scene, I was so over-stimulated with beautiful landscape there.  Since I began painting a few years ago, the very first thing I notice when I visit a new region is the trees--and then the colors in the landscape, which added an entirely new aspect to travel for me.  I chose to study this familiar scene because it was a family trip with little time to paint, but I'm definitely looking forward to a trip back someday to work on the less familiar aspects of the landscape there. 

-julie davis

The Warehouse

The Warehouse

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

Sometimes the subjects I decide to paint surprise me.  This old warehouse wasn't much to look at, but I liked the shadows and angles--and the old unreadable, faded signs.  I also find a gravel / grass foreground fun to paint; I can get a lot of energy and direction in it to lead one's eye into a piece.  The grass and gravel were an important part of the composition here--allowing me to place the warehouse off the panel a bit more than would be typical and to focus on shapes rather than a particular building.  That made it trickier to name, until I got really basic and went with the obvious. :)

-julie davis

Long and Winding Road

Long and Winding Road

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

available

Ok, for those of you who did not receive the image in my last post, I'm very sorry.  I have not determined what happened, but fingers crossed it was a mysterious technical glitch that resolves with this post.  Please let me know if you don't receive an image today--I will keep working.  And thank you to several of you who did let me know about the last one.

The subject here is a wonderfully long ranch road in Center Point, Texas, near Kerrville--the same ranch at which I painted Better Days and Uphill.  Atop the far hill must have been one of the highest points in the county--the view was magnificent.

-julie davis

The Window

The Window

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

During our time in Provence last summer, we came across so many intriguing doors and windows in the old sections of the various towns we visited.  The use of color on doors and shutters juxtaposed with the neutrals of the old building materials was beautiful, and the personality of each, unique.  These blue shutters made this window one of my favorites.

-julie davis

The Pool House

The Pool House

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

Drawing on resources from this summer, I'm posting a piece that I painted in Provence.  As our vacation was a family one and in no way a painting trip, I smuggled the smallest pochade box I could find into my luggage and pulled it out during occasional breaks in the family action.  This was my first piece of the trip, painted in the yard of the beautiful little "mas" where we stayed with another family.  Wish I could snap my fingers and be back there right now....

-julie davis

Uphill

Uphill, study

8 x 6 in., oil on panel

sold

This study came from a photo I took while in Center Point, Texas, at the Kerrville Outdoor Painter's Event.  My winning paining, Better Days, was painted at the same ranch--a piece of land with truly breath-taking views--it must have been one of the highest points in the area.  This was a little dirt road that ran uphill along one of the internal fence lines.  

I find it interesting to explore the abstract shapes in foregrounds, and the edges and indirect lines created by the intersection of grasses and rock, fields and fences, and even the clouds and sky.

-julie davis

In the Round

In the Round

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

Here is another scene from our trip to Provence this summer. I I like this one more every time I look at it--I'm working on a larger version now because I love the tones I achieved in the study.  I'll not ship this one until next week as I'm using it for reference on the larger one.

-julie davis

Garden Cottage, Study

Garden Cottage, Study

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

I was fortunate enough to travel to Provence last summer, where we saw gorgeous lavender and many beautiful old....really old structures.  This small cottage was on the grounds of the hospital where Vincent Van Gogh spent some time. In fact, it was a large part of the view from his bedroom window.  Not a terrible place to recover.

-julie davis

Fall Field

Fall Field

8 x 6 in., oil on panel

sold

So this piece is a deviation for me....though not as much as you might initially think.  Everything that's here is typical, the only thing one might say is missing is a major subject (I'd argue otherwise--here, the field itself is the subject).  I can deconstruct more than a few of my compositions to this. Luckily, I think this one still worked.

-julie davis

Long Barn

Long Barn

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

So many of the older structures I paint lie enveloped in foliage, whether trees, bushes, or tall grasses.  I like that when I exaggerated the roof line of this barn it wound up almost hugging the tree at its end.  For me, part of the charm of these spaces is trying to imagine what they looked like in their prime...and what purposes they've served over the years. 

-julie davis

October Wildflowers and Quick Draw

October Wildflowers

sold

Guthrie Building

8 x 6 in., oil on panel

sold

Remaining from my trip to Kerrville for KOPE are these two pieces.  The first is from the last day of the competition, and the second is a building on Earl Garrett Street, right across from the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center.  It's a charming building, and was a fun subject to paint during the Quick Draw--though I can't say the Quick Draw itself was fun--it's like playing that old game, Perfection.  Anyone remember that?

-julie

Hay Bales

Hay Bales

Forgive the original title....this was named in a hurry before submission at the Kerrville Outdoor Painter's Event.  You can see the lone cow to the left of one bale...I kept trying to name the piece something to do with the cow (like Breakfast, or Head First, or Back End), but my friend, Laurel Daniel, talked some sense into me and helped me get to something less risky and more straightforward in the short time that we had--thank you, Laurel.  

I painted this piece in the company of cattle...they were an active bunch that morning, constantly moving in and out of my view.  At one point, three made their way to within several yards of me and happily ate while keeping an eye on things (and I kept an eye on them).  

-julie davis

"Better Days" - Best In Show - 1st Place Winner at Kerrville Outdoor Painter's Event

Better Days - Best in Show at KOPE

 11 x 14 in., oil on panel

sold

I'm thrilled to report the news that my painting, "Better Days," took first place at the Kerrville Outdoor Painter's Event this past weekend!  To win last year was a huge boost, and to have another judge regard my piece this year as the best again - well, I'm riding pretty high right now.  My friends Jimmy Longacre and Laurel Daniel took second and third places, respectively, and it was a blast to be able to share the experience with them.  

A big thanks to the judge of this year's competition, Phil Bob Borman, and to those who organized and sponsored the four-day event, as well as to those who opened their properties to us for painting. 

-julie davis

@ the Collins Ranch in Center Point

very excited with the blue ribbon :)

with Laurel Daniel and Jimmy Longacre

The Neighbors

The Neighbors

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

I've wanted to paint this scene for a bit--it's from a photo I took recently on a short trip near Austin, and was taken right after some recent rains.  The fields and trees green up so beautifully when we actually have rain--I couldn't resist stopping to take some pictures.  I may do a few more studies on it, but we'll see.  This summer has been a juggling of kids and their service trips so far, I'm trying to squeeze (in) paint(ing) when I can.  Ha.

-julie davis

On the Way Home

On the Way Home

18 x 24 in., oil on canvas

available at Davis Gallery, Austin

The pace of things lately hasn't allowed me much time to post, so my apologies for going off-line for a while.  We've had one graduate from high school last week, another get a driver's license the same week, and another finish 8th grade at her K-8 school.  It's been hard to stay in a painting routine, but I'm getting back on track.  

During the month of June, July, and August, Davis Gallery is offering a summer show, with new works by many of its artists, myself included.  On the Way Home is one of my newer pieces (you'll notice a smaller version from my January 28th post), and will go up with the show on June 7th.  The pieces will be available for immediate sale, and several events such as Meet the Artist evenings and Collector Happy Hours will take place throughout the summer.  I hope you'll stop by if you're in the Austin area over the summer.

-julie davis

Gold Leaf

Gold Leaf

11 x 14 in., oil on panel

available at Davis Gallery, Austin, $900

These trees were intertwined, and the yellow one, though in decline, still invested the energy to produce a few beautiful golden leaves.  I found it compelling, though my husband thought I should name the painting "Old Yeller," or "Yella Wood."  See what kind of help I get around here?

-julie davis

Cloudcover

Cloudcover

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

I struggled with this little piece a bit.  It's a seemingly simple scene, but my sometimes things flow and sometimes they stumble along.  Interruptions like phone calls, lack of singular focus at the start, having to leave for carpool and return to finish….hmmm…I wonder why…. Despite these conditions (under which I know better than to try to paint),  I like the result of my efforts. I do hope the next comes off more smoothly, however, because I really love scenes like this.

-julie davis

Springtime In Texas

Springtime in Texas, study

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

What a blast it is when the bluebonnets emerge in the Hill Country at the beginning of Spring.  This year they've been a little slower to show up because of our cold winter, but they're here.  They even make a little bush of a tree seem important. :)

-julie davis

Three Bales and Exhibit Inclusion

Three Bales

9 x 12 in., oil on panel

sold

Spring Break is behind us here in Austin and hopefully so is my break from bi-weekly posting.  Life finds its ways of interrupting painting, and I have to allow that right now…I'll never get these days back with my girls.  

However, exciting things are still going on!  I've been waiting to share this and now it's a reality:  

A piece I did in 2012, "Old Smokehouse," is part of the collection of New York-based curator, artist, and collector, Ken Ratner.  Over the next two years, several museums will host his collection in an exhibit entitled "A Feeling of Humanity: Western Art from the Ken Ratner Collection," of which Old Smokehouse is a part.  The Mattatuck Museum in Connecticut is showing the collection from March 16 - April 27.  The Rockwell Museum of Art in Corning, New York (Oct. 3 Jan. 11), the Bone Creek Museum in David City, Nebraska (summer 2015), and possibly one more venue will follow.  

If you're in one of these areas and have the opportunity to see the collection, please go see it!  There are many talented artists included, and I am exceptionally honored by and grateful for Mr. Ratner's selection of one of my pieces to be both a part of his collection and his exhibit.  Here are a few words from Ken Ratner, followed by a link to a write-up about the Mattatuck event:

"For the past 25 years, I have focused much of my collecting on the Ashcan School artists.  The humanity of the artists as reflected in their work is the primary reason that I have collected their pictures.

During the past 2 years, I have shifted toward contemporary western art, and have collected works by artists who are also drawn to humanity.  Some of these artists include, Gary Ernest Smith, Clyde Aspevig, and Logan Maxwell Hagege….   The exhibit...will also include fine examples by artists of the past, such as Robert Henri, John Sloan and Kenneth Miller Adams. 

One of the most important things I was trying to accomplish in forming my western art collection was to select artists who I felt were exceptional who have not yet achieved the recognition they deserve.  In essence, I was trying to give a voice to a fine group of painters, such as David Forks, Erin Hanson, George Coll, Caroline Norton, Don Gray, Julie Davis and Johnson Yazzie.  Early on, I decided that I wanted to purchase small works, partly due to budget constraints, but more than that, it was so that many unsung artists would have the chance to showcase their extraordinary talents."

-ken ratner

http://www.artfixdaily.com/artwire/release/592-contemporary-western-art-exhibition-opens-at-the-mattatuck-museum

Old Smokehouse

8 x 6 in., oil on panel

-julie davis

Shaded Farm Road

Shaded Farm Road

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

This piece of land is just outside of Kerrville, Texas.  The composition didn't require much creativity on my part--it was ready and waiting for me.  The shaded dirt road led right to the lit bales of hay and around to an old hidden structure behind a fence. I just tried to do it a little justice...

-julie davis

Slow Fade

Slow Fade

Why is it that so many barns (that sit outside in the full sun all day) are painted red?  Don't farmers know that red fades in the sun?!  Actually, I googled it…and there are several theories. One involves farmers sealing the wood with linseed oil, which has an orange/red color.  Another says farmers would put ferrous oxide (aka rust) in the oil because it was poisonous to molds and fungi which would increase the decay of the wood. Red was also the least expensive color of paint, and last, there is an unappealing / yucky theory that I'll keep to myself, or you can google it.

-julie davis

The Add-On

The Add-On

9 x 12 in., oil on panel

donation

So if you haven't noticed the recurring theme over the more recent posts, there is one. :)  I've stuck to this group of barns for a bit in order to allow myself the freedom to experiment and to learn.  I always use my knife to an extent, but it's become a more important tool to me over the last year, and I need and want to get some mileage working with it, trying new things, etc.  Something like my study of trees was a while back.  Now I'm focusing more toward texture, edges, and line.  So if I sound or look like a broken record at times, thank you for your patience…I'm learning "out loud."

-julie davis

Barn and a Windmill

Barn and a Windmill

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

Still studying…..working on edges and texture and applying paint with my knife and a few other things. :)  

-julie davis

Shed Study

Shed Study

12 x 9, oil on panel

sold in Hurricane Harvey fundraiser for the Rockport Center for the Arts

Obviously, I've been painting a number barns lately.  I'm working on technique.  In high school I absolutely loved the two years of drafting I took.  I still love line, structure, balance.  I use my palette knife to start these studies--almost "drawing" (or drafting) with it in a way, leaving some of those lines as a legacy in the finished piece.  This one isn't "finished" per se, but it is. :)

-julie davis

*happy Friday, and happy Valentine's Day!

Frederick's Barn

Frederick's Barn

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

Another little barn study.  I'm playing with the paint again--working on texture and line, among many other things.  This group of structures is near Fredericksburg….my daughter came up with the clever name. :)

-julie davis

*I'm sorry to say I'm having to raise the price I charge for shipping by $5.00.  The new year brought a slight price increase by the carriers, and my average cost to ship a painting has therefore gone up.  

Texas Connection

Texas Connection

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

I love the road trips we make to the Hill Country because I indulge in the landscape's eye candy along the way.  The title references the ranch road intersecting with the highway, as well as the phone lines that run along it. Loved the red pipe section of the fence, too.

-julie davis

Family Farm

Family Farm

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

I played with the paint in this little study.  I really like the "intentional accidents" that occur when I use my palette knife.  I use it almost as much as I use my brushes throughout my paintings lately.  I think that's part of the fun of oils--manipulating them rather than simply "coloring" with them.

-julie davis

Hill Country Restaurant

Hill Country Restaurant

sold

You know your favorite restaurant.  The one where they make that dish you crave, that has the perfect atmosphere, where you see happy, familiar faces, or where you can almost always sit outside?  When our family visits Kerrville, Texas, that place for us is a downtown corner spot called Francisco's.  The blue umbrellas are closed in this cloudy-day painting, but most of our meals there are eaten underneath one of them.  The building is an old one, brought up-to-date to make a cozy, happy place to eat out.  

-julie davis