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