Fall at Western Lake

Fall at Western Lake

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

nfs

Happy new year! I apologize for my absence, but I took a much needed post-move break over the holidays. School began again today for the girls, so my attention turned back to my work. I entered doorway of my new studio this morning with total anticipation (and trepidation) about painting in a new space, on a new easel, and after what was for me, an extended amount of time "off the brush."

I painted this piece over Thanksgiving, in a favorite spot of mine--Watercolor, Florida. Fall there is so beautiful, and the weather couldn't have been more perfect for plein air painting. I began a larger version of this today, then ditched it for a small tree study when I realized what I really needed in my new environment was something familiar. Very soon, I'll post a larger version.

-julie davis

Still Waters

Still Waters, 12 x 9 in.
sold

This is another piece that I've prepared for the show at Davis Gallery here in Austin. It's a scene from one of my favorite places: Watercolor, Florida. Some of the most peaceful, reflective times I've had while painting have been there. I also love the simplicity of the palette I used in this piece--the grayed tones appeal to me and really describe this particular day.

*please come by and see the show if you're in Austin--it runs April 2 through May 7, and the opening is April 9th from 7-9 p.m. Here's a link to Davis Gallery.

-julie davis

Daybreak's Solitude

Daybreak's Solitude, 12 x 16in.

Here is a larger version of my last post. I changed the tree-line from the study to make it less uniform, and made some other alterations in color and composition. This one is in the Davis Gallery (no relation) show in April. Please stop by for the opening on April 9 from 7-9p.m. if you have the chance!

-julie davis

Inlet on the Lake

Inlet on the Lake, 6 x 8in

The spot we love in Florida has a beautiful lake (Western Lake) that has numerous inlets, piers, and bridges. I love painting there when we go. This is one view off the pier from which I paint most often. In the morning before the sun is fully up it's truly serene.

-julie davis

Watercolor, FL- study

Watercolor, FL study, 6 x 8in.

I painted this study a few weeks ago. The Watercolor area in Florida is one of my favorite places to paint--there are compositions everywhere, and the morning light is gorgeous. It was an overcast day when I took the photo I worked from for this, so the idea here was relatively close values, lots of grays. I worked up a larger one in a vertical format last week. This particular study was a pretty hasty one, thus the simple masses and general roughness.

-julie davis

Evening on the Lake

Evening on the Lake, 8 x 10

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This is from one of our last evenings in Florida--there are several docks and piers on Western Lake, and this is one of my favorites. Just around the dock is Hwy 30A, a two-lane road that runs along the coast (and crosses this lake). Walk across 30A, cross some dunes, and you're on the beach. I wanted to capture the almost black-and-white effect that the evening creates on the lake--it silhouettes the trees on the oceanside and can be very dramatic. There is a bit too much reflection on the darks in this photo--they're a bit darker in person, but I like the way it turned out.

-julie davis

Break in the Reeds

Break in the Reeds, 10 x 8

Another painting from one of the piers on Western Lake in Watercolor, FL. It's such the peaceful place, and I love heading out there in the late afternoon. These trees seem to group themselves just for me.

-julie davis

Distant Pier

Distant Pier, 10 x 8

sold

We're in Florida this week--the same spot we came last year. We love this area, and are sad to think that the gulf oil spill may affect it as soon as this week.

This view is just a short walk from the beach house where we're staying. These trees line a lake, and the pier (one of many) reaches into it. Families can be found fishing, canoeing, and stand up paddle-boarding at the lake.

-julie davis