Earth, Land, Property - Oct. 27 through Dec. 1

It's been an insanely long time since I've posted to my blog. I'm sure if you're still paying attention, you've assumed I was never coming back to this platform. Instagram has co-opted my daily posts and made frequent posts easy, but I wanted to put a plug in here for my biggest show yet. Earth, Land, Property opens this Saturday, October 27, and runs through December 1. The opening is at Davis Gallery in Austin, 837 W. 12th St., and is from 7 - 9 pm.

"This five-person exhibit featuring work by Nicholas Baxter, Julie Davis, David Leonard, Garrett Middaugh, and Jason Webb, examines the human perspective of land. This show intends to question our place among nature and how we've chosen to use our land. Each of the five artist's work will represent a specific "locale" on the spectrum between natural land and dense metropolis.

Julie Davis explores the space just outside of our town centers. Her paintings imply a delicate harmony between man and nature. In some of her work, fields are plowed or simple homes are seen in the distance. In other paintings, Davis illustrates nature steadily reclaiming old shuttered shacks."

The pieces below are a few of the 31 pieces I dropped off last week for the show. If you're in the Austin area and can stop by for the opening reception, please find me and introduce yourself!

- julie davis

Kickstand

12 x 9 in., oil on panel 

sold

Marfa Blues

16 x 20 oil on panel

$1100

Grandfather's Barn

11 x 14, oil on panel

$900

Outreach

14 x 11, oil on panel

$900

Tall Grass

Tall Grass

8 x 6 in., oil on panel

sold

This is another small piece that came from my trip out to Cypress Mill, Texas on that cold fall day. This barn and old trailer were on the property, and I walked all around through the grass and between the fenceposts taking photos and eventually working up a sketch. I finally painted it this week.

-julie davis

Exciting news

At Rest

9 x 12 in., oil on panel

sold

General Store

11 x 14 in., oil on panel

$900

available through Davis Gallery, Austin, Texas

512.477.4929

After what seems like quite a long time, I'm home from summer travels and obligations and am able to offer a  post -- with news I'm very excited to share! Within the last few weeks I've learned that the above pieces have been accepted into two separate shows of which I'm really honored to be a part.  At Rest was juried into the American Women Artists 2015 National Juried Exhibition & Annual Member's Show, while General Store was selected for inclusion in the 16th National Exhibition of the American Impressionist Society. These are some of my first stabs at national shows. I couldn't be more honored and am truly jumpy with enthusiasm about it. 

The AIS show will take place October 1 - 29 at Trailside Galleries in Scottsdale, and the AWA exhibition will be held November 12 - 30 at Bonner David Galleries, also in Scottsdale.  I'm looking forward to getting to know Scottsdale a bit better this fall:). I will share more as the shows approach, but I'm super motivated going into what is typically my most productive time of year.

- julie davis

Red Trailer

Red Trailer

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

Sorry I've been posting inconsistently lately. Spring for students is as busy as Christmas is for adults, and therefore it's busy for mothers of students, too. I spent most of last week on the road to a golf tournament in Houston to watch our girls play and in Waco helping our eldest move some things out of her dorm before the end of the year (and taking our middle daughter on a college tour).  Luckily, the latter two were on the same campus. :) So I haven't pushed much paint consistently in the last month, but I did get to a small piece today.  I really love the energy of line, and I got to play with that a bit in this one.

-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.

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

"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

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

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

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.  

Evening Commute

Evening Commute

9 x 12 in., oil on panel

NFS

After a fairly lengthy absence from posting for me, I offer this.  Evening Commute was born of a trip to California last summer--I posted a warm-up for it a few posts back (In the Tall Grass).  I painted this one, a 9 x 12, at the start of this month.  It's been a long absence from posting, but I think over that period I've developed some confidence about my painting style that I attribute to time, practice, and a modicum of success when I needed a shot in the arm.  I feel really good about this one, and I want to keep it to remind me of where I want to be.  I hope you like it.

I hope to post more regularly going forward--many goals for the new year, and much to accomplish!  Thank you for following. :)

-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

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

Weathered Vineyard Barn

Weathered Vineyard Barn

11 x 14 in., oil on panel

nfs

Many of you asked about purchasing Old Vineyard Barn (6 x 8")--and I wouldn't sell it (it has sentimental value, and I wanted to do a larger version)--sorry!  But finally, here is a larger version!  The barn is an iconic structure on my step-father's property in Oregon, and I never tire of painting it when I visit.  It is available right now at Davis Gallery here in Austin.

Also, now through the holidays, you can take $10 off my new 6 x 6 book at blurb.com.  Enter the code GIVE10 at checkout.  (www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3653023).  There is also an e-version for iPad and iPhone for $1.99.

-julie davis

Cottonwood Sanctuary

Cottonwood Sanctuary

9 x 12 in., oil on panel

 donation to fundraiser for Helping Hand Home of Austin

This Saturday night from 7-9 p.m., Davis Gallery here in Austin is hosting its opening reception for the Holiday Group Show, in which I am happily participating.  The show will run through January 19th, but do drop by if you're in the Austin area--I'd love to see you, and I know the show will be full of beautiful artwork--you might even find the perfect holiday gift!

Davis Gallery

837 W. 12th

Austin, Texas

512.477.4929

opening reception, Sat., Dec. 8, 7-9 p.m.

-julie davis

In the Shadows

In the Shadows

12 x 9 in., oil on panel

nfs

The beautiful weather of the past week made for a near perfect first experience of a plein air painting competition for me.  I participated in the three-day Kerrville Outdoor Painters' Event (KOPE) in Kerrville, Texas.  The organizers arranged access to exceptionally paintable properties for the artists--I thoroughly enjoyed each minute, and finished with some strong paintings and some new artist friends, and reconnected with others I don't see often enough.  

This painting was my first of the event.  We painted on a ranch a few minutes from Kerrville that had numerous old structures--this was the old smokehouse.  

-julie davis