A moment in Maine and Vermont

I now understand the appeal of a real, on-time, colorful September fall. As a Texan, I know a long, hot summer, and I always appreciate when fall finally decides to reach us, but some lucky people get it way earlier than we do in Austin. Obviously, theirs comes with a long, hard winter, so I can't say I'd trade them, but real fall in September is terrific, and feels really, really good!

Since my husband and I are living in New York this fall, we've tried to explore areas that are relatively close. So, we took a long weekend drive to Maine and Vermont last weekend, and I took my plein air pack and thoroughly enjoyed the times I got to unpack it and paint.

The photo above is in Kennebunkport, Maine, down by the docks where they bring the lobster pots in from the morning fishing trip. While I was painting these lobster buoys, a couple of fishermen walked by and struck up a conversation with me. One told the other I was "memorializing McDougall's buoys." I guess I was. I sure enjoyed the piece.

This is near Manchester, VT, at the covered bridge near Norman Rockwell's home, and below is my process on a gorgeous barn near Barnard, VT.

I could've stayed for days and painted this barn from many angles. The autumn foliage was the icing on the cake. I got a lot of photos and sketches, and hope to get to painting more on this unique structure when we're home. For now, I'm back in NYC painting on the rooftop!

-julie davis

Cross-training

The Drive

8 x 10, oil on panel

$800, available at Davis Gallery, Austin

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have a wonderful week surrounded by those you love. Our girls return home for the holiday, and I've begun cooking--baking, really. Naturally, I have put my art on hold for a few days. I always think of exercising creative muscle in a different way is a bit like cross-training. I know l need that break from the routine to make me freshly eager to create, and I do come back to my studio with new ideas and a feeling of anticipation that almost makes my easel seem magnetic.

I hope you all get that break this week. If you want an infusion of art on Saturday as part of that break and are in Austin, stop into the gallery that represents me from 2:00-4:00. I'll be stretching my public speaking muscle with Gallery Director Kevin Iverson, answering questions about my process, and showing some studies and materials I use. I'd love to see you. And it's not a bad place to pick up a pretty killer Christmas gift. :) 

-julie davis

Davis Gallery

837 West 12th St.

Austin, Texas

512.477.4929

October, Red Bud Isle

October, Red Bud Isle

9 x 12 in., oil on panel

donation to Trinity Episcopal School auction

Fall is such an exciting time to be outdoors painting.  Not only is the weather completely perfect, but the deviation in color from the usual expanse of green is just plain fun.  I spent several days over the past week outdoors, and this piece is from Monday morning.  

The remainder of this week I'll be in Kerrville, Texas participating in the Kerrville Outdoor Painters' Event.  To say I'm looking forward to it is an understatement; I'll post from there as I can with updates. 

-julie davis

Fall Color at Red Bud Isle

Fall Color at Red Bud Isle

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

Every day for the past two weeks, I've driven over the bridge near Tom Miller Dam in Austin and watched the trees turn from green to gold.  A last-minute appointment cancellation allowed me the chance to paint them this morning.  And as a double bonus, I arrived at my painting spot to find my dear friend, Laurel Daniel, with the same idea.  As Laurel said, "great minds think alike."  

-julie davis

Northern California Fall

Northern California Fall, 6 x 8

I really had fun with this one. There aren't many pine trees around Central Texas, so I'd never painted them before. I have to say--they're quite fun to paint and I love the darks and pointy edges. :)

-julie davis

Morning on the Lake

Morning on the Lake, 9 x 12

If you're lucky enough to enjoy a morning on a lake, then you know what a beautiful time of day it can be. In Calvin Liang's workshop last week, we met at Cypress Point Park on Lake Travis the last day. I painted this today from a field sketch I did that day.

-julie davis

Fall Color

Fall Color, 9 x 12

Last week, my friend Laurel Daniel and I went out to McKinney Falls here in Austin to paint. Fall is finally showing up here, and I took the opportunity to paint some of the color.

Calvin Liang's workshop met today at Highland Lakes Marina on Lake Travis. I didn't get home in time to get a photo and post from today, but will hope to catch up tomorrow.

-julie davis

Anderson Mill Study

Anderson Mill Study, 12 x 9

Working on 5 hours of sleep, today I started a plein air workshop here in Austin with Calvin Liang. Having spent an unplanned TEN hours in the San Francisco airport Sunday due to weather delays, and getting to bed at 1 a.m. Monday morning, I was not as prepared as I had planned for the morning, and inconveniently left my tripod behind. I did retrieve it, but missed some valuable demo time!

Today we painted at the site of a replica of the Anderson Mill, a mill apparently used during the Civil War. It's a lovely subject to paint, and Calvin's demo was a joy to watch--following his painting with my own of the same subject was kind of a bummer! I like some aspects of this, but when I do a larger one in the studio I'll make some adjustments to the wall in the foreground--indicate more water, or include less of the wall....don't know yet. It was a great day, and I'm looking forward to the remainder of the week. Thanks to Qiang Huang for getting Calvin to Austin!

-julie davis

November On Red Bud Isle

November On Red Bud Isle, 6 x 6

sold

I revisited a subject from November when Laurel and I went out to Red Bud Isle to paint. The fall color was amazing for Austin, and when I saw the painting I'd done indoors, I laughed at how vibrant the colors were (it was a bright day). I toned them down in this one--hopefully a bit more reflective of what was there.

-julie davis