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

Hill Country Cold Front

Hill Country Cold Front

8 x 6 in., oil on panel

sold

This piece came from a venture out to Wenmoh's Ranch in Cypress Mill, Texas last fall. Though the cold front came through right as we arrived to paint, we were able to brave it for long enough to get several short studies in before we succumbed (I think temps went from 70F to roughly 45F for all you tougher souls from up North). I painted this piece this week from one of those studies.

-julie davis 

A Good Day

A Good Day

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

Naming this one seemed simple if I thought of it from a bovine's perspective--which, not to insult the cattle, was relatively easy. Hoping if you're reading this, you're having a good day, too.

-julie davis

View from the Hill

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

Earlier this fall I painted with Plein Air Austin just outside of Austin on some land near the Salt Lick (a relative barbecue institution around here). I came away from the paint-out with several studies, and this piece was derived from one of those 30 minute studies. 

For those of you in Austin for any time over the holidays, Davis Gallery is up and running with its annual Holiday Show. I dropped several new pieces by the gallery last week for it, and Bill, Jen, and crew there have been hard at work hanging everything to have it all ready this week. The show is open now through January 9. Stop by if you get the chance!

Lastly, I'm officially on Instagram now: @juliedavisstudio--give it a look:)

-julie davis

Hillside

Hillside

8 x 6 in., oil on panel

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

Small cedar trees like this one dot the landscape in and around Austin, and soon some festive folks will begin decorating the roadside ones with tinsel and ornaments in celebration of the Christmas season. Last year I managed to do a painting of one near our house. I'll definitely try to get to one again this year. 

I liked the way this tree had a small cut in the ground that led up to it with the grasses working to fill in the gaps. I've done a slightly larger version of this study for Davis Gallery's annual holiday show that opens soon here in Austin--I'll announce dates when I have them.

-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

Old Garage

Old Garage

9 x 12 in., oil on panel

I don't think any grass in this part of Texas is this color anymore....this was early spring, and after the copious amount of rain we've had in the last few weeks (5 inches today), everything is green. Or underwater. It's actually been quite devastating to many in our area. Wimberly and San Marcos have had flooding not seen in decades. While we desperately need the rain, this pace is hard to sustain. We are hoping for sunshine tomorrow. Like the sunshine on this old garage...:)

-julie davis

Near the Water

Near the Water

8 x 8 in., oil on panel

This is another scene from my studies out at Turkey Bend near Marble Falls.  Again, I did four studies on a divided 12 x 16 panel--two were 15 minute studies and two were 30 minutes. I can't describe how unrefined they were, but they were important color and value notes, and I surprised myself at what I accomplished in that short time. And the best part is that instead of walking away with one painting, I walked away with material for several. :)

-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

River's Bend

River's Bend, Study 2

6 x 8 in., oil on linen panel

$120 + tax, $20 s/h

click here to purchase

From my notes, sketches, and studies from Marble Falls last week, I tried a more finished study of one of the compositions I had come up with. Since the first study had a self-imposed 30 minute time limit, it had a few miscalculations:)--I was able to work out some of the drawing flaws here and design this one a little more. It's still just a 6 x 8 study, but I'm planning to work on a larger piece from this one--just experimenting a little bit first.

-julie davis

Cool Hilltop

Cool Hilltop

8 x 6 in., oil on panel

Fortunately, spring has been relatively rainy in the Austin area this year--and we are grateful. It's made for a wonderful wildflower season, and the bluebonnets this year are no exception. This little piece came from my outing last week near Marble Falls. It was an on-again, off-again morning with the sun and clouds vying for dominance.  

-julie davis

Spring Studies and Bluebonnets

@ Turkey Bend Recreational Area, Marble Falls, Texas

Today I joined our Plein Air Austin painting group out in Marble Falls, Texas, to paint at the Turkey Bend Recreational Area (real name!).  Rain is moving in this weekend and as the bluebonnets are at their peak, the rains will probably knock them around a bit and cause grass to outgrow the flowers, so now was the time to paint them.  Though the water is still very low on Lake Travis because of the drought, the views at Turkey Bend are still gorgeous, with bluebonnets temporarily making up for the water loss in covering the ground in blue.  

You might be able to make out in the last photo that I chose to do four small studies rather than one more polished painting in the time I had (about two hours).  I can thank Jill Carver for this idea--more on the seismic-shift workshop I recently completed with her in another post (one reason I haven't posted in a month). Since I didn't have much time, rather than rush through a piece and be frustrated, I divided a 12 x 16 panel into four sections, and timed myself on four studies. I did spend about 20 minutes making several thumbnails in my sketchbook first. The first two studies were 15 minutes each, the second two were 30 apiece.  Note: they are not intended to be a finished piece--they are raw studies. The purpose is getting accurate color notes and the values correct, so that with my sketches and photos in the studio I can create one or more larger pieces. I found several compositions I liked, and simply turned my easel around to the next view when I was ready for the next study. I really like this way of working....I felt super productive and came away with material for several paintings.  Pretty fun!

-julie davis

Passage

Passage

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

This is one of my favorite kinds of scenes--why I paint landscapes.  Long views with distant hills and gentle giants.   It's the peacefulness, I think, and I will never grow tired of it.

-julie davis

Woodpile

Woodpile

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

We have a little place on the Guadalupe River a couple of hours from Austin.  Our neighbor keeps his firewood neatly stacked between two trees near his house.  In the early morning, the sun rises over the bluff across the river and drapes its light between his house and the donkey barn on the edge of our property. The light gives a glancing blow to the woodpile this time of year.

-julie davis

Long View

Long View

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

After nine long, cold days the sun finally returned to Austin this morning, so I thought I'd post a warm and sunny Texas ranch scene.  I don't know how folks who live with cold temps and cloud cover all the time do it, but I know I'm not the only one in town who is celebrating the sunshine today!

-julie davis

Ready

Ready

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

Back in October when I was in Kerrville for KOPE I sketched this composition, and now I finally got around to painting it.  These boats sat next to a small lake in a private park, and looked ready to go out at a moment's notice.

-julie davis

Rolling In

Rolling In

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

nfs

I hope you've had a good start to 2015. I missed posting last at the end of last week because we host a New Year's Eve dinner party in our home each year and my attentions were focused on that all week.  My husband and I celebrated our 22nd anniversary on the 31st--I couldn't be more blessed!  

Just before Christmas I managed to paint five 6 x 8 versions of the above scene--one for each of my siblings and for myself, so we'd all have a connection when we glance at it.  I'm calling it the "Sibling Series." I failed to snap a shot of each piece, but though very similar, (like us) they were each unique, and I think my brother and sisters enjoyed the gesture. 

-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

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