Value Study

Value Study, 9 x 12

My approach to this was backwards. I painted a full color version of this scene first, then realized that I hadn't pushed the values enough in it and decided to "go back" do a black and white value study to force myself to do push further. It made an impression on me. The tendency to hover in a few close values when painting in color just disappears when you're painting black and white--it clarifies the values like nothing else. Great exercise. Tomorrow's post will be the color version of this one (done pre-value study).

-julie davis

A Spot in the Shade

A Spot in the Shade, 6 x 8

This little tractor sits quietly in the shade of two oak trees on our neighbor's property in Hunt. I don't think it's run often, as a shiny, new one sits nearer the house.

-julie davis

Lost Creek Footpath

Lost Creek Footpath, 8 x 6

Our Plein Air Austin painting group just returned last night from a weekend annual trip--what a fantastic time we had! There were 23 of us--we went to the Hunt/Kerrville area and had two and a half days of non-stop painting and camaraderie with great friends....and the area was gorgeous. So much to paint. I wasn't as thrilled with my product as I'd hoped to be, but I learned plenty and am energized to work on some larger pieces in the studio from the studies I did. I'll post some of that work in the coming days.

As far as this piece goes, the last time our plein air class was at Lost Creek (a neighborhood here in Austin), we painted along part of the Barton Creek Greenbelt that runs through it. This trail was a little off-shoot of the main trail, and led down to the water. I can't seem to resist a trail right now....

-julie davis

Partly Cloudy

Partly Cloudy, 6 x 8

There are numerous ranch roads like this one along any rural Texas highway--this one is along Highway 290 south of Austin. The grasses this time of year are such a pleasant wheat color.

-julie davis

Losing It

Losing It, 6 x 6

I'm still exploring bare branches, and am determined to find time all week to at least paint for an hour a day. I'm up to 192 paintings including this one since I started the blog last February 28 (some never made the blog, but were done nonetheless). My goal is to hit 200 by the end of 2009--11 days, 8 paintings to go. Think I can make it!

-julie davis

Mesquite Bouquet

Mesquite Bouquet, 6 x 6

Anyone who has spent much time in West Texas can easily spot a mesquite tree--they're quite common and are usually small and often found in groups, thus the name here.

I find I'm in a tree phase again, and these 6 x 6 panels are a nice size for a study of one tree, one subject, but I'm itching for several hours to do something larger. December madness dictates otherwise, I guess.

-julie davis