Well-Traveled Path

Well-Traveled Path

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

Another piece from our time in France.  Though this is a simple scene, I was so over-stimulated with beautiful landscape there.  Since I began painting a few years ago, the very first thing I notice when I visit a new region is the trees--and then the colors in the landscape, which added an entirely new aspect to travel for me.  I chose to study this familiar scene because it was a family trip with little time to paint, but I'm definitely looking forward to a trip back someday to work on the less familiar aspects of the landscape there. 

-julie davis

Path Through the Creek Bed

Path Through the Creek Bed

8 x 6 in., oil on panel

I can't believe I'm still making it out to paint at this point in May.  Seemingly every time I answer the phone or check an email another "to do" wrestles its way onto my list.  I did, happily, make it to a local park today, where I found a limestone creek bed with a few puddles of water from last weekend's rains still lingering in the rock crevices.  This one got a little spotty on me, but there's something about it I love--the movement? and I want to work it up a little larger and see what I can do.

-julie davis

Convergent Paths

Convergent Paths

9 x 12 in., oil on panel

This morning I went out again to a local park--the sun was shining as I set up and did my thumbnail sketches.  As soon as I began painting, however, it hid behind cloud cover and peeked out maybe twice the whole time.  I felt so misled!

I ended up snapping a photo or two when the sun was out; it was the light, after all, that drew me to this scene, and I packed up and went home to the studio to finish up.  Did I mention it was muggy and buggy?  I was able to focus pretty well inside and really like what I ended up with.

-julie davis

Sendero

Sendero (study)

6 x 8, oil on panel

nfs

I loved the play of light and shadow in this view through the trees. The "Sendero" is the Spanish word for "path" or "way," used most commonly in my world as a clearing in the trees where my husband just might spot a deer if he's looking. :) Of course, around here we tend to say "sender-a" -- either way, my girls and I know to cast a glance down them when on car trips. :)

-julie davis

Wimberly Ranch

Wimberly Ranch, 9 x 12
sold

I'm always focused improving on a particular technique or subject while painting. I'm not sure when that stops and one can simply paint with abandon.... Today I again was exploring foreground. I did learn a few things, or at least had an "aha" moment or two.

-julie davis

Sunlit Entry

Sunlit Entry, 9 x 12

sold

It's been a really busy week--I've been challenged by Skip Whitcomb's workshop and am learning so much. This piece is the one I did on Tuesday at a ranch in Wimberly. Just as I finished, a 5 foot snake in a big hurry decided to head my way. Fortunately, he noticed me and did a 180. To top that, today an even longer one slithered within about 6 feet as I painted near the water. I'm thinking tomorrow I'm wearing those snake-proof boots my husband recommended! Yikes!

-julie davis

Morning Walk

Morning Walk, 8 x 6

This morning I met some painting friends out at the Bull Creek Greenbelt. The creek was full and rushing with water, the cottonwoods were bright green, and the weather was amazing. Thanks to my pals for getting me out there today!

-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

Inviting Entrance

Inviting Entrance

When I met Becky Joy at the Wildflower Center yesterday, I took several photos on the grounds--it's a wonderful asset and fantastic right now for photographers, artists, and anyone who loves nature. This is the path that leads to the main entrance from the parking lot--appropriately understated and inviting.

*the link above for the Wildflower Center takes you to the catalogue for the Gala Art Auction for this year. Scroll through the art--it's full of good stuff and I am fortunate to be a donor again this year!

-julie davis

Well-Worn Path

Well-Worn Path

Hints of spring are creeping into the landscape around Austin--huge amounts of spring greens jumped into this painting. I must be ready.

-julie davis

December Walk

December Walk, 8 x 10

sold

Finally got a little time to paint inside today where I can think! I painted outside Thursday with our Plein Air Austin group, but the cold temperatures numbed my fingers and I think my brain as well from the looks of the painting I did. That one won't be posted, but today's felt better.

If the overall color appears different, it's because I had to take the photo indoors. It gets dark so early these days I often run out of time to snap a photo in the daylight. The subject is a path at Mt. Bonnell, a small park that overlooks Lake Austin.

-julie davis

The Shortcut

The Shortcut, 16 x 20

This is the largest painting I have in my show at Wendow right now, and it's a piece that reflects where I am and want to go right now in size, style, and somewhat in palette. 7 more pieces sold yesterday, so it's been a good week.:)

-julie davis

Canyon Path

Canyon Path, 8 x 10

Working with the same palette here of my black mix, cad yellow, and white. It works for the gray days or mornings when the light is not over the treetops yet. This path winds along Lost Creek here in Austin.

-julie davis

Value Chart, 4th post (and last!)

Value Chart

This is the last of the chart postings for now--they're not the most exciting posts, but I loved the way they allowed me to explore more limited palettes, and practice correctly identifying the values in the planes of a landscape. Laurel suggested I put the colors from which I mixed each palette at the top of each set of values--a very good point! Laying out all that tape had me stressed out enough--it's no wonder I missed something. :)

-julie davis

Value Chart, 3rd post

Value Chart, 3rd exercise

This morning's challenge was with cad yellow and indigo (mixed from ultramarine blue and cad red). The three top colors are 1) mostly indigo with a bit of yellow (adding white as I went down the column), 2) about an equal mix of each (again, adding increasing amounts of white all the way down), and 3) mostly yellow with a bit of indigo (you know the drill).

I may try this exercise again someday soon, but using different scenes--the change may be helpful--getting a little used to this one.

-julie davis

Waterloo Park Path

Waterloo Park Path (study), 10 x 8

sold

Finally back outside! It was a cool, overcast day, but our plein air class members were collectively very happy to be outside (last week it rained all day). Laurel had us painting with a limited palette of white, cad yellow, and a black mixture (alizarin crimson, french ultramarine blue, and raw umber). We mixed three different colors using only the black mix and the cad yellow, then mixed five values of each by adding increasing amounts of white. We were to continue to focus on the idea of the four value planes (sky, verticals, slant, and the ground).

It was a real challenge with the limited palette alone, not to mention this exercise demands that you nail the values. I wiped parts of this away several times, but once the lightbulb went off, I had quite a bit of fun. I enjoy the large contrast between the dark trees and the gray sky--much like the recent still lifes I did with the dark backgrounds, the drama in the contrast is appealing.

-julie davis

Into the Hills

Into the Hills, 6 x 6

sold

Paths and roads have me hooked right now. This was from a photo I took last weekend on a day trip to the Hill Country. Plenty of dry grass around, but we've been getting rain--finally!!

-julie davis

Canyon Path

Canyon Path 6 x 6

While in CA this summer, my husband and I took a hike along one of the many trails behind the place we were staying in the hills. The path took many turns as it wound up the side of a mountain, and trees cloaked it occasionally, but the sun shone through wherever it had the opportunity.

-julie davis

Trail Through the Canyon

Trail Through the Canyon, 6 x 8

I painted this over the weekend from a photo I'd taken while out with Laurel last week.  There are a number of places I could visit every day because they're so full of painting opportunities. Lost Creek is one of them.  

And as far as painting a single area multiple times goes, one of my favorite area artists, V....Vaughan, did just that with her "Last Year on the Farm" series.  You really should see the body of work.  Her family sold their farm near Austin in 2007, and anticipating the move from a place she loved so dearly, she committed to a painting a day (and sometimes more) of the land-- a labor of love.  Check it out if you have the time (click here to go to her blog).

-julie davis

Lost Creek Trail

Lost Creek Trail, 6 x 8

Today was a gorgeous Monday in Austin--a day when I feel lucky to live here (most days I do, actually). I ended up in a shady spot with my friend and mentor, Laurel Daniel, whose post today you should really see--she's an amazing painter, but an even more amazing person. (You'll also see where I edited some cliffs out in the interest of time). This is a spot near a lovely creek and really stunning cliffs that is very near my girls' school. What a good day.

-julie davis