Summer Grapes

Summer Grapes, 6 x 8

sold

I've missed a few days--it's been difficult not to paint, but my husband and I took off for cooler weather after dropping the kids at camp and enjoyed a long weekend where folks actually thought 85 was hot! Ha!

So I painted this one before we left--same as the last piece but in a 6 x 8 format vs. square. I'm very much looking forward to diving into painting with the Ashland show in mind over the next two weeks. I'll be taking some of my studies larger, and won't be posting as many for sale because I'll need them for the winery show , but if you're interested in a particular piece, please email me. This Thursday (5-7) is the opening reception for Plein Air Austin's annual show--stop by if you live here--over 100 pieces of art by Austin plein air artists will be up.

And to Mitzi who asked where to find the "poachpod" I talked about in my last post...I found them locally at Zinger hardware on Anderson Lane; I thought the poachpod people would have a website I could refer to, but I couldn't find one!

-julie davis

Between the Vines

Between the Vines, 6 x 6

sold

My last post drew votes from both camps: about half of you liked the yellow and green version of the foreground, and about half liked it all green. I think they both work, though I tend to agree that I like the contrast that both the colors provide.

Today's painting is from a snapshot taken at Weisinger's Winery in Oregon. I'll be up there in August for a show (thank you, John!), and will try to play around with some vineyard subject matter between now and then. I like the way this one turned out, but have a tiny issue with the long green diagonal brushstroke--think I could've broken that up.

I also wanted to show anyone who ever washes brushes the way I do (Master's Soap and warm water) something I've found to press my brushes into besides my hand (since keeping paint off your skin is a good practice). I recently found these little green silicone things called "poachpods." They're perfect to hold in my hand and press the soapy brush into as I wash most of the paint out. (I believe they're intended to poach eggs in....must try that with another set!) I do the last cleaning bit with my fingers, but when the paint is really coming off initially, I keep one of these poachpods in my hand instead of rubbing all that paint into my skin. Seems to work for me now. I know Carol Marine at one point was using a tennis ball cut in half in the same manner. Haven't tried that yet because I found these and they're so easy to keep clean and I can still feel the brush in my hand because the pods are so thin and flexible.

I put the (size 4) brushes in the image for scale reference.

-julie davis