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

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

Rock Bottom Creek

Rock Bottom Creek

16 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

Last Thursday I painted at Bull Creek here in Austin.  It was a gorgeous January day--something like 38 f in the morning when we started painting, but it warmed up quickly.  I had fun with the very vertical composition I decided to do with this one.  I've done another since and I have to say, I'm enjoying the unique perspective.

-julie davis

Guadalupe Tree Line

Guadalupe Tree Line

9 x 12 in., oil on panel

I was lucky enough to get access to paint on the beautiful grounds of Camp La Junta in Hunt last Friday during the Kerrville Outdoor Painters' Event. The Guadalupe River runs through the property, and provided endless opportunities to compose a painting.  Laurel Daniel and I spent the day there.  Here's my set up as I finished:

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

Morning Rolls In, Ladybird Lake

Morning Rolls In, Ladybird Lake, 9 x 12 in.

Yesterday I made my way to Red Bud Isle after dropping the kids at school, and set up to paint this view. Red Bud Isle is a leash-free dog park, so during my time there, I made friends with a few happy, wet dogs, one in particular was a golden retriever named Buttercup. (She's a good swimmer, and managed to get me pretty wet at one point post-swim).

The sky was filled with light pink and purple--the clouds were seemingly on their way somewhere west, and floated magnificently along as I tried to pin them down in paint. I tried to capture that lightness and movement. Admittedly, clouds are something I need to study more, and the more I do, the more I find them analogous to trees. (Trees are not a solid mass, though they appear to be, and we can easily make the mistake of representing them that way). There is always more to learn. :)

-julie davis

Study 1

Study 1, 8 x 6 in.

After a long and necessary absence from blogging (end of school, family vacation), I'm happily attending Scott Christensen's July workshop in Idaho and posting again. Today was the first day of the workshop, and I'm taking it all in. We had a little time this afternoon to do a quick study and try out what we're learning. I've included a photograph of the view I chose. Sorry for the poor photo of my work--hotel room photography--have to find a better setup!

-julie davis

Still Waters

Still Waters, 12 x 9 in.
sold

This is another piece that I've prepared for the show at Davis Gallery here in Austin. It's a scene from one of my favorite places: Watercolor, Florida. Some of the most peaceful, reflective times I've had while painting have been there. I also love the simplicity of the palette I used in this piece--the grayed tones appeal to me and really describe this particular day.

*please come by and see the show if you're in Austin--it runs April 2 through May 7, and the opening is April 9th from 7-9 p.m. Here's a link to Davis Gallery.

-julie davis

Inlet on the Lake

Inlet on the Lake, 6 x 8in

The spot we love in Florida has a beautiful lake (Western Lake) that has numerous inlets, piers, and bridges. I love painting there when we go. This is one view off the pier from which I paint most often. In the morning before the sun is fully up it's truly serene.

-julie davis

Gray Day, Lake Austin-study

Gray Day, Lake Austin - study, 6 x 8

One of my favorite things about Austin is the Lake. Technically, it's the Colorado River that runs through town and is dammed up several times as it passes through, forming several lakes. The closest to my house are Lake Austin, and Ladybird Lake (formerly Town Lake). This is looking south toward the dam on Lake Austin. I plan to do a larger version of this for my upcoming show.

-julie davis

View Up the Guadalupe

View Up the Guadalupe, 10 x 12

sold

me with John McCullough, owner of Windrush

My husband and I are back from Sedona and had a wonderful time. We met John McCullough, saw the Windrush Gallery, and toured many others. I really am thrilled to have my work with John. We enjoyed a long visit and a wonderful tour of the artwork he has there.

As for Sedona, I was in awe of the red rocks--it's truly a unique place and I highly recommend visiting if you ever get the chance. Apparently we were there during the "Monsoon season," and it did rain a little (though we never quite saw what I'd call a monsoon). The last night, we were fortunate enough to see the sunset in Sedona. Wow!

-julie davis

Waiting for Next Time

Waiting for Next Time, 8 x 6

Across the water from our house in Hunt is a limestone dock, and this boat sits, and sits, and sits. It's seems as if it's waiting for the owner to come back to have some fun. I painted this Sunday morning before we headed back to Austin.

On another note, I'm thrilled to head to Sedona this week to meet John McCullough, owner of the Windrush Gallery, where I have my work. I understand it's a little hot this time of year :), but the kids are at camp, so it's got to be now. Check out John's blog, too, at windrushgallery.blogspot.com. He posts newly received works of his artists regularly, and I'm fortunate to be among them!

-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

Water's Edge

Water's Edge, 12 x 12

Trying water again....this from a photo I took in winter. I'm inundated with school and homework demands right now.....am in an in-between period--Laurel Daniel's still life class begins Wednesday (yay!) and it always gets me thinking in a new direction and with a renewed focus.

-julie davis

Breaking Through

Breaking Through, 6 x 8

sold

I took another shot at some photos I'd taken of the view of the Colorado River from the Smithville area last spring. A light drizzle was coming down and the sun was trying to break through the clouds.

-julie davis

Dock on Lake Austin

Dock on Lake Austin, 6 x 8

We finally had some rain this morning to cool things off and give us some relief from the heat. Another popular way to beat the heat here in Austin is, of course, Lake Austin, and this dock is a good entry point for those at Emma Long Park.  

On another note, I wanted to mention that I'm going to have work in three shows over the summer.  One is a juried show with Austin Art Space called "What Texas Means to Me," another is Plein Air Austin's annual show, and the third is a solo show up in Ashland, Oregon, at Weisinger's Winery.  The openings for the first are on July 11th and 12th, respectively, and the third is August 15.   I've completed pieces for the first two, but am still working on some for the show at the winery--and very much looking forward to all three!

-julie davis

Morning on the Colorado

Morning on the Colorado, 6 x 8

sold

Morning is about the most pleasant time around here these days, and I do love summer mornings.  I've had a photo of this crossing of the Colorado River for a while--I speedily put this together before dinner tonight.  I'm looking forward to some unbroken painting time (our girls all head to camp for several weeks next week), and I'm going to have more time than I can comprehend, but it will come at a price.  I don't think they'll be homesick, but I'll miss them terribly!

-julie davis

Morning on the Lake

Morning on the Lake, 6 x 8

This is from a photo I took recently from a hill on one side of Lake Austin, looking out at the other side.  Looking at it now, I think I'd prefer it without the foreground, but that's the angle my camera gave me, and at 6:00 this morning I wasn't making any major compositional choices, just taking what my photo offered!  I like the way the trees line the edges of the lake in that spot--an undeveloped section on the lake.

-julie davis

Western Lake Marsh

Western Lake Marsh, 6 x 8

For a while I'll be posting paintings done from photographs from our trip. All the previous FL ones were plein air, but there are a few scenes I wanted to paint but didn't have the time to get back to in person This is one such scene, and I hope maybe next time we're there I'll be able to go back and paint it from life. I just loved these marsh grasses--especially in large masses---they become a beautiful neutral carpet adjoining the water.

-julie davis

Boathouse in the Trees

Boathouse in the Trees, 8 x 10

sold

On Western Lake in Watercolor, there is a boathouse where the kids can rent cane poles to fish, or take a canoe or kayak out for an hour. I had a view of it from the pier near our home, and painted this early one morning.  Again, I've got to get a handle on my photography of these greens...bear with me!

-julie davis