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

Surrounded

Surrounded, 8 x 6

I feel like I'm taking baby steps to "get back in the saddle" again with still life. I did this one yesterday early in the morning before class (before getting the kids up for school, actually).

I didn't get to paint today--Leslie Saeta asked about the remodel I referred to yesterday, and that's where I was... We now own a few acres and a house on the Guadalupe River in the Hill Country. The house is wonderful, but we're making some cosmetic changes--lots of paint (somehow much more intimidating when it's on cabinets and walls), adding a room on, updating bathrooms and surfaces. It's got me there at least once a week right now, but it's a ton of fun and soon we'll be finished and able to use it! (And it's a great place to paint:) ).

-julie davis

Class Study 1.26

Class Study, 16 x 20

Laurel's spring still life class has gotten underway, so I'm diving back into it. This was the set-up I worked on this morning. After several very unsatisfying paintings over the last two weeks, I finally have another I feel good about. (A good bit of my time and creative energy lately is going to a remodel project we have in the Hill Country....soon to finish, but it's affected primarily the time I have to paint in a measured, calm way, thus the unsatisfying results). Hopefully, more satisfying paintings to come. :)

-julie davis

I'm looking forward to

Between the Posts

Between the Posts, 6 x 8

Today was the third in a very welcomed three-day weekend. I struggled on this one--wiped it down two or three times, and finally came out with something I liked. I wish I knew what made some days like that!

-julie davis

Along Highway 16

Along Highway 16, 10 x 8

A recent (cold) January morning north of Kerrville on Highway 16--the silhouette of the tree forms and telephone and power lines against the sky were enticing. I snapped some photos moving along at 70 mph (my husband was driving:))--sometimes they actually turn out. The Texas landscape here (everywhere) fascinates me, as pedestrian as it may be with the lines, I love it.

-julie davis

New in Town

New in Town, 6 x 8

sold

A familiar sight in and around Austin is hills full of cedar. Around Christmastime, some are magically decorated with tinsel or Santa hats overnight. These were just outside Austin, near Oak Hill. I was drawn to the power lines in the back.

-julie davis

Lines of Communication

Lines of Communication, 6 x 8

sold

These telephone poles follow FM 1340 along the North Fork of the Guadalupe River outside of Hunt, Texas. The specks out to the right are cattle. :)

I think I'm back in the painting groove after a really busy start to the year--just picking up a brush again after so many days was a treat. I've been out to the Hill Country several times this year already, and have collected a number of photos--the new material will be fun for me. It's been so darn cold here--working from photos is about all I'm brave enough to do.

-julie davis

Lakeside Shed

Lakeside Shed, 8 x 6

Well this is #1 for 2010. I didn't post the last three I did in the business of the holidays, but I did make it to blog #200 (starting Feb. 28, 2009) on the 31st, New Year's Eve, no less. That was a momentous day, because it was also anniversary #17 for my husband and me. That night we hosted an annual dinner party for dear friends and their children to celebrate, so things stayed a bit crazy.

Settling back into routine, this is a small structure near Lake Austin that I dubbed a "shed" for lack of a better word. Back behind the trees is a short walk down to the lake.

-julie davis