Hot Day, Cold Water

Hot Day, Cold Water, 6 x 6

sold

By the end of this day painting I was gritty and thought I probably smelled like a little boy who had been playing outside.....it was hot, but the water was cold and perfect for wading.  I painted this one yesterday, and today's will be up tomorrow.  The week always ends up filled with 6 am paintings!

-julie davis

Ruins of Salado College

Salado College Ruins, 6 x 8

I painted this this morning from a photo and an on-site painting done in the Carver workshop. I would've stayed all day in this location had I been able, but it was my youngest daughter's birthday and I had to leave early to make it back to Austin. I love the architecture and the colors the late afternoon sun was creating on the old stone. The photo was taken right when I got there (4-ish?)--the painting I did on-site (and that is half-finished) has all my color notes.

The cornerstone for this location of Salado College was laid here in 1860. The college was the first in Texas that was not funded by church or state funds, and it was coed. A series of fires in the early 1900's destroyed the building, but the site is now open to the public. It's a beautiful spot.

-julie davis

Salado Creek Rocks

Salado Creek Rocks, 12 x 12

It's been nice to have the time this weekend to do some "larger" work.  I've had time to think more about how I'm composing a piece, and to put some finishing touches on them.  I included the reference photo here, but I also used a piece I'd done on site as a reference for this one--just closed in on the rocks this time.  

The photo of this piece doesn't quite show all the colors I put into the rocks--warm pinks and yellows, blues and oranges.  I spent more time on the creek and greens, but the rocks were the fun part.  I think it ended up a little too green altogether, and my horizon line is too high and not dark enough, but when I stand back from this one, it seems to work, and becomes more abstract the closer I get.

Salado Creek, by the way, is in Salado, Texas (pronounced Sa-lay-dough).  Salado is a charming and artsy town between Austin and Waco, and Andreeva Academy is located there (where I took the Jill Carver workshop).

-julie davis

Salado Barn / Early Bloomer

Salado Barn, 6 x 8

Jill Carver

Early Bloomer, 12 x 12

sold

The top painting is the first I did at Jill Carver's workshop; I guess I've posted them in reverse order. I tried to set up the focal point just to the right of center--a small path that curved between the barn and a beautiful oak. The second is of Jill doing a demo on Monday. The third is a larger version of yesterday's post. I had the time today, so I scaled the 6 x 6 into a 12 x 12 and I think I kept it intact. I had more fun doing these cacti paintings than I expected and I may enter one into a Texas-themed show at a local gallery....we'll see if they like it as much as I do!

-julie davis

What a Week

Near the Water, 6 x 8

sold

I haven't posted the others yet, but this is the last painting I did during Jill Carver's workshop. We were near Salado Creek (big water and tree vistas) a lot, and I gravitated toward something simpler at the end of the three days--we were all tired from absorbing so much good information, and the sun takes its share as well.  But, what a treat, and what a week!

-julie davis

Jill Carver Workshop

On Salado Creek, 6 x 8

I haven't posted in a while--I've been on a fantastic trip to Santa Fe (plenty of art to enjoy) and dove right into a plein air workshop this week led by Jill Carver.   Jill is a fantastic landscape painter--her work is shown locally at Wally Workman Gallery.   I'm learning and absorbing as much as I can.  There are some terrific professional painters in my class, and it's great to be exposed to them and their work on a personal level.    Workshop work isn't always one's best work--you're learning techniques, styles, colors, theory--much of it is new to me, and I can't wait to share what I find valuable......just not tonight.....too tired!

-julie davis