On the Way Home

On the Way Home

18 x 24 in., oil on canvas

available at Davis Gallery, Austin

The pace of things lately hasn't allowed me much time to post, so my apologies for going off-line for a while.  We've had one graduate from high school last week, another get a driver's license the same week, and another finish 8th grade at her K-8 school.  It's been hard to stay in a painting routine, but I'm getting back on track.  

During the month of June, July, and August, Davis Gallery is offering a summer show, with new works by many of its artists, myself included.  On the Way Home is one of my newer pieces (you'll notice a smaller version from my January 28th post), and will go up with the show on June 7th.  The pieces will be available for immediate sale, and several events such as Meet the Artist evenings and Collector Happy Hours will take place throughout the summer.  I hope you'll stop by if you're in the Austin area over the summer.

-julie davis

Family Farm

Family Farm

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

I played with the paint in this little study.  I really like the "intentional accidents" that occur when I use my palette knife.  I use it almost as much as I use my brushes throughout my paintings lately.  I think that's part of the fun of oils--manipulating them rather than simply "coloring" with them.

-julie davis

Evening Commute

Evening Commute

9 x 12 in., oil on panel

NFS

After a fairly lengthy absence from posting for me, I offer this.  Evening Commute was born of a trip to California last summer--I posted a warm-up for it a few posts back (In the Tall Grass).  I painted this one, a 9 x 12, at the start of this month.  It's been a long absence from posting, but I think over that period I've developed some confidence about my painting style that I attribute to time, practice, and a modicum of success when I needed a shot in the arm.  I feel really good about this one, and I want to keep it to remind me of where I want to be.  I hope you like it.

I hope to post more regularly going forward--many goals for the new year, and much to accomplish!  Thank you for following. :)

-julie davis

Cloud Study 2

Cloud Study 2

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

Another study of clouds.  I struggled to get a true photo of this one--the blues kept photographing with greater contrast against the sky than actually exists in the painting.  But I grew tired of trying retakes, so here it is. :)  I think it's the time of day I chose to take the photo, so I'll try again another time and see what happens.  Anyway....this was one of those "just rained, clouds clearing, days end" evenings.  I enjoyed the scattered complications of the clouds.

-julie davis

Barn, Late Evening

Barn, Late Evening

8 x 6 inches, oil on panel

I'm back from my summer posting hiatus, and happily so.  Our family took priority this summer--lots of travel and down time with the girls and Ben. Our eldest is a senior this year, so my tendency to put my kids above my painting has been in full force.  Now that they're back in school and I have blocks of time, though, I'm diving headlong into my work with a healthy mixture of fear and anticipation.  Fear that I've forgotten everything (including how to post) and anticipation of the lofty goals I've set for myself.  Bear with me as I "brush" the rust off and get back in the flow.

This piece is from a scene I came across this summer in a valley in northern California.  I wish I could've stayed there and painted for a month. So many beautiful scenes, and this subtle evening light was delightful.

-julie davis