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

Long View

Long View

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

After nine long, cold days the sun finally returned to Austin this morning, so I thought I'd post a warm and sunny Texas ranch scene.  I don't know how folks who live with cold temps and cloud cover all the time do it, but I know I'm not the only one in town who is celebrating the sunshine today!

-julie davis

Long and Winding Road

Long and Winding Road

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

available

Ok, for those of you who did not receive the image in my last post, I'm very sorry.  I have not determined what happened, but fingers crossed it was a mysterious technical glitch that resolves with this post.  Please let me know if you don't receive an image today--I will keep working.  And thank you to several of you who did let me know about the last one.

The subject here is a wonderfully long ranch road in Center Point, Texas, near Kerrville--the same ranch at which I painted Better Days and Uphill.  Atop the far hill must have been one of the highest points in the county--the view was magnificent.

-julie davis

Uphill

Uphill, study

8 x 6 in., oil on panel

sold

This study came from a photo I took while in Center Point, Texas, at the Kerrville Outdoor Painter's Event.  My winning paining, Better Days, was painted at the same ranch--a piece of land with truly breath-taking views--it must have been one of the highest points in the area.  This was a little dirt road that ran uphill along one of the internal fence lines.  

I find it interesting to explore the abstract shapes in foregrounds, and the edges and indirect lines created by the intersection of grasses and rock, fields and fences, and even the clouds and sky.

-julie davis

The Neighbors

The Neighbors

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

I've wanted to paint this scene for a bit--it's from a photo I took recently on a short trip near Austin, and was taken right after some recent rains.  The fields and trees green up so beautifully when we actually have rain--I couldn't resist stopping to take some pictures.  I may do a few more studies on it, but we'll see.  This summer has been a juggling of kids and their service trips so far, I'm trying to squeeze (in) paint(ing) when I can.  Ha.

-julie davis

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

Shaded Farm Road

Shaded Farm Road

6 x 8 in., oil on panel

sold

This piece of land is just outside of Kerrville, Texas.  The composition didn't require much creativity on my part--it was ready and waiting for me.  The shaded dirt road led right to the lit bales of hay and around to an old hidden structure behind a fence. I just tried to do it a little justice...

-julie davis

Summer Road

Summer Road

9 x 12 in., oil on panel

sold

Busy time of year!  I last posted a month ago before the gallery show and time has escaped me since then.  I've been painting, just not posting-I plan to improve on the latter, though! 

Summer is quickly approaching here in Texas; we've had a gorgeous spring with needed rain, but the heat is on the way.  At least things are green!

-julie davis

Going the Distance

Going the Distance, 6 x 8

sold

Another Hill Country road painting--this one was kind of a warm up for me. I can spend a few days doing still life and feel rusty on landscapes.

-julie davis

Old Ranch Road

Old Ranch Road, 6 x 8

Another from my day of many paintings. I was working primarily on still lifes that day, but really had to do at least one landscape.

-julie davis

Road Through the Field

Road Through the Field, 6 x 8
sold

I hope everyone had a wonderful few days off and an enjoyable Thanksgiving. I feel so fortunate to have spent time in the Hill Country with our kids and my husband and his family--I don't think all the cousins could have had a better time together. We have much for which to give thanks.....

Today we hung the paintings for the show at Wendow here in Austin! Everything looks great, and I'm looking forward to Wednesday night's opening. It lasts from 6 p.m. til 9 p.m.--please come by if you're in Austin! There will be two other artists showing--my friend, Kendall Pace, and a new friend, Betty Sewell.

-julie davis

Gray Morning

Gray Morning, 6 x 8

sold

The last post or two I've worked with keeping my value range tighter than usual. I'm working on gray days, and it's hard for me, because I'm most often drawn to darks in paintings. It definitely creates a mood to keep the values more closely tied to each other, whether it's a gray day or bright or nearly dark.....all good times to reduce your value range.

-julie davis

Valley Farm

Valley Farm, 8 x 6

sold

As much as I love painting the Texas Hill Country, it's always fun to paint a different area of the country. California has an entirely different feel--both in light and topography. A hazy day in October is when I was there last, and this little farm caught my attention.

-julie davis

California Road

California Road, 16 x 12

sold

Again, working "larger." For me and many, time is the enemy when I paint. It's pretty easy to wedge an hour of painting time in every day--mostly. But fitting three to four hours of pure painting time is less so; it's usually a once a week occurrence at most. And more than four right now--forget it! That said, this is a 3 1/2 hour attempt from a 6 x 8 I've "grown up" to a 16 x 12 for my show. My post from October 1 is the smaller version.

-julie davis

Guardians of the Road

Guardians of the Road, 8 x 6

sold

Every time I go to California, I fall in love with its trees. I think these tall ones are eucalyptus--someone correct me if I'm wrong. Majestic and bathed in warm California sun....

-julie davis

Hillside Drive

Hillside Drive, 6 x 8

It's great to be blogging again after such a long break. The kids are finally back in school (one started high school), and things are getting settled. I painted this one in Hunt just before we picked the girls up from camp earlier this month--after this I didn't paint for three weeks....that one I'll post tomorrow. I did wonder if the time "off" would be disastrous.....but it actually wasn't--whew!

-julie davis

Up the Road

Up the Road, 12 x 10

Apologies for the resolution on this one--I'll try to retake tomorrow--if you can see lines on the painting, let me know. I can here, but not in my photo file, so it's that mysterious photo gremlin at work, I guess.

Our local plein air group met last Thursday at a beautiful location in Lockhart- so many opportunities for inspiration. This road led in and out of the property. The weather that day was overcast and windy, and a bit wet, but I took reference photos--this is from one. I upped the sun factor, we'll say. The piece I painted on location, more representative of the weather, will post tomorrow.

-julie davis

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

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

Red Barn in the Morning

Red Barn in the Morning, 6 x 8

Getting back to painting after even four days off is always tricky for me, but I jumped in today hopeful that it wouldn't be as painful as I imagined. It was. Every bit. Partly, I really want to be outside, but for various reasons can't. I slogged through this one, and am happy with the light in it, but can't wait to try again tomorrow!

-julie davis