Tempranillo, Weisinger's Winery

Tempranillo, Weisinger's Winery, 6 x 8

A Spanish variety, these Tempranillo grapes thrive in the Southern Oregon vineyard of Weisinger's of Ashland. Our family had the pleasure of traveling to Ashland in August, and visited family at the vineyard. I took many photos, and am finally getting around to working from them.

This painting was again a mix of brush and palette knife work--something I'm finding I really like.

-julie davis

Limes Value Study

Limes Value Study, 6 x 8

Today I spent several hours in the studio getting back into the swing of things. I began with this value study--it's probably something I should do more often--it's a great tool. Too often I'm so enchanted by the local color that I don't pay enough attention to getting the right values. I have my friend Laurel Daniel to thank for reminding me of the importance of these!

-julie davis

Hill Country Farm Study

Hill Country Farm Study, 6 x 8

I've been wanting to experiment with a brush / palette knife combination painting for a while, and finally did so today. The small size made it more of a challenge to use the knife, but I always end up getting more color on the canvas with it. I think it turned out to be an interesting little painting.

-julie davis

Driftwood View

Driftwood View, 6 x 8

When I took Skip Whitcomb's workshop last May, we watched him do a demo in the Driftwood area, and I took plenty of photos . This view of distant hills tucked between groups of oak trees is so common in this area, but I love it every time.

-julie davis

Low Country

Low Country, 6 x 8

On our way to Sedona this summer, my husband and I were caught in parking-lot traffic on the only interstate that ran from Phoenix north to Sedona. There had been a wreck, and we were stuck for several hours in roughly the same place near Anthem. So, naturally, I pulled out my sketchbook and camera and began to work. I had lots of time, and was really happy with the composition I came up with for the view we had of this river valley. This study is a very quick sketch of that pencil sketch, and I hope to paint it larger soon. I purposely kept it loose and let the Indian Red ground peek through.

-julie davis

Summer Sky

Summer Sky, 9 x 12

On Thursday, Plein Air Austin met to paint at a legendary local BBQ restaurant in Driftwood, Texas called The Salt Lick. The owners have a decent amount of beautiful property that surrounds the actual restaurant. We painted away from the food, but were definitely near enough to smell it, which made us exceedingly hungry by noon.

I chose this scene because of the sky, and the intense contrast it provided with the golden fields. The clouds were big and puffy, leading to some much-needed rain later in the evening.

-julie davis

Zilker Gardens

Zilker Gardens, 6 x 8

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This was my first painting back after three weeks.....Plein Air Austin met at Zilker Botanical Gardens last Thursday for a paint-out. Laurel Daniel and I found a (slightly?) cooler spot in the "Prehistoric Garden," near a small waterfall. This gorgeous plant was growing nearby--we didn't see any raptors, but a turtle did stroll confidently by us down this path.

-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

Red Mower

Red Mower, 8 x 6

Clever title? :) This is another red riding mower that sits on the property next to ours in Hunt. I keep wandering over to the fenceline to paint--there are more structures and old equipment on the neighbor's land than ours, and it keeps me comin' back. I enjoyed tackling the screened structure--not a barn, not a carport, help me, here.... I'm not sure I got it right, but it was a start!

-julie davis

View Up the Guadalupe

View Up the Guadalupe, 10 x 12

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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

Between Here and There

Between Here and There, 9 x 12

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Along the farm-to-market road in Hunt there is this group of trees--they catch my eye every time I drive by. I am completely enamored with trees and their gestures. This is between Hunt and our place...thus the name.

-julie davis

Hilltop Ornamentation

Hilltop Ornamentation, 8 x 16

For this painting, I took "Gracing the Hilltop," and closed in on the trees just at the top of the hill, in a longer and more narrow format. It's what I had wanted to try the first time, but the 9 x 12 I had with me didn't lend itself to this composition. I'm pleased with it.

-julie davis

A Spot in the Shade

A Spot in the Shade, 6 x 8

This little tractor sits quietly in the shade of two oak trees on our neighbor's property in Hunt. I don't think it's run often, as a shiny, new one sits nearer the house.

-julie davis

Country View

Country View, 6 x 8

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Believe it or not, I've been painting, but took off to Hunt without the cord that allows me to upload photos to my computer from my camera...not too helpful for blogging.

This is a good example to me of how the smallest stroke can suggest something enough that the brain fills in the rest. The "structure" at the back of the field, created with just a small mark, added what I was after--I'm always amazed at how often little strokes can have impact beyond their size or complexity.

-julie davis

Gracing the Hilltop

Gracing the Hilltop, 8 x 10

Last weekend it cleared up long enough for me to paint outside a few times, and this piece was from one of those moments. I found a covered spot, and it rained a little while I painted, but I was dry.

The hillsides all around the Hunt area are covered in a variety of trees, but mostly oak and cedar. These oak trees graced the top of the hill and its side--a common sight is the light peeking through the narrow trunks of the trees at the top and the silhouette of the trees as the sun sets. One of my favorite views.

-julie davis

Shaded Banks

Shaded Banks, 8 x 10

We enjoyed a trip to Hunt last weekend, and while there I was able to paint outside a few times (despite several showers attributable to Hurricane Alex). I'd like to paint this one again- I struggled between palette knife and brush, and had issues with the foreground and other aspects, but I basically like the composition, and plan to revisit it soon.

-julie davis

Boundaries

Boundaries, 8 x 6

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This glimpse of a fence is next to a convenience store somewhere between Austin and Bryan, on Hwy 290. Our group had stopped there for refreshments and directions on our way to Bryan, and I went behind the store to take some photos of the fields nearby.

-julie davis

Winery Footpath

Winery Footpath, 10 x 8

This path winds around a small pond at the Messina Hof Winery in Bryan, Texas, where I painted Saturday morning. The grounds are lovely, and the vines were just behind where I stood to paint. As much as I wanted to paint them, the light and shade were just not as striking as they were on this mass of trees and footpath.

-julie davis

Lake Somerville Trees

Lake Somerville Trees, 10 x 8

I had the good fortune this weekend this weekend to go to Bryan, Texas to the Forsyth Gallery, where some Plein Air Austin members currently have paintings on display (me included). The gallery was hosting a paint-out, and some of us in PAA went down to join in. On the way there Friday evening, our caravan stopped at Lake Somerville and painted. These trees were on a hilly peninsula that caught our eyes. It was a beautiful evening and a wonderful way to spend it--painting at the lake with friends.

-julie davis

Evening on the Lake

Evening on the Lake, 8 x 10

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This is from one of our last evenings in Florida--there are several docks and piers on Western Lake, and this is one of my favorites. Just around the dock is Hwy 30A, a two-lane road that runs along the coast (and crosses this lake). Walk across 30A, cross some dunes, and you're on the beach. I wanted to capture the almost black-and-white effect that the evening creates on the lake--it silhouettes the trees on the oceanside and can be very dramatic. There is a bit too much reflection on the darks in this photo--they're a bit darker in person, but I like the way it turned out.

-julie davis

Break in the Reeds

Break in the Reeds, 10 x 8

Another painting from one of the piers on Western Lake in Watercolor, FL. It's such the peaceful place, and I love heading out there in the late afternoon. These trees seem to group themselves just for me.

-julie davis

Distant Pier

Distant Pier, 10 x 8

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We're in Florida this week--the same spot we came last year. We love this area, and are sad to think that the gulf oil spill may affect it as soon as this week.

This view is just a short walk from the beach house where we're staying. These trees line a lake, and the pier (one of many) reaches into it. Families can be found fishing, canoeing, and stand up paddle-boarding at the lake.

-julie davis

HIdden Barn 2

Hidden Barn 2, 6 x 6

This is a rework of the piece I just did with palette knife--a different take. What do you think?

Very different feels...

julie davis

Hidden Barn

Hidden Barn, 6 x 6

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Another jump in the palette knife direction. I pulled this together this morning before I had some house guests. Besides the texture, another quality I enjoy about palette knife painting is that it seems to come together more quickly for me--at least with the small sizes. It's almost like laying or blocking in the main values in a painting, and then being finished. You cannot fuss with it. I like how this one came out.

The house guests I mentioned were some dear friends who have a monthly or "as needed" Friday tradition of hitting the latest art exhibits in town and doing lunch: Jane Hill, Mitzi Easley, and Gayle Roche. (Today was an exception being Wednesday, but what the heck.) They were kind enough to put my studio on their list for a stop on their tour, and we had a great morning here at the house. Thanks, friends!

-julie davis

Along the Creek

Along the Creek, 8 x 10

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Our Wednesday painting group met at Bull Creek again last week. It's always amazing to me how many people are walking dogs, taking a stroll, and just enjoying the weather on any given weekday there. As one young man said to me as he paused on his walk, "That's what I love about Austin--you see people painting outside on a random Wednesday....you just don't see that everywhere."

-julie davis

Cabin in the Trees

Cabin in the Trees, 8 x 10

Fairly certain that I'm showing my ignorance of the proper method of painting with a palette knife here, and because of the novelty of the process I've missed some areas where my values should agree, and don't.....BUT fun!! This one did begin with a paintbrush, but then spiraled out of control into a palette knife event. My infatuation with lots of paint is leading me right now--it will be interesting to see how it settles out.

-julie davis

May Cedars

May Cedars, 6 x 8

This little group of cedars line a private drive in Hunt. The colors in this one went kind of electric on me--still trying to get more paint on the canvas, too. I find there is so much that I want to experiment with after Skip's workshop--some of these "experiments" are definitely not making it on the blog, but that's part of the process!

-julie davis

Wimberly View

Wimberly View (study), 8 x 10

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The last day of the Whitcomb workshop I did something I've never done before--used a palette knife to paint. I didn't intend it--it just happened! I used my knife to load more paint onto my panel, and I was enjoying it so much I just kept going. I'm certain my technique is all wrong, but I was pleased with the outcome--and had quite a good time with it. (And no snakes that day, just bugs...)

-julie davis

Next to the Highway

Next to the Highway, 6 x 8

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On the way to the Skip Whitcomb workshop in Wimberly last week, I kept passing this red barn. It caught my eye every time, as the morning light couldn't have been more beautiful on it.

-julie davis