Tree-lined Riverfront

Tree-lined Riverfront- study, 6 x 8

This is the view from our porch in Hunt. Endless trees line the riverfront--pecans, walnut, oaks--all kinds--literally line the frontage forever. It's a plain composition, and so much so that I hesitate to paint it--"never paint trees in a line" goes through my head. But it's what I see so often in my favorite spot--couldn't help it.

-julie davis

Yellow Farmer's Stand - study

Yellow Farmer's Stand - study, 6 x 8

Each time we go to our place in Hunt, we pass this little yellow farmer's stand. I've never seen it open for business, but there are clearly some well-kept gardens behind the fence.

This was a super-fast sketch of this subject on a gray day--I definitely didn't refine this--just looking for composition and values- not sure I nailed either!

-julie davis

Gray Day, Lake Austin-study

Gray Day, Lake Austin - study, 6 x 8

One of my favorite things about Austin is the Lake. Technically, it's the Colorado River that runs through town and is dammed up several times as it passes through, forming several lakes. The closest to my house are Lake Austin, and Ladybird Lake (formerly Town Lake). This is looking south toward the dam on Lake Austin. I plan to do a larger version of this for my upcoming show.

-julie davis

Early Morning Oaks -study

Field Guards, 6 x 8

Oaks often have a way of growing in clusters, as if they're huddling up to discuss something. This group stood smartly in a field, overlooking things.

-julie davis

Summer Day

Summer Day, 8 x 6

sold

This was a quick study done earlier this summer--I forgot I had it. It's easy to forget during these dry, cold, winter days just how lush the outdoors become in the spring and summer. Of course, it was something like 74 F today in Austin, so we're headed there soon!

-julie davis

Snow Melt

Snow Melt, 6 x 8

Another attempt at a "snow" painting. Kind of a snow painting, anyway. The snow melted so quickly (and was spotty to begin with), that the fields were patches of snow and grass. Temps were down to 17 F here last night, but in typical Austin fashion, the coming week's highs will be in the upper 60s, lower 70s.....ahh, winter.

-julie davis

Light Snow

Light Snow, 6 x 8 in.
sold

Last Friday, Austin received a whopping inch (yes, one) of snow--and school was cancelled (mostly due to the ice that was so nicely hidden beneath the snow). We get so few "snow days" here that we were all pretty excited.

Around noon when the roads became passable, I headed out to Hunt to meet some college girlfriends as planned (we were not about to let a little snow cancel our plans!) Just outside of Austin, I had to stop and take some photos--and make a mental picture of it all. It really was beautiful, and an entirely new way of seeing the countryside with which I'm growing so familiar. I must say, I had a blast painting this, and knocked out a larger version today. Here's to more snow days!

-julie davis

Sketch 4, Board

Sketch 4, 6 x 8

Sketchboard

And the last of my painted "sketches." I've also posted the board on which I did them all for you to see. I like this last one, but it's the least developed of the four, so I'm still tossing it over in my head whether to do a larger one.

-julie davis

Sketch 3

Sketch 3, 8 x 6

A bit out of order, but here nonetheless, the third "sketch" I made last week on the large panel. Unlike the first two, I haven't painted this one larger yet, and am still debating.

For all my Northeast and Canadian friends out there--brrrrrr!!! Our gorgeous weather is gone and it will be 16 degrees F tonight with a wind chill of 3 or something Wednesday morning. For here, that's really cold. Actually having to wear a real coat!

-julie davis

Pear Therapy

Pear Therapy, 9 x 12

This is one I found that I did recently that I hadn't posted. Initially, it was because I was having trouble photographing the darks--the reflections on them were impossible. I mostly solved that, then just forgot to post it. The pears reminded me of a bunch of girls talking, sharing, leaning on each other's shoulders as girlfriends do....

-here' a shout-out to all my girlfriends, near and far. You are all so supportive and amazing, and for you I am so very grateful!!

-julie davis

River Valley Elms - study

River Valley Elms - study, 6 x 8
sold

When I began really studying trees about two years ago, I had no idea how much influence they, as subject matter, would have on me as an artist. When I try to force them to the background in my compositions, it's almost painful to do so. So, yesterday I resolved to let go of that struggle for a while and just have fun with them again. And I had entirely too much fun doing this little study.

-julie davis

Chapel Dulcinea

Chapel Dulcinea, 6 x 8

sold

Today was the most gorgeous day in Austin, and as if that wasn't enough, I got out and painted with my Plein Air Austin friends. We met at a place a few miles outside of Austin called the Wizard Academy (no Harry Potter--but a marketing school--good name, right?) Anyway, Chapel Dulcinea is a small, open-air wedding chapel on the property that overlooks a beautiful part of the area, back toward Austin. It was a lovely subject to paint, and in this weather, made for quite the perfect morning.

-julie davis

Sketch 2

Sketch 2, 6 x 8

This is the second of four painted "sketches" on a board. I've used them to help me plan some paintings that I'm doing in larger formats. I find that when I'm working in the studio to make a larger painting from a study I've done outdoors I often want to tweak the composition, and doing this really helped me -- almost more than working in a sketchbook with pencil, which surprised me.

-julie davis

Sketch 1

Sketch 1, 6 x 8

Haven't posted for several days, but that doesn't mean I haven't been hard at work! This is the first of several "sketches" I did on a board (this the tape to divide it) to plan my next four paintings. This is the first time I've ever done four underdrawings or sketches on one board, and in one "sitting." I found that ideas just flowed when I worked that way, and not taking the time to finish each one really freed me up to brainstorm, if you will. I was quite a lot of fun, and just as importantly for me right now, productive.

-julie davis

The Lookout

The Lookout, 6 x 8

This is a blatant attempt to study the bovine form. A very small form. :) Sketching and drawing cattle (like anything) is a fantastic exercise, but conveying animals convincingly with as few brushstrokes as possible is something one can practice only with a brush. This bull seemed to be looking off in the distance as if he heard something he might want to warn the others about. Not that cattle ever seem to care that much....

And I must mention some very exciting news....my work will officially be part of a three-person show at the Davis Gallery (no relation) here in Austin in April! The opening reception is April 9. I'm very excited about the opportunity and will be hard at work, so forgive me if I don't post quite as regularly for a bit...I'll be laser-focused.

-julie davis

Over Your Shoulder

Over Your Shoulder, 6 x 6

Apples are a favorite of so many painters as a subject--in addition to their nice shape and the many varieties out there, they carry much symbolism....everything from "bad" or "poison" apple, to the all-American apple pie, Johnny Appleseed, and William Tell. These were a product of my seven-hour studio day recently--a day I am hoping to recreate soon. :)

-julie davis

Late Spring Fields

Late Spring Fields, 12 x 16

donation

This is a piece I've painted based on a 6 x 8 of the same scene--a field / creek in the Hill Country. When it's rained enough, the creeks in Texas actually fill like this and everything is content....too often they're not quite full, or even dry. This one is going to the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center Gala Art Auction this spring.

-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

Gathered Together

Gathered Together-study, 6 x 8

I thought I'd post a little bit of the process today, primarily because I prefer the middle version here. I was experimenting with the foreground in the final product, and it just isn't what I'd envisioned. I did manage to take a few photos while I painted, however, and since I always find it interesting when others post "process" photos, I thought I'd share these.

-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

Peared Up

Peared Up - study, 6 x 8

This is the last of the six I painted on Wednesday, and I made myself "finish" in 30 minutes, good or bad. Sometimes that builds in looseness and is successful, sometimes it's just disastrous. I definitely could've created a better painting, but playing with the gold tones and keeping it loose were my two goals, and I did accomplish that.

-julie davis

Among the Liliputians

Among the Liliputians, 6 x 8 - study

This arrangement at first seemed as if the cherries had a crush on the pear, then I thought it more looked like the pear was Gulliver and the cherries were the the citizens of Liliput.

Regardless, my apologies for the reflection on this photo--the darks never fail to give me issues. I take the photos outside in a spot I wouldn't think gets much reflection, but the darks almost always find it. Anyone have any tricks or suggestions, besides creating a photography studio in which to photograph?

-julie davis

Cherry On Top

Cherry On Top, 6 x 8 - study

I had the most exciting day today. For the first time in three weeks, I was able to spend nearly seven hours in the studio! (Read: the girls are back in school) I completed 6 small paintings--five still lifes and a landscape (couldn't not do one). Those of you who paint, know what a giddy feeling that can be.

I feel rusty at still lifes--this was the third one I did and the second I won't post at all, but it truly helps to repeat, repeat repeat in succession. Painting one after the other quickly really felt good and I made some progress and cleared some cobwebs.

-julie davis

One and a Half Pairs

One and a Half Pairs, 6 x 8

A rarity from me lately--a still life. I've promised a dear friend I'd do three still lifes for her and I'm way overdue. Way, way overdue. So I'll be warming up on still lifes here and there for a while.

Happy New Year to all of you--I'm sincerely grateful to have you all follow and subscribe to my blog--it's a tremendous source of encouragement and community for me. And today my husband and I celebrate 18 years of marriage--a perfect way to end the year. I wish you all the best in 2011!

-julie davis

So We Meet Again

So We Meet Again, 6 x 8

The way properties adjoin each other is one of the little tidbits I find interesting along the roads. Green grass can abut a field of golden flowers that can meet up with simple red dirt or a field full of cacti or cedars or oaks or all three. I liked the way the green shoulder here met with the wheat colored grass and muted flowers.

-julie davis

Sunset on Lake Travis

Sunset on Lake Travis, 6 x 8

nfs

It feels like a month since I've posted--I had to put my blog on hold for a while leading up to the holidays. I think I'd have been more prolific, but various viruses combined to knock me down twice in the last two weeks, plus Christmas and family--and there was no time at all to paint.

I did paint today--and wiped it down each time--four times altogether! That's to be expected, I think, after so much time off. The painting above is one I just gave my niece. I hadn't published it yet, though I did post the two studies from our Plein Air Austin sunset paint out that inspired it. My sweet 4th-grade niece (who loves to paint) admired it this week, and I couldn't resist giving it to her. And as the year winds down, it seemed a sunset painting was appropriate to post.

I'll do my best to post this week. I'm closing in on 200 paintings again this year and would love to hit that mark. Enjoy the remainder of the holidays--and a happy new year to you all!

-julie davis

Cinco

Cinco, 6 x 8

My girls all take Spanish in school, and our middle daughter tends to intersperse bits of it into our conversation pretty often (which is good because it helps me learn Spanish, too). This painting was going to be named "Five," but at the last moment, the Spanish word for "five" felt right. I have to attribute that to her influence. :)

-julie davis

Old Farmhouse

Old Farmhouse, 6 x 8

A great deal of what draws me to paint landscapes is the history that is woven into much of the land in which we live daily. Many farms have old outbuildings, barns, and even farmhouses that now sit abandoned. I'm always excited to find them and can't help but ponder what went on in them when they were full of life.

-julie davis

Shady Crowd

Shady Crowd, 8 x 6
sold

On my way to Hunt last weekend I spotted this group of cattle under a shady tree--they appeared so content. I stopped and took a photo and worked from that and memory for this 8 x 6.

-julie davis

Photos from the Wendow show

What a treat it was to be a part of last night's show at Wendow. The store looked beautiful, was filled with art by three local artists (me included), and the turnout was fantastic. If you're anywhere in the neighborhood, stop by and see what's in the store--it's one of my favorite spots in Austin, and not just because they carry my art!

The pics are of some of the pieces on the walls--the last is of my dear pal Laurel Daniel and me during the show. Thanks to all who stopped by--your support is always appreciated!

-julie davis