Chance of Rain

Chance of Rain, 8 x 10

Wish this had been a plein air painting--it would've meant the possibility of rain today, but it seems everyone but Austin is getting wet these days! I'm charmed by fencelines lately. And barns. This was from a photo taken near Llano, not far from the Llano River.

-julie davis

Daybreak in the Pasture

Daybreak in the Pasture, 8 x 10

sold

My favorite part of  the day--when the sun has just come up and you're grabbing that first, precious cup of coffee, and things are still quiet--even outside.  To be honest, I had a bit of a challenge photographing this with so many greens--the dark ones are definitely the least cooperative.  I can't ever seem to get a away from this issue, even if I change the time of day, direction the painting is facing (I take all my photos outside).  Anyone have any suggestions on this topic of outdoor photography?  Other than setting up lights, etc. indoors?  I'd love to hear them.  I take my photos usually after 5 or 6 o'clock, and set my work upright against an east-facing wall in my backyard.  Is it all just trial and error?

-julie davis

Shall We Stop?

Shall We Stop?   6 x 8

sold

A sure sign of summer in the Hill Country is a roadside peach stand open for business.  My husband wanted to name this one "Pitt Stop," or "Stopped By the Fuzz," but I refrained. Perhaps I should've gone with one of those, but inevitably, the words that come out of our mouths when we see a peach stand coming into view this time of year is, "Shall we stop?"  

-julie davis

Cattle Guard

Cattle Guard, 8 x 10

The cattle must have been elsewhere--their food lay baled in the field, but they were nowhere to be seen--maybe the cattle guard wasn't so effective after all?

I'm painting at least two or more a day this week--trying to complete what I can before I sign, frame, and ship pieces to Oregon for the show next month. Today I gathered many of the pieces in one room and leaned them inside their frames against a wall......it was great to see it all together.

-julie davis

Blue Skies

Blue Skies, 8 x 6

sold

Who can resist the red barn? I always get a kick out of a freshly painted, real red barn, like this one outside of Johnson City. They stand out, and have innate appeal.

-julie davis

Winter Reserve

Winter Reserve, 6 x 8

A lesson for us all--planning ahead. As hot as it is right now, it's hard to imagine winter, but ranchers have to plan ahead, and storing hay to last through the winter is part of that. This is a view from Highway 16 south out of Fredericksburg out into the hills.

-julie davis

Noon Siesta

Noon Siesta, 6 x 6

sold

This is the only place for cattle to be during the heat of a Texas summer--in the shade of an oak grove. I'd assumed these were taking a nap as well. Sometimes, that's the best way to handle the heat....just ignore it until it goes away.

-julie davis

Roadside Barn

Roadside Barn, 12 x 12

Barns are compelling to me. For so many reasons. This one is along a country road off of Hwy 71 somewhere between here and Houston. Part of the fun of plein air painting is getting to follow these little roads....unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to follow this one, but did have time to stop and get a photo.

-julie davis

Hillside Road

Hillside Road, 5 x 7

sold

California has the most compelling hills often with trees sprinkled atop them; I snagged a quick photo of this winding road as we drove along--I'd love to find out where it leads...

The PAA show last night had a great turnout, and looks fantastic. I even met blogging friend Camille LaRue Olsen who came to see all the work, and enjoyed seeing all the fantastic art that Austin plein air artists produce. Laurel Daniel, Quaing Huang, V....Vaughan, Trish Seigel, Stephen Parker, and so many others have work showing. Stop by if you have a chance--it's in the Corridor of Arts in the Chase Bank Building at 700 Lavaca, in Austin.

-julie davis

Warming Up

Vineyard Study, 8 x 10

It's interesting to me that not painting for 6 days would make me rusty, but I sure felt that way. So I'm painting to make up for it--4 yesterday, 1 today.  I'm headed shortly to our Plein Air Austin show, should be a great gathering.  I also want to say thank you to Barbara Muir, who gave me a blogging award on her site yesterday.... the Bella Sinclair Award for "friendship, sisterhood, sharing, and caring."  Barbara is an amazing painter, and an equally amazing source of encouragement!  Thank you, Barbara!

-julie davis

Road to the Winery

Road to the Winery, 8 x 10

I couldn't pass up this tree.  We were in the wine country around Santa Barbara last weekend, and I took as many photos as I could, since I didn't have my paints with me.  This tree was so elegant, and hung over the vines in one area in such a majestic way.  What a beautiful part of the country--and so cool--coming back to 105 degrees was hard!

And for those who asked, I now know the web address for the "poachpod" that I wrote about a few days back.  Go to fusionbrands.com.  They even have a terrific video showing you how it works as intended...I look forward to trying some to poach eggs rather than clean brushes soon!

-julie davis

Summer Grapes

Summer Grapes, 6 x 8

sold

I've missed a few days--it's been difficult not to paint, but my husband and I took off for cooler weather after dropping the kids at camp and enjoyed a long weekend where folks actually thought 85 was hot! Ha!

So I painted this one before we left--same as the last piece but in a 6 x 8 format vs. square. I'm very much looking forward to diving into painting with the Ashland show in mind over the next two weeks. I'll be taking some of my studies larger, and won't be posting as many for sale because I'll need them for the winery show , but if you're interested in a particular piece, please email me. This Thursday (5-7) is the opening reception for Plein Air Austin's annual show--stop by if you live here--over 100 pieces of art by Austin plein air artists will be up.

And to Mitzi who asked where to find the "poachpod" I talked about in my last post...I found them locally at Zinger hardware on Anderson Lane; I thought the poachpod people would have a website I could refer to, but I couldn't find one!

-julie davis

Between the Vines

Between the Vines, 6 x 6

sold

My last post drew votes from both camps: about half of you liked the yellow and green version of the foreground, and about half liked it all green. I think they both work, though I tend to agree that I like the contrast that both the colors provide.

Today's painting is from a snapshot taken at Weisinger's Winery in Oregon. I'll be up there in August for a show (thank you, John!), and will try to play around with some vineyard subject matter between now and then. I like the way this one turned out, but have a tiny issue with the long green diagonal brushstroke--think I could've broken that up.

I also wanted to show anyone who ever washes brushes the way I do (Master's Soap and warm water) something I've found to press my brushes into besides my hand (since keeping paint off your skin is a good practice). I recently found these little green silicone things called "poachpods." They're perfect to hold in my hand and press the soapy brush into as I wash most of the paint out. (I believe they're intended to poach eggs in....must try that with another set!) I do the last cleaning bit with my fingers, but when the paint is really coming off initially, I keep one of these poachpods in my hand instead of rubbing all that paint into my skin. Seems to work for me now. I know Carol Marine at one point was using a tennis ball cut in half in the same manner. Haven't tried that yet because I found these and they're so easy to keep clean and I can still feel the brush in my hand because the pods are so thin and flexible.

I put the (size 4) brushes in the image for scale reference.

-julie davis

Summer Storage

Summer Storage, 12 x 12

So what's your vote? The foreground in this one, or yesterday's post? I'm somewhat ambivalent, though I might actually prefer my initial attempt....... 

I should have found a way to do some fireworks--hopefully you all were able to see some great ones tonight.  We had a fantastic evening, and the fireworks here in Austin were amazing. Happy Fourth!

-julie davis

Quick Study

Destined for Change, 12 x 12

This piece didn't get the attention it deserved--but here it is.  I wanted to take a smaller piece larger again, but today was hectic........a fantastic day, (my 40th birthday) but I didn't have the time I needed to finish this the way I wanted, so the bottom third  you see actually has been wiped down.  Thus, the "Destined for Change" title.  I was trying to squeeze too many things into one day, but...I painted, and had a great day on top of it.  Happy Independence Day, tomorrow, all!

-julie davis

Country Bale Out

Country Bale Out, 12 x 12

I did this larger version of the 8 x 10 "Fresh Cut Hay" this afternoon in a square format in anticipation of the winery show. I'm trying to get to a few "larger" ones for that show, and I enjoy translating rectangular format to square and vice versa. I'm really having a hard time with my greens and light reflecting poorly on them for my photos lately--this photo isn't what I'd like, but it had to do. This field is near Briggs, Texas, and was brimming with beautiful freshly baled hay in late May.

-julie davis

Dock on Lake Austin

Dock on Lake Austin, 6 x 8

We finally had some rain this morning to cool things off and give us some relief from the heat. Another popular way to beat the heat here in Austin is, of course, Lake Austin, and this dock is a good entry point for those at Emma Long Park.  

On another note, I wanted to mention that I'm going to have work in three shows over the summer.  One is a juried show with Austin Art Space called "What Texas Means to Me," another is Plein Air Austin's annual show, and the third is a solo show up in Ashland, Oregon, at Weisinger's Winery.  The openings for the first are on July 11th and 12th, respectively, and the third is August 15.   I've completed pieces for the first two, but am still working on some for the show at the winery--and very much looking forward to all three!

-julie davis

Morning on the Colorado

Morning on the Colorado, 6 x 8

sold

Morning is about the most pleasant time around here these days, and I do love summer mornings.  I've had a photo of this crossing of the Colorado River for a while--I speedily put this together before dinner tonight.  I'm looking forward to some unbroken painting time (our girls all head to camp for several weeks next week), and I'm going to have more time than I can comprehend, but it will come at a price.  I don't think they'll be homesick, but I'll miss them terribly!

-julie davis

95 and Sunny

95 and Sunny, 6 x 8

sold

This one just struck me as hot. Perhaps it's the 105 degree heat we're suffering through in Austin right now, because it wasn't 95 when I took the photo I used for this painting. I'm playing around with different compositions of the same subject--I like this one as well as the 6 x 6 I did a few days back. Maybe it's the subject matter--anything along these lines appeals to me!

-julie davis

Ranch Road

Ranch Road, 8 x 10

sold

Today I did a little larger version of the "Road to the Ranch" that I posted a few days back. I like it expressed in this format, too, though I didn't do justice to the road, which is fairly well important to the painting! In defense of not doing as well as I'd liked, I did start painting mid-afternoon with three kids in and out, have to stop for an hour to go pick up three teens at the movies, then come back to hurry to complete it to clean up and go to a friend's new home. More than I typically like to deal with in the middle of painting, but I figure it challenges me and somehow, will prove beneficial later!

-julie davis

Morning on the Lake

Morning on the Lake, 6 x 8

This is from a photo I took recently from a hill on one side of Lake Austin, looking out at the other side.  Looking at it now, I think I'd prefer it without the foreground, but that's the angle my camera gave me, and at 6:00 this morning I wasn't making any major compositional choices, just taking what my photo offered!  I like the way the trees line the edges of the lake in that spot--an undeveloped section on the lake.

-julie davis

Road to the Ranch

Road to the Ranch

sold

This was the view looking down the road that ran next to the little Granbury barn I painted yesterday.  It led back to the main highway, but when I see the image now, I like to imagine it leading to any Texas ranch.

-julie davis

Weathered Barn

Weathered Barn, 6 x 6

Can't seem to get a handle on my summer schedule, but, then, that's the beauty of summer, right? No schedule? The heat is overwhelming, so I'm painting from various photos I have, this one from the Granbury trip. A barn off of a main highway into Granbury....liked the looks of it but we were there the wrong time of day--no shade, few shadows, and too hot without the shade.

-julie davis

Quiet Cove

Quiet Cove, 6 x 6

sold

This is a spot I desperately wanted to get back to to paint, but really didn't have time.  This particular scene was a view from the waterfront of the property of an old Florida plantation. The oaks on the property were incredible, towering things with moss hanging from the branches.  The home itself had been meticulously restored, but the view from the water's edge held my attention.  I guess scenes like this were my unintentional focus for the week.  I have to credit a friend for getting me out to the plantation.  He'd discovered it on a long bike ride a year or two ago, and insisted I join him for a look.  Thanks, Allen!

-julie davis

Western Lake Marsh

Western Lake Marsh, 6 x 8

For a while I'll be posting paintings done from photographs from our trip. All the previous FL ones were plein air, but there are a few scenes I wanted to paint but didn't have the time to get back to in person This is one such scene, and I hope maybe next time we're there I'll be able to go back and paint it from life. I just loved these marsh grasses--especially in large masses---they become a beautiful neutral carpet adjoining the water.

-julie davis

Boathouse in the Trees

Boathouse in the Trees, 8 x 10

sold

On Western Lake in Watercolor, there is a boathouse where the kids can rent cane poles to fish, or take a canoe or kayak out for an hour. I had a view of it from the pier near our home, and painted this early one morning.  Again, I've got to get a handle on my photography of these greens...bear with me!

-julie davis

Sunrise On Western Lake

Sunrise On Western Lake, 6 x 8

sold

Well those of you who were so impressed that I was painting and blogging on vacation spoke too soon! I've been unable to post for a while because the Internet connection went down in the home we were in for the week....now we're home and I can catch up! I did continue to paint despite the inability to post, so I was here in spirit.

I painted this one on Friday morning as the sun was peeking through the trees, before my family awoke (not hard with teens). I'd seen this group of five trees from our second floor porch, and they kept catching my eye until I painted them. These greens are a challenge to photograph--I have a bit too much reflection here, but you get the idea.

-julie davis

Western Lake Peninsula

Western Lake Peninsula, 8 x 10

sold

Another poor photo, but the painting I like. This is the inlet that welcomes everyone to Watercolor from the west. I liked theses five trees and the reeds and grasses that grow out with them. The ocean lies right behind the far trees and the dunes in the distance.

-julie davis

Quiet Lake

Quiet Lake, 6 x 8
sold

I haven't quite found the best spot for taking photos of my work while here, so this one is a bit shiny....northern edge of Western Lake across from our house. It's been completely calm in the mornings.

-julie davis

East Edge of the Lake

East Edge of the Lake, 6 x 8

sold

There is a beautiful lake in Watercolor, Florida, that I am lucky enough to be living on the edge of for the week. I painted this after I arrived the other afternoon and the sun was still hot, but heading down. I found a shaded fishing pier with wonderful painting opportunities in every direction. Lots of grass, trees, lily pads. Tomorrow's post will be a morning version of the same lake.

-julie davis