Why Me?

Why Me?, 8 x 10

I messed around today with high contrast in the background--this is supposed to be a white napkin on a black table....doesn't it feel a bit like the bowl, napkin, and knife are floating in space?! I didn't think so until I saw it in photograph form. Don't you think it's a perspective issue, rather than the contrast? The downfalls of a fast painting! I at least like the title my 11 year-old came up with...

-julie davis

Outnumbered

Outnumbered, 8 x 10

I'm looking forward to painting and posting again in earnest. We had a tragedy in the neighborhood last weekend, and painting could not be a priority.

This afternoon I thought I'd work at what Laurel was asking us to do in class--studying value shifts in local color. I wasn't after creative color or composition, or accuracy of detail, and admittedly, the tennis and golf ball subject matter was not the biggest challenge I could've set out for myself. However, conveying a sphere in paint is fun for me, and that's what I needed today--straightforward and just happy. So I pulled out some of my daughter's practice golf balls and an old, flat tennis ball, and set them out on my table. I did enjoy this one, and got some practice seeing the value shifts in different variations of white. Since the golf balls were old, some were more yellow, while some leaned blue or gray. It felt great to push some paint around again, and I learned a good bit in the process.

-julie davis

Values Exercise

Values Exercise, 12 x 12

Greatest day--yesterday we started Laurel Daniel's class again--four short weeks, but I love learning, and learning about painting is such a kick for me-even when it's studying value. This is actually the third I did in class yesterday--the first dealt with local color with a light, medium, and dark object. The second was painted with a range of 7-8 grays from black to white, and the third we were allowed to use color, attempting to keep the same accuracy in value shifts. This doesn't look too colorful, but the objects were quite neutral, and I didn't go crazy with the background color. I like the neutrals, even though the subject matter isn't glamorous. I suppose it helps the form stand out more.

-julie davis

Oasis

Oasis, 8 x 10

sold

Have to admit, I feel in a bit of a rut. I went back to an old favorite, and just painted for the sake of painting. I think mentally, I'm distracted right now, so doing something familiar was satisfying.

-julie davis

Water's Edge

Water's Edge, 12 x 12

Trying water again....this from a photo I took in winter. I'm inundated with school and homework demands right now.....am in an in-between period--Laurel Daniel's still life class begins Wednesday (yay!) and it always gets me thinking in a new direction and with a renewed focus.

-julie davis

Still Useful

Still Useful, 10 x 8

sold

Old barns and country roads appeal to the die-hard Texan in me. I can't help it. I love the blues in the weathered gray wood and the funny ways the abandoned barns lean--the roads often inexplicably curve and bend on their routes. No doubt there was at one time a reason they veered this way or that.

-julie davis

Into the Hills

Into the Hills, 6 x 6

sold

Paths and roads have me hooked right now. This was from a photo I took last weekend on a day trip to the Hill Country. Plenty of dry grass around, but we've been getting rain--finally!!

-julie davis

Golden Fields

Golden Fields, 10 x 8

sold

A bit larger version of "Peaceful Grove;" I'm so in love with painting these small paintings--so loose, fresh, and fast, that my patience for anything really large isn't up to speed. I also love the simplicity of a painting with trees and fields alone--such a comforting sight to me.

-julie davis

Canyon Path

Canyon Path 6 x 6

While in CA this summer, my husband and I took a hike along one of the many trails behind the place we were staying in the hills. The path took many turns as it wound up the side of a mountain, and trees cloaked it occasionally, but the sun shone through wherever it had the opportunity.

-julie davis

Breaking Through

Breaking Through, 6 x 8

sold

I took another shot at some photos I'd taken of the view of the Colorado River from the Smithville area last spring. A light drizzle was coming down and the sun was trying to break through the clouds.

-julie davis

Peaceful Grove

Peaceful Grove, 6 x 6

sold

This grove of trees had a most unusual shape. I've been longing to try a "mass" approach to a composition, and this offered the opportunity (it's from a photo I took on our trip to CA in July). Fridays are my longer paintings days, and I was able to get two finished in my three hour window. This was the first. On a side note, Austin finally got some rain tonight! Happy Friday.

-julie davis

Two Shy

Two Shy, 8 x 6

The intimidation of Laurel Daniel's fall still life class (starting week after next) is beginning to weigh on me; I hadn't done a still life since January that I can remember.  So I brought out the lights and fruit this afternoon to see if I could still do it.  The original setup here included a peach and some tiny, stacked bowls, but clearly, they did not make the final cut!  Therefore, the composition is a little unorthodox--two--how dull.... However, I kind of like the simplicity of it, and when my youngest daughter came up with "Two Shy," ("and spell it t-w-o, mom") after I told her the clementines looked like they wanted to talk but were too shy, I liked it even more. :)

-julie davis

The Road Home

The Road Home, 12 x 16

A goal I have for this fall is to work larger when I can, and I had the time to do that on this one, so I did a larger version of The Place I Belong--lowering the horizon line a bit to experiment. Here are some photos from the Ashland show, too--I've labeled them below.

-julie davis

The view from the deck of Weisinger's Winery...

Robert (such a nice guy and a huge help) behind the bar, and with of some of my paintings...

Some of the guests....

Talking with guests in the tasting room.

The Place I Belong

The Place I Belong, 6 x 8

sold

The third in the John Denver series......don't expect Mountain Momma tomorrow. :) Thank goodness it's the end of the week--enjoy your weekend!

-julie davis

Country Road

Country Road, 6 x 8

sold

I think I'm painting my way through the lines of a John Denver song. Yesterday's post was "Take Me Home", so naturally, today felt like "Country Road." I suppose tomorrow will be (to) "The Place I Belong," though I'm not sure what to do when I get to "West Virginia, Mountain Momma." Hmmm.... This is actually the (country) road behind the barn at Weisinger's Winery in Ashland, Oregon.

I've failed to write about what a fantastic experience the show in Ashland was; just getting back into town and starting school (yesterday) has been enough to keep me pretty occupied. The show at the winery kicked off very well. Two paintings sold before they were even hung, and more sold over the weekend (hanging out at a winery all weekend was quite a lot of fun by itself!) Thank you to John Weisinger, Robert, and Shelby for hosting me with such ease and for the warm hospitality. I'll post some photos tomorrow--it's a school night and I'm overdue for tucking in the girls.

-julie davis

Take Me Home

Take Me Home, 8 x 6

sold

As exciting and often restful as it is to travel and be without one's usual schedule during the summer, it always feels good to come home. "Take Me Home" felt like an apt title for this one, and reflects my readiness (or so I think) for getting back into the regularity of the school year.

-julie davis

Tucked Away

Tucked Away, 8 x 6

This little red shed stood out from the shadows and foliage this morning just enough to attract me. The temperature was 52 degrees when I went out, and low clouds were obscuring the mountains in the distance. After an hour or so, the curtain lifted just enough to reveal them.

-julie davis

At the Base of the HIll

At the Base of the Hill, 8 x 6

Finally, a chance to paint this barn in person. After months of hundred degree heat, a high today of 70 in Ashland was an amazing treat. I've hung all the paintings for the show--two sold yesterday--and we're headed to the park tonight for a concert and picnic. Going so long between paintings is making me feel really rusty--so I may try the barn again....and again....

-julie davis

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes, 6 x 8

I've been working like a dog preparing for my show next weekend (14th, 15th) in Ashland at Weisinger's Winery (not on painting, but on framing, paperwork, marketing, etc.). It's become so out of the ordinary for me not to paint/post daily, that I feel terribly rusty! Anyway, this was my shot at painting this morning. It's another stab at the barn behind the winery. Painting it in person next week will be a highlight for me.

The show is called "Twenty-Four : Points of View," and is a collection of twenty-four landscapes and still lifes, most of which have starred on my blog at some point. I'll take some photos and post them after the dust has settled. Meanwhile, we get our girls from camp tomorrow (!) and I'm full speed ahead.....

-julie davis

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