Hill Country View

Hill Country View, 9 x 12

I always love a vista as subject matter in a painting, but I don't find I enjoy actually painting them as much. This is probably because I get a huge kick out of expressing trees in paint, and in a vista, there just isn't much to a tree....

This is the color version of yesterday's post. I admit, this feels like I missed it on the values, which I kind of suspected after doing my value study, but forged ahead anyway. Now I know.

-julie davis

Value Study - Hill Country Fields

Value Study - Hill Country Fields, 6 x 8

Another quick value study--when I say quick, I mean 20 minutes--not something I take a ton of time doing. I guess it's almost like a sketch in my sketchbook. I'm still finding it shows me whether I have a viable/striking painting idea, and if so, if/where I need to push anything lighter or darker in value. I don't see doing this every time I paint now, but it's teaching me some things and preventing some mistakes, and doesn't take much time at all.

-julie davis

Out to Pasture

Out to Pasture, 12 x 16

sold

Here is the color version of yesterday's post. I used a little larger panel than I normally do, which is a time challenge for me, since my painting and all-things-painting-related time is typically 2-3 hours at a time on the days I get to paint. I also paint alla prima, so it's finished when time is up! It keeps me from fussing around too much and helps when I'm painting outside because I'm accustomed to making painting decisions quickly. This one and "Hay Bales" will soon be heading west to Sedona for a stay at Windrush Gallery before hopefully finding homes.

-julie davis

Value Study - Out to Pasture

Value Study - Out to Pasture, 6 x 8

I'm still doing a value study every now and then before I launch into a larger full-color version of a painting. Until I see that I'm really nailing the values instinctively in these I think it's a good exercise for me. It's not only a good warm-up, but ensures I stay loose and draft a good composition as well. This one appears more sepia-toned because I took the photo inside tonight--it had gotten too dark outside by the time I got around to taking it.

-julie davis

Ocean Overlook

Ocean Overlook, 6 x 8

donation, Trinity Valley School, Ft. Worth, TX

In Frank Serrano's workshop at Weekend with the Masters, we painted on an overlook above Doheny State Beach, where a surfing competition was taking place. First lesson, simplify what you see.....therefore you see no surfers here. :) Frank Serrano is a fine painter and a relaxed teacher, and made the most of our day, keeping those of us who could stay later than required for an extra demo.

Judging the mass of color for the distant hills was much of our lesson in the morning. His demo was of this scene as well. He stressed constantly comparing colors and values--squinting to see the average color of each mass, opening your eyes to compare values. Getting the proper relationships between the three rows of hills wasn't as easy as it he made it look, but I think I got close.

-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

Hay Bales

Hay Bales, 9 x 12

And the color version.....I think doing this pushed my value contrast further in the end that if I hadn't done the study.

And my apologies that it's taken me a bit to report back on the Weekend with the Masters. I've been busy doing some technological housekeeping before I begin posting with Daily Painters Originals, and like any housekeeping, it takes time!!! But back to the Masters...

It was such fun to immerse myself in the art world for five days! I'm such a newcomer to all of it; no background in art--been painting for close to four years.....so it was such an education simply being with so many artists, the conversation, the panel discussions, the chance to meet so many artists I admire, and the opportunity to study with such fine teachers and alongside artists of every level. I felt like a child in a candy store! I took workshops with Frank Serrano, Camille Przewodeck, and Daniel Pinkham, not to mention the demo with Scott Christensen, and the many lectures I had the pleasure of attending.

So as of Friday I'll have work posted with DPO (if I've done my technological homework correctly). Visit the site. It's a great group and I'm thrilled to be a part of it.

-julie davis

Grayscale Value Study 2

Grayscale Value Study 2, 9 x 12

As promised, here is another value study I did last week (this time in preparation for the color version). I was surprised at how much further (higher) I needed to push the ground plane value than my instincts told me. All a part of learning to see....

And the Weekend With the Masters was amazing! I can't wait to share what I learned and incorporate it. Just being immersed in the culture of the contemporary representational art world for a few days taught me more than I ever anticipated. More tomorrow--I hit the ground running today and will have time to write more then.

-julie davis

Early Light

Early Light, 6 x 8

Here's the color version of yesterday's post. Remember, I did this one outside, and went back and did the value study because I wanted to see the difference it would make in the range of values I used. I also corrected what I thought were some drawing issues in the second one. I think there is a more dramatic range in the black and white study--now if I'd just do it again in color!

Tomorrow I'm heading out to CA for the Weekend with the Masters workshop, so I won't be posting for a few days. I can't wait and will have much to cover when I return I'm sure.

On another happy note, I'm thrilled I've been asked to join the Daily Painters Originals group! I'll begin posting with them sometime after I return from my trip and can focus on that. Thanks to all the members of DPO for the warm welcome!

-julie davis

Value Study

Value Study, 9 x 12

My approach to this was backwards. I painted a full color version of this scene first, then realized that I hadn't pushed the values enough in it and decided to "go back" do a black and white value study to force myself to do push further. It made an impression on me. The tendency to hover in a few close values when painting in color just disappears when you're painting black and white--it clarifies the values like nothing else. Great exercise. Tomorrow's post will be the color version of this one (done pre-value study).

-julie davis

Oregon Vineyard

Oregon Vineyard, 6 x 8

This little piece is another of Weisinger's vineyards, but I used a bit more palette knife on this one than the other two. The owner, John Weisinger, sent us some photos yesterday of some bears that have been sneaking into the vineyards at night to eat the grapes. Smart bears.

-julie davis

Vineyard Barn

Vineyard Barn, 6 x 8

Another painting from my Oregon trip. As many barns do, this one houses all kinds of equipment for the vineyard and has been used for decades. When the light filters through the old boards, it's almost magical. Unfortunately, it was overcast for much of our visit, but it didn't diminish the fun.

-julie davis

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

sold

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

sold

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

sold

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

sold

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

sold

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