Claudia Davis Studio

Back to the Country

2012-02-22T05:39:00.000-08:00

Barns are a passion for me. This is one of the reasons I enjoy going to Montana every summer. There are so many beautiful barns, many a hundred years old or better. I have just recently found a beautiful barn near my home in Granbury. Maryann Brunner and I went to the location and painted one day in February. The gate was locked, no one at home, so we painted from the driveway. The day was warm and sunny. Within minutes after we started painting, the day turned cloudy and misty. I tried to capture the mood in my painting. I just finished a studio painting from my plein air sketch. I would really like your critiques and recommendations.

This is a photo of the scene.

Braving the Elements at Camp EL Tesoro

2012-02-13T11:54:00.000-08:00

Saturday,ten brave artists met at Camp Fire USA's Camp El Tesoro to paint. The temperature stayed in the 30s. Cold fingers, stiff paint, and some wind didn't deter us. The views of Fall Creek were so spectacular that everyone just hung in and painted. Given the elements there were some really beautiful paintings. Attending were: Doug Clark, Maryann Brunner, Tina Bohlman, Debbie, Sabine Higgins, Austin Keenan, Dan Spangler, Robbie Clemmon, Sheri Jones and myself.

It was a great day!!!!!

Here are some pictures:

Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport Art Show

2012-01-21T16:10:00.000-08:00

I am currently in an art show with 19 other North Texas Artists at DFW Airport. It is an exceptional show. If you can go to the show at the Rental Car Building or you can see it at www.douglasbclark.blogspot.com. Check it out!!! Of course all art is for sale.

Calling all Artists

2012-01-14T14:22:00.000-08:00

Maryann Brummer and I painted today at Camp El Tesoro just outside Granbury. The camp is really beautiful. Fall Creek runs through one side and the Brazos River on the opposite side. Fall Creek actually have falls to paint. Campfire USA is opening EL Tesoro the second Saturday in February and March for the public. For plein air painting, you don't want to miss the opportunity. In Februry, there will also be a chili and cornbread cookoff. These are pictures from El Tesoro and a picture of course of my painting. For directions to El Tesoro go to El Tesoro Camp on facebook and look under info. Recommend you bring lunch and what you want to drink. The camp opens at 10am and closes at 4.

Studio Painting and Waiting for Spring

2012-01-13T06:09:00.000-08:00

I have been doing some studio painting while we wait for our short Texas winter. I just did a small painting that makes me think of spring and color.

I think I will keep working on it until the background is totally abstract. This is a time to work on new techniques, new ideas. Just playing, waiting for spring..

Italy and Montana

2012-01-01T14:51:00.000-08:00

I have been painting today to start the New Years off right. The first is a scene from Italy. Very close to my hotel was this narrow road leading to an old farm. There were lots of chickens in a coup. My thought was that occaisionally one escapes. Thus my new painting "Escaped".

My next piece is a fall scene long the Whitefish River. I love the colors:

Old McDonald Had a Farm

2011-12-17T16:17:00.000-08:00

I spent the summers painting some beautiful old barns and now I am painting animals. Maybe next I can add animals to my barns for some farm scenes. Farms are both fun and nostalgic for me. I hope our family farms don't just get completely taken over by the large corporations. In Montana my husband and I shop with the local farmers each Saturday at the Farmers Market. The produce is always so fresh and organic.
Here are my latest:

I saw these friendly donkeys at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico.

This rooster was struting his stuff down by Fredricksburg.

Roosters, chickens, farms

2011-12-04T09:19:00.000-08:00

I farm animals, especially chickens and sheep. I am starting a series of 6x6 paintings of farm roosters, chickens, sheep, cows and whatever strikes my fancy.
Here are my first two:

I am having so much fun!!!

Getting Ready for Christmas

2011-12-01T09:19:00.000-08:00

I have been doing all the things necessary and fun to get ready for Christmas. One of my projects was to do a painting for my Christmas cards.

The Otteys in Montan allowed me to paint their home. It looked so right for the season.

I have also completed a painting from one of my son-in-laws photos from their recent trip to Italy. Joe takes such good photos that it takes little work to develop a composition.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas. It's a great time of year.

Home in Texas

2011-11-05T15:49:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful summer in Montana and now we are back home in Texas. The weather is wonderful now. The heat and drought of the summer really tooks its toll but it is much better now. After catching up with friends, household chores and gardening, I am back to painting. I painted plein air all summer and now have had time to look at the pieces and select some for my blog.

This barn and chicken coop is owned by the owner of a french restaurant. The location is spectacular. I painted there with my friends Connie and Sunnie.

This is another barn on the same property as above.

Sunnie, Connie, JoAnn ad I painted this field from a road. Another glorius September day.

This is a different barn on Foothills Road. Sunnie, Janice and I painted at this location in August. The barns in Montana are beautiful and tell such stories.

This is a fishing spot on the Flathead River. Duane fished and I painted.

What a Summer

2011-10-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

We ae packing up and planning to leave Montana on Monday. We will be going across I 90 across Montana, South Dakota and than south. It will take about ten days or so because we like to look at new places along the way.

The summer has been great especially after such a shaky start with my foot. My foot is much better, I walk about a mile and a half each morning. Still pain but less of a limp. Duane and I have thoroughly enjoyed Montana. We have seen so much. I have painted with friends at so many great locations. As soon as I get back I will be putting the new paintings on my blog and website. They all need a little touching up to be ready for prime time.

While in Montana, I have had a wonderful opportunity to do a commission for the Stayton Project which is a new five star retirement center in Ft. Worth. The Stayton is in the Cultural District on Museuem Way. This is near 7th street. I was contacted by a decorator in Maryland. The goal was a painting distinctly Ft. Worth. Doug Clark took pictures for me at the Botanic Gardens, the decorator chose the scene and I painted a 30x40 oil painting. I just got word that it was installed and will be in the building for their grand opening in November. Here is a picture of the painting:

Many artists were selected to do paintings. Can't wait to visit the site and see the art.

Summer in Montana

2011-09-14T06:48:00.000-07:00

I have had a great summer painting in Montana. Here are a few pictures of friends and locations:

Janice, JoAnn, Connie, Sunnie and I painting at the First Annual Farm Paint Out

This is what I painted

Glacier RIm is on the North Fork River

This is what I was painting

Another painting of our view here at the rv park.

This wonderful farm was a great painting location.

This is a barn for a future painting

Connie and I painting a spectacular red barn. Also lots of chickens.

I have years of photos for studio paintings. I will be showing more paintings as I have a chance to tweak them.

I am now waiting for the trees to turn. Yellow aspen, cottonwoods and birch will be just beautiful.

Fun in Montana

2011-08-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

The final day of Kathryn Stats class was at a great location on Flathead Lake. I painted and island and it was not an exciting painting. May show it later. This was not Kathryn's fault. By the fourth day I was tired and my foot hurt. But did I learn!!!! I am now holding my brush properly, expanded my greens, and painting lightly allowing layering without mud.

This is a potting shed I painted with a group of plein air artists. It was a great day.

Painted this last week with friends. Montana barns are very interesting. This one had a sagging roof and a few missing boards.

Third Day in Katherine Stats Class

2011-08-05T06:17:00.000-07:00

Today we painted at Glacier National Park at a location where Avalanche Creek joins McDonald Creek. It was the most beautiful and perfect location to paint. We started with Katherine demoing a value study and than we each did one as well. After the value study, we began to paint. As we all know the value study does help to place shadows and provides a good plan for the painting. We have the opportunity to make changes and developing a real composition before we break out the oils.

Once the plan is in place and Katherine reviewed, I started painting. One of my goals was to learn how to paint all the greens without painting all the Blankety blank greens. Also the water is a turquoise because of the glacier runoffs. Green mixtures that were not so green Included the following: Real darks of some trees: Transparent oxide red, ultramarine blue and a touch of alizaron. Distant trees: Indian Red and Ultramarine blue, Greens: Ultramarine blue with cad yellow, cad orange and for med darks ultramarine blue with yellow ochre. We mixed cobalt with lemon yellow and touches of orange. There were so many combinations I can't write all of them. What I learned is don't use one color but experiment with all the possibilities keeping in mind distance, shadows, and light. Also the continuing role of color temperature.
The water base color is a mixture of Prussian blue, raw umber and yellow ochre. To this you add white and variations of cobalt blue to cool or orange to warm.

Katherine did a long two hour demo which resulted in me personally wanting to redo my painting and I will. Her painting was really beautiful. It came alive when with one stoke of the palette knife she added a white ripple in the water followed by a beautiful rock. The rock was painted first the light, followed by the warm reflected light and than the dark where the water was hitting it. These two things made the painting sing. Also she eliminates and reaaranges the landscape to make a painting. Watching that process was a really good experience. As Carlton says in"Carlton's Guide to Landscape Painting" paint the landscape as it should be not necessarily what it is. Simplification is so key to good paintings. Watching a demo with that in mind, and painting just what the painting needed is something I hope to practice.

We are painting today at the north end of the Flathead Lake. There are mountains, islands in the lake and a marina with a lot of sail boats. I must remember to simplify, simplify simplify.

Here are pictures from the third day:

Our location

Another view of our location

First drawing of Stats demo

Demo

demo

the magic palette knife ( I would have tried to put all the ripples in and messed it up)

Finished painting (sorry the light and camera operator didn't really get a good picture)

Second Day in Katherine Stats Class

2011-08-04T05:24:00.000-07:00

Dynamics of a workshop are very interesting. The first day we as a group were mostly awed by the Bibler Gardens. So many flowers, how do you paint all this. The second day we were all more focused. Katherine worked with all on the beauty of elimination. We don't have to paint it all. Some really good work came out of our paintings. We were all glad that we came back to the gardens the second day.

I have many problems in my painting, but chose my stroke to work on in this workshop. My paint is always so thick. At first I thought this was good, but now I realize to get the end result I want takes more layering. Katherine watched me paint and told me I was gripping the brush like a hammer. My grip was so tight that I couln't help but mash into the canvas. She helped me hold the brush properly, very lightly. I am so glad that she noticed something that has plagued me for so long.
Katherine lays down her massing in this manner: "Load your brush with thtick paint, no medium or turp, and lay it on thinly." Leave areas where canvas shows. It should be a light stroke. Paint in all directions. Change your brush strokes and size brushes for more interest. The second layer is paint with a little (a drop of terp or mineral spirits) lightly over the first layer. It is possible with practice to add a second layer wet on wet without making mud. She does it and now I can. Or at least part of the time. It takes practice and a very light stroke. For golfers, you hold the brush as gently as a putter. A strong grip makes mud. Also she reinforces "ONE STROKE". We all know it, just have to make ourselves do it. Always put your darks in first. It is hard to put darks in later and shadows move. Darks first.

Katherine was able to help the others with their issues on an individual basis.

Today we are painting at Glacier National Park on McDonald Creek. The following are a few pictures from the day:

My painting, still needs work but its getting there.

Katherine teaching

a painter in the garden

Katherines demo. sorry the picture is not good. The painting is beautiful.

First day

2011-08-03T06:06:00.000-07:00

Katherine Stats started the day with a slide show. She demonstrated how she takes many pictures of a given location and than moves things around with a program for artists from Correll. More to follow on this software. Afer showing the pictures she showed the completed painting. This was very informative for me. Just as John Carlson says in his book "Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting", paint not just what you see but as it should be. Katherine Stats does this very well.

We went to Bibler Gardens to paint and it is a spectacular place. Flowers everywhere in such masses that it is hard to comprehend. Katherine did a demo and focused on poppies and a few of the spiky navy floweres. That clearly was the best choice, especially for a demo.

I spent the day after the demo trying to paint the first photo of the steps. I was trying her techniques of painting first thin with thick paint and than laying paint over it without making a mess. I kept making real mush and was totally exasperated. I will keep trying today. I am clearly painting with to much paint so I am determined to learn this technique. At the end of the day, feeling pretty despondent about my progress, a young woman that worked at the garden came up and told me she thought my painting was fantastic and wanted to buy it. I didn't know what to say. It did help end the day on a positive note and I am prepared to paint another day!

Katherine Stats Class

2011-08-02T07:05:00.000-07:00

I met Katherine yesterday for a tour of the Van Kirk Nelson Art Collection and a tour of Bibler Gardens. We are painting in Bibler Gardens today. Katherine Stats is a warm and fun person. I am looking forward to the class and her demo tomorrow.

This is a picture of the location we will be painting at today. Later in the week we will paint at Glacier National Park.

There are about three acres of fabulous flowers, trees, and views.

My Montana Studio

2011-07-26T15:59:00.000-07:00

Since my friends are showing their studios, I thought it was a good idea to show mine for the summer.

Painting in front of our motorhome.

Painting on the Swan River during the Saddle Up and Paint Event

Here are a couple of recent paintings:

I am going to Glacier National Park to paint with some local artists, and next week is the class with Kathryn Stats.

Saddle Up and Paint

2011-07-15T12:25:00.000-07:00

Just spent three days painting along the Swan River. Great experience. Met a wonderful group of artists. This benefits the Bigfork Museum of Art and History. Tonight is the live auction at the reception. Here are pictures of my paintings, pictures of people painting and a special picture my husband took showing my handicap tag. My foot is improving by the day but still have a limp.

Saddle Up and Paint

2011-07-12T16:47:00.000-07:00

I have just completed the first day of the paint out benefiting the Bigfork Art Museum of Art and History. The weather was perfect and the views amazing. It was a dream day to paint. The mosquitos even stayed home. I met a wonderful group of local artists.

This is the scene I decided to paint:

The Swan River

Another view of the Swan River

This is my painting.

Can't wait to start painting tomorrow.

Cherries, Cherries, Cherries

2011-07-07T06:34:00.000-07:00

Cherries are plentiful in this part of the country. Currently they are coming from Washington and Oregon. The orchards around Kalispell will be ripe in about another month. The first thing we do after arrival is buy cherries. Duane and I love them, especially Ranier Cherries. I decided to paint cherries. The colors are so rich and luscious, especially if you are like me and love red. I will be painting more in the future.

Swan River

Flathead River

I will be painting in the Bigfork Paint Out next week. The first is a picture of the location on the Swan River where the artists will be painting. The one after is our view where we are staying. As always, I welcome your critiques and let me know what you are doing.

Arrived in Kalispell

2011-06-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Kalispell on Saturday. I painted plein air today here at the park. The Cottonwood Tree is really three or four grown together. The Flathead River and Swan Mountains are in the background. I am trying to get "plein air" ready for a competition I am in July 12, 13, and 14 benefiting the Bigfork Museum of Art and History. Love to have everyones critiques.

Here are a few other pictures of the area:

Driving by Glacier National Park in route.

Our view at the rv park

A gaggle of geese that came by the rv.

Montana!!!!

2011-06-24T14:38:00.000-07:00

We are in Montana, today, Great Falls and heading to Kalispell tomorrow. Here are a few of the scenes we have seen so far. I have not had a chance to paint yet but will start very soon.

Crazy Mountains

Our home away from home.

Great Falls of Great Falls, Montana

More Great Falls

A Bridge over part of the Missouri River to an island.

Wild Flowers of Montana

On Our Way to Montana

2011-06-14T13:35:00.000-07:00

We are on our way to Montana to hopefully cooler weather. The first day temperatures reached 105 in Wichita Falls. I won't be painting until we reach Kalispell. The following three paintings are of the area:

This is the Whitefish River with Big Mountain in the background. Yes Big Mountain, that is its name.

I painted this on the shore of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park. So far the pass in the park is not open due to heavy snows this last winter.

This is our Sunrise View where we stay.

I will soon be posting new paintings and new memories. Keep cool whereever you are.

Better the Second Time Around

2011-06-09T15:40:00.000-07:00

I have had a lot of time and been looking at some of my paintings this year. I have spent some time tweaking these two. I have the time and don't want to start painting anything new right now. We hope to leave for Montana next week. I am looking forward to cool weather.

I was in the Chiricauha Mountains at sunset. The view was so spectacular.

The Whitefish River is in Montana. The tall trees on the left caught my attention.

Painting

2011-06-05T07:53:00.000-07:00

After four weeks of no weight on my right foot (don't recommend it), I am finally putting some weight on it. I am on crutches and on my way to walking again. I am also painting, seated of course. I have worked on a landscape of the Snake , reworked an Amish Farm I found in Eureka, Montana. I also paint minatures each morning to start the day. These are 6x6 in. paintings of whatever catches my attention. I paint the minatures on Raymar Art Panels.

All paintings on this site are for sale. For pricing and information call me at 817-291-7611 or e-mail at gduaned1@gmail.com.

Apples come in so many sizes and colors. This one was just the perfect example of a red apple.

Painting pears is always appealing. Beautiful shapes and colors.

Red onions may be my favorite vegetable to paint. The colors are so rich.

This barn was at Rexford, Montana near the Canadian Border. Beautiful area. I have to believe this barn has seen a lot of history.

The Snake River is especially beautiful in Teton National Park. In the fall there is so much color against the green pine trees.

Still not Painting

2011-05-10T06:14:00.000-07:00

I am in the second week after my foot surgery. Feeling better every day. I am becoming a little mobile with the help of a wheel chair and crutches. I still cannot put any weight on my foot and it needs to stay elevated as much as possible.

I will say that immobility has made me very thankful for my husband, friends, and the fact that this is temporary.

I just heard that my painting "Sunrise Over the Flathead" has been selected to be in the live auction at a gala benefiting the Hockaday Museum of Art. I am so pleased and of course excited. This will get me off my duff and painting again.

Watching DVDs

2011-04-30T04:29:00.000-07:00

I have been sitting back and watching art dvds. I fell and broke my foot and am now waiting to have surgery on Monday. I have not been painting. My good friend Doug says I may have to paint sitting down. He is absolutely right. I can't not paint for four weeks.

How did I fall? Wearing a pair of wedge shoes that were really stupid. Especially since I was involved in an Easter egg hunt. Yes, I was hunting Easter eggs. Got twenty before I fell.

Sometimes it doesn't hurt to take a breather and refocus on whats important. I am doing that now. I have been running constantly for three or four months. It is amazing the number of events that I have had to cancel out of. I am studying and thinking about how I can keep improving on my art. Studying art is always exciting and rewarding for me.

Will keep you posted on my progress and how sitting and painting works for me.

Accepted into "Artists of Texas"

2011-04-01T07:55:00.000-07:00

I have been accepted into "Artists of Texas" an organization established to promote Texas artists. I am in the process of getting everything set up. Check out http://www.artistsoftexas.org/. Also http://www.contemporaryfineartinternational.com/. I am a member of both.

This week I have been finishing a few paintings. This is the one sold at "Art on the Paluxy".

Have you ever seen a "Postcard " size original painting? This one is going to help raise funds for the Hockaday Art Museum in Kalispell, Montana. It was such fun to paint.

This last was painted at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens and is now ready for primetime on my website:

I now accept all major credit cards as payment: Visa, American express, Mastercard and Discovery. I also accept PayPal.

I will be painting tomorrow at the Botanic Gardens and than off on a field trip to paint plein air. Have a great week.

Art on the Paluxy Post thoughts

2011-03-30T04:51:00.000-07:00

Art on the Paluxy was one of the best experience I have had as an artist. The location, a museum, the warmth of the people, my friends that came to support me, the food and music all came together for a great evening. I also enjoyed meeting the other artists and hope to build on those friendships.

My husband and I are getting away for a few days. We are going south and just maybe I will break down and attempt a bluebonnet painting. Bluebonnets, to look at, are my favorite wildflower. However, I find paintings are often very difficult. The best, at least from my preference, are not full of detailed flowers. I like just enough detail to just know what they are. I will keep you posted. Have a great day.

Here are pictures from the Art on the Paluxy event before the crowds arrived:

Spring is for Art

2011-03-25T03:47:00.000-07:00

Well this is a very big art weekend. Saturday I will be in a show with P.A.I.N.T. at the UNT Health Science Center on Camp Bowie in Fort Worth. The reception is from 2-9pm during the Spring Ft. Worth Gallery Night. I will be there from 2-4, than on to Glen Rose for "Art on the Paluxy". This show features Robert Summers as "Artist in Residence" and six others which includes yours truly, Paul Scott Malone, Lisa Monroe, Doug Prine, Edgar Sotelo, Art and Ginny Blevins, and Nancy Boren. The reception is from 7-9pm at the historic Barnard Mill in Glen Rose. I will be demonstrating with a new cactus painting.

It is the best time in Texas. Flowers are budding out or blooming. The new fresh greens make everything look like a Monet Painting. I will be painting outdoors this next week. Hope I can come close to showing the beauty that surrounds us.

Art on the Paluxy

2011-03-19T04:47:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to be invited as one of six artists to show with Robert Summers at "Art on the Paluxy". This event is Saturday, March 26, 7-9pm at the Barnard Mill in Glen Rose. The public is invited. This show is a fund raiser for the local historic society. I will be showing six paintings. Thesee are two I will be showing.

Earlier on March 26, I will be at the Health Science Center on Camp Bowie in Fort Worth for Ft. Worth's Spring Gallery Night. P.A.I.N.T. will have a show there. The reception is Saturday from 2-9pm. Hope you can attend.

Have a great week!

Paintings from the Studio

2011-03-04T07:48:00.000-08:00

I am painting in the studio to get ready for "Art on the Paluxy" This is a Spring event in Glen Rose. There will be six artists showing with Robert Summers (Artist in residence) at a reception from 7-9pm on March 26. This will be held at Barnard Mill as a fund raiser for the Somervell History Foundation.

This is a work in progress of the old Mill on the Paluxy River. This is a very colorful still life.

This is a scene from Tuscania, Italy. This will not be in the show but will soon go to my website.

I am currently in three shows: Lancaster Gallery in Grapevine, Health Science Center in Ft. Worth, and the Irving Art Center in Irving. More information can be found on my website: http://www.claudiadavisart.com/. Also check out our P.A.I.N.T. Blog at http://www.northtexasartists.blogspot.com/.

Spring is Almost Here.

2011-02-28T15:44:00.000-08:00

A little sunshine and warm weather really improves my attitude. I am currently in three shows:; Lancaster Gallery, Grapevine, Texas, Health Science Center in Ft. Worth and the Irving Art Center in Irving. All are in conjunction with P.A.I.N.T. (Professional Artists in North Texas). If you can please check us out during Spring Gallery Night in Ft. Worth March 26 at the Health Science Center.

I am also featured at Art on the Paluxy in Glen Rose, Texas at the Benard Mill on March 26 from 7-9pm.

I would also recommend you check out Sheri Jones wonderful show at Tarleton State University at Langdon Center in Granbury. Sheri's show is really spectacular.

I am currently working on plein air pieces of the Texas Landscape. Hope to have something to show very soon.

Snow, snow, snow

2011-02-04T10:59:00.000-08:00

It has snowed and now the sun is shining. The temperature is trying to get to 40 degrees. The world is definitely looking brighter. I am still working on both paintings I showed yesterday. Colors are a little bright. Sunrises are bright, hard to know what to tone down. I am now at that place my husband tells people "the last ten percent of the painting that takes 90% of the time". All artists know what I am talking about.

I am also reading "The Art Spirit" by Robert Henri. Bob Rohm recommends it. It is beautiful reading. Robert Henri lived until 1929, taught at the Art Students League in NY and was part of the Ashcan School. His work is very "now".

Hope to show more complete pictures tomorrow.

From the Studio of Claudia Davis

2011-02-03T12:47:00.000-08:00

With all the ice and cold weather, it is a good time to paint and catch up on art business. I am working on two right now. "Sunrise over the Flathead River " is the view from our motorhome when we stay in Kalispell, Montana. The sunrises are really spectacular. "Holyhocks" is for the Master Gardener Show in April. The holyhocks were in my garden last year. I am also working on a minature for a show in Kalispell at the Hockaday Museum. This is my first year to be invited.

I am currently in a show at Lancaster Gallery in Grapevine, Texas and will be in a show at the Health Science Center in Ft. Worth on Camp Bowie starting next week. I am in a new group "P.A.I.N.T." We are showing in several venues and will soon be at Iring.

Painting the landscapes of Texas and Montana is beyond wonderful!

Catch up with you tomorrow.