R.L. Davis Fine Art

Turquoise Dreams Do you like turquoise?  I do.  It's a lovely color that reminds me summer, tropical waters and for some reason, exotic architecture.  I've had a tube of turquoise watercolor paint for a while now and haven't really used it.  It's a bit opaque but a nice rich color.  Let's use it in a painting and find out how it works... There are many generous photographers who allow permission to use their images for artists without copyright infringements.  These are the unsung heroes for me and other artists.  While artists can freely use their work in our art, I do like to give credit where it's due.  With that said, I took my inspiration from a photograph by Kristin Wrisley from a Facebook group called Photos for Artists.   The photograph just jumped out at me and I had to try my hand at creating a painting using it.  Architecture has always fascinated me. Happily, the photo actually had turquoise in it!  I liked the urban feel of the image,

Autumn is a beautiful time of year!  It means winter is just around the corner and I LOVE winter!  Don't get me wrong, spring and summer are great, but, in the northeastern part of North Carolina, where I live, summer means it's too hot and way too humid to really enjoy the outdoors.  It's like a sauna outside in the summer! Anyway... Autumn is a lovely time out here.  It's finally slightly less hot and humid and my husband and I can finally enjoy the outdoors.  While the North Carolina climate may not support aspen trees, I can at least pretend!   Plus, the colorful foliage makes a nice contrast with the white bark of those trees. From sketch to painting I get inspired by everything I see, whether it be driving around out in the country side or just browsing pinterest... yeah, I know...LOL.  My landscapes are usually scenes I'd like to imagine myself walking in.  It's usually something that has been forgotten and so exciting to discover.  Since I'm a

You've got your paints, your brushes and the drive to continue, sweet! But wait... what kind of paper do you paint on? As in my previous posts, here and here , about watercolor, it is a different and difficult medium, especially if you've never used it before. If you want to try it, purchasing quality paints, brushes and paper will make all the difference! I know it sounds expensive, but at least you'll have the best chance the medium has to offer to continue it's use.  And besides, you can always gift/sell your supplies to another artist. Starting out, you'll be tempted to buy in the bargain isles.  Because, why would you spend money on something you may not like?  I thought the same.  As such, I had no idea the effect paper would have on my artwork.  My first watercolor class found me grimacing in disappointment. My bargain efforts were not rewarded... Perseverance prevailed and I gradually learned.  There's a huge difference between student g

There's something magical about winter.  The soft calm that follows gentle-falling snowflakes on their silent ride down to earth.  The fluffy blanket of white on an undisturbed landscape that feels so cozy even when your nose hairs are freezing... Besides all the cold, running noses and frozen toes, winter makes me feel safe, tucked up in bed with a hot chocolate and a good book... like a sketchbook...! Even though I no longer live in an area that has winter's like I remember growing up, it still makes me smile and sigh in serenity. I love winter! More than any other time of year, winter just makes me feel like a kid again.  I never suffer from cabin fever during this time.  You can most often find me wondering about outside stuffed inside layers of warm clothing and coats.  Because as soon as my feet start to numb, I know it's time to head inside and get something warm to drink. Anyway, it's a good time of year to do artwork. From Sketch to Paintin