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!...

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 discov...

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 stud...

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...

What a wild and strange year it has been.  From politics to the art world itself, where a lost Da Vinci painting sold for over $450 million at auction. I often wonder if my artwork will ever be worth millions after I'm gone... oh well, onto other things! 2017 in review... My very first gallery show was in January of this year. While it was cold and the threat of snow made many stay indoors, the turn out was surprisingly good!  I sold about 5 originals which made me so happy and thankful.  I had doubts that my artwork would even be sale-able, but that has definitely helped to convince me otherwise.  While I would continue either way, it is always nice to know that someone else likes what you do. My first experience into art event organization also happened this year.  Yours truly was the Co-Chairman for Splash.  It's an art event where artists can gather to paint, talk, and learn.  We have demonstrations of various mediums, classes an...

Source: www.dickblick.com Escoda Kolinsky Sable Hair www.dickblick.com Now that you've purchased your watercolor paints, what brushes do you use? If you already have your brushes, that's awesome!  Now get painting!  Go on! Which ones do you choose when starting out?  How do you tell a good brush from a bad one?  Which sizes should you use?  How do you clean and care for your brushes?  There are a lot of questions here, so let's get started! Brushes made especially for watercolor are going to be soft, with longer bristles and shorter handles than for other mediums.  They are designed to control the flow of water.  The ability of the brush to do this can get tricky. Watercolor Brushes The best... Kolinsky Sable Hair Brushes. Why are they the best and what are Kolinsky brushes? Kolinsky brushes are made from the tail hair of a type of weasel only found in Siberia. They are expensive and can run anywhere from $25 to well ...

Today's post is still art related, but it's going to be about the excellent art event that happens every year in my town of Elizabeth City, NC .  It's a great art event that anyone can join at all levels in their art career.  We have instructors who are professionals in their respective fields to help guide you on your artistic journey.  You can visit Arts of the Albemarle's website for more information on the instructors. We also have a wonderful open studio where artists can set up their work space.  It's a great opportunity to meet up with friends or make new ones!  We can share ideas and techniques and just be creative with other creatives!  The studio has such amazing energy during this time! The Plein Air Paint-Out and contest also takes place during the week.  If you love painting outdoors, Elizabeth City has such wonderful temperate weather in late October and November.  The air fairly zings with autumn crispy goodness! A...