Star Barn Article

Here is an article in Outdoor Painter about my paintings from the Star Barn Raising Festival.

http://www.outdoorpainter.com/raising-the-roof/

The Star Barn Raising

I was honored to be commissioned as the onsite painter for last weekend's Star Barn Raising Festival.

  The Star Barn is a significantly historic barn, built in 1860, that sat along rt.283 between Harrisburg and Lancaster.  It has long been a favorite site for painters, photographers, and lovers of nostalgia.  The barn was purchased by a private owner last year and has been moved, along with it's outbuildings, piece by piece, to it's new location in Elizabethtown where it will be preserved as a venue for weddings and events.

I was asked to create 2 paintings, both 24x36, depicting certain actions in the reconstruction.  I kept thinking that the original barn raising may have had a few sketch artists, as not everyone had a camera back then.

The festival was well attended and I was able to talk to many people about my painting.  I was surprised that so many people relate to this barn in a personal way.  

At one point, an Amish teen boy (maybe 13) stood and watched me paint for about a half hour.  He asked a lot of questions about what I was doing and seemed very interested that I was painting just from observation - what I was seeing.  I thought that was a neat moment - art bringing together 2 very different people.

 painting #1 showing some of the outbuildings and the raising of the bents

painting #2 captured the lowering of the cupola into the structure by crane

Mountain Maryland

Last week I painted in Cumberland, MD for the Mountain Maryland plein air event. It was my first time visiting this area.  I loved the steep hilly town and the rural outlying areas.  Much of this rural area is economically depressed which is sad to see, but makes for great painting subjects.  I had the opportunity to paint in an abandoned silk mill in Lanaconing which closed in 1957 and was left intact.

 "Rose Hill"

14x18

"1937 McCormick Deering"

9x12

"Narrows Bridge"

14x18

"Lonaconing Silk Mill"

12x16

"Ottaviani's"

9x12

Finger Lakes Plein Air

I had a great time last week as a participant in the Finger Lakes Plein Air event in Canandaigua, NY. 

I really stretched myself by working a bit larger than I usually do in plein air, choosing unusual subject matter, and did some hiking into a gorge to find a secluded waterfall. 

I was delighted to receive an Honorable Mention Award for my painting of the campfire which I did for fun one night with no intention of entering into the competition.

 "Vintage Crop"

12x16

 "Gnarly"

9x12

 "Outdoor Seating"

9x12

Quick Draw

 "Unforgettable Fire"

14x18

Honorable Mention Award

 "Grimes Glen"

16x20

 "Bent Tree"

14x18

"Across The Lake"

12x16

To see more of my work visit www.julieriker.com

Texas Trip

Here are some paintings from a recent trip to Texas.  I went with 5 other artists and we stayed on a ranch an hour and a half West of Austin, near Llano.  It was beautiful landscape, much different from what I see and paint around Pennsylvania.  

Blue Bonnets and Prickly Pear

9x12 oil

Blue Bonnet Road

9x12

Backlit Prickly Pear

8x10

Down At The Creek

9x12

Misty Morning Mesquite

8x10

Home On The Range

6x12

Winter In Willow Park

9x12 oil

I was happy that we had a brief little snow storm last week.  It was just enough snowfall to make everything pretty - and it wouldn't be winter until I got to paint a snow scene :)

This was painted in Willow Park, Camp Hill.  

Gallery Grand

16x16 oil

On Saturday I did a 3 hour demonstration painting at Smith Custom Framing, where I have a featured exhibit through the month of February.  I chose to paint the piano in the gallery.  It was fun to observe all the reflections in the shiny black surface and translate them to paint.  That is the reflection of my drop cloth and legs in the front of the piano.

The exhibit will remain hanging in the gallery through the month of February.
http://www.smithcustomframing.com

Featured Show at Smith Custom Framing

I have a featured show for the month of February at Smith Custom Framing , New Cumberland, PA

Bethany Beach Plein Air

Dune Path

12x16 oil

2nd Place Award

I recently participated in Bethany Beach Plein Air, Delaware.  It was a challenging few days with hurricane like conditions, so finding sheltered painting locations was a priority.

I was honored to receive Second Place for my painting "Dune Path", and an Honorable Mention for my 2 hour Quick Draw, "Sand and Sea", as well as sell 3 paintings from the event.

"Sand and Sea"

9x12

Quick Draw, Honorable Mention

Plein Air Chincoteague

Last week I participated in Plein Air Chincoteague.  It was my 6th year painting for the event and I am always amazed to find new and more beautiful scenes to paint.

Two of these paintings sold at the Saturday evening exhibition and the other two I consigned to Flying Fish Gallery on Main Street, Chincoteague.

 "Evening, Looking West"

12x24

sold

"Morning, Looking East"

12x24

 "Edge of the Marsh"

12x16

"Beach Day"

11x14

sold

Canal Reflections

10x20

Painted last week for  Plein Air Richmond, I was happy to receive an Honorable Mention for this piece.

Market Day

9x12 oil

Painted at Finger Lakes Plein Air for the 2 hour Quick Draw Event, this painting won the People's Choice Award and sold at the event.

www.julieriker.com

Boathouses

10x20 oil

Here is another painting from Wayne Plein Air, painted on an overcast morning at Philadelphia's famous Boathouse Row.  This piece sold at the preview party but is still on exhibit - along with my other paintings from the week - at Wayne Art Center, through June 23.

www.waynepleinair.org

Staircase To The 2nd Floor

12x9 oil

Plein Air Magazine Award

Wayne Plein Air 2016

I was honored to be included among 32 talented artists selected to participate in Wayne Plein Air last week.  

We had 5 days to create paintings within 20 miles of Wayne, PA.  It was fun exploring the area, rich with historical buildings, farms, and urban areas...I even ventured into Philadelphia.

All week the weather was gray and a bit drizzly.  I was frustrated with the flat light.  On the last day the sun finally came out and I painted this piece. 

I was thrilled that judge T. Allen Lawson chose this painting for the Plein Air Magazine Award.

This and ALL of the paintings from the week are on exhibit at the Wayne Art Center through June 25.

Paint Snow Hill

 Last week I participated in Paint Snow Hill, held in the charming town of Snow Hill, MD on the Eastern Shore.  It was a great event and fantastic area to paint with endless subject matter.  I found myself drawn to the many forgotten and decaying structures which conjured up feelings of sadness - but also mystery, and spoke to the power of time and nature over things of man.  I was honored to receive Artist's Choice for Best Body of Work as voted by my peers.

Reminiscing

12x16 oil

"Paint Me"

9x12 oil

The Old Boathouse

10x20 oil

Porter's Crossing, Dusk

10x8 oil

www.julieriker.com

Log Cabin

12x9 oil

This was painted last week at Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, a historic village.

www.julieriker.com

Brandywine Bridge

8x10 oil

I had a nice visit to the Brandywine Museum yesterday, followed by a painting session along the muddy creek.  I think I was inspired after seeing the Andrew Wyeth paintings - his strong light/dark contrasts and muted colors.

Uncorked

16x12 oil on linen

My most recent painting, "Uncorked", is now available at 2nd Floor Gallery in Mechanicsburg along with 7 other new paintings.

http://www.2ndfloorgallery.com

Snowy Sycamore

9x12 oil

This was painted on McCormick Road along the Yellow Breeches after our most recent snow fall.  This may be the last of my plein air snow scenes for this year...spring is coming and the snow is melting.

First Place!

"Fragrant Lilies"

11x14 oil

It was a bitter cold night last night, but I am happy I braved the weather to attend Carlisle Arts Center's opening of the "Yellow" show.  I am honored that juror and Messiah College Art Department Chair Brenton Good chose my painting for First Place!  

I painted this en plein air in a friend's garden on a much warmer day.

The "Yellow" show will be on display through March 12.

http://carlislearts.org

Capturing the snow

Two of my most recent pieces, painted in the week following snowstorm "Jonas" which dumped a record breaking 29" of snow on our area.  Now, one week later, most of this snow has melted so I am happy that I was able to capture it.

"Winter Colors"

8x10 oil

"Wildwood, January"

11x14 oil

These paintings are now available at Art & Soul Gallery, Lemoyne.  Art & Soul is located above the West Shore Farmer's Market and is open on Friday and Saturday or by appointment.

Blue Shed in the Alley

8x10 oil

Saturday's snow storm covered my area with over 28" of the white stuff.  We spent all day yesterday digging out.  Today I painted in the alley behind my house.

www.julieriker.com

Teapot And Artichoke

8x8 oil

I've been trying to push through the winter doldrums and find some motivation.  Painting with friends always seems to get me going, so today I went to my friend Cecelia's studio and we painted still lives together.  What fun!

Tina

20x16 oil

This is from today's 5 hour pose figure session.

I am really enjoying figurative work lately.