Mechanicsburg Crossing

8x10 oil

Glorious Sunshine

 

What could be more heavenly?  

I did these 2 paintings today at the Olson Farm in Port Royal.  It was quite a drive to get there with fog most of the AM, but then the sun came out and the bees woke  up.

 

www.julieriker.com

Ron Donahue workshop

I took a painting workshop this past weekend in Wellsboro, PA with Pittsburgh artist Ron Donahue.  Ron is a friend from the Daily Painters of Pennsylvania and he paints amazing plein air works from  the Pittsburgh area.  I have always loved his strong compositions and use of light as well as his ability to make a successful painting out of simple and often overlooked subjects.  Check out his website http://www.donoughe.com/index.html

I did 5 paintings during the workshop.  I don't feel any of them are necessarily finished pieces, but rather learning exercises.  I was trying some new things and just taking in the knowledge which  Ron so generously shared. We only had about 90 minutes to work on each exercise.   So the 2 pieces below are just studies and will remain just that - hanging in my studio to remind me of the lessons learned.

 8x10

 This study of the tractor was done on the first day when it was raining and the class was pretty much confined to the Art Barn.  I chose this spot because I felt the strong values applied to the lesson Ron had just given and would be a good challenge, plus I could stay nice and dry inside the tool area of the barn. Ron helped me to keep the oranges of the tractor in shadow and to contrast the warm light inside the barn with the cool outside light.

8x10

This second study was painted in the town of Wellsboro.  The lesson that morning was on separating light and dark values, warm and cool colors, and simplifying shapes.  There was good strong sunlight that day which define the light and shadow families.  With a limited amount of time to work on this, I edited out a tree and several windows.  Ron also helped me to see and paint shapes rather than drawing details.

Overall it was a fantastic workshop.  We had great fun, explored a beautiful area of PA, and learned so so much.  It has inspired me even more to paint and to keep learning.  Thank you Ron !

On my easel...

This work in progress is one part of a 3 painting commission for a client's kitchen....still needs some work.

Field of Lace

5x7 oil

My friend Larry invited some painting friends out to his place last evening to paint his field of Queen Ann's Lace.   I like the idea of an evening paint out - cooler temperatures and warmer sunlight.  I knew the light at 6 PM would change quickly, so I just worked on this very small panel and tried to not get too detailed.  I was hoping for some orange tones in the sky as the sun started to set, but instead the sky turned almost black with a threatening storm.  Fortunately I was able to finish my painting, pack up, and start home before the rain hit and I saw the dark cloud  following me home in my rear view mirror.

Silver Morning

painted along the river in Marysville this morning. I love the foggy atmosphere and muted colors.

36 W. Main Street

8x10 oil

I just delivered this little painting to Brath & Hughes Gallery in Mechanicsburg.  It is a painting of the building across the street and was started in May during the town's Wine Walk.

Reflections on Italian Lake

6x12 plein air oil

Back Yards

8x10 oil

This is fresh out of my pochade box - a study I did this morning of some buildings in Boiling Springs.  I feel that this is quite different from most of my other paintings.  For one thing, the bright sun forced me to (squint) see the shadows as simplified shapes.  I have also started using an oil primer on my boards - even over the pre-primed acrylic ones and over top of those old rejected paintings.  The oil primer is thick and fills in a lot of the canvas texture and then I can sand it to a smoother surface.  I find that rather than having to scumble the paint into the canvas to cover it, this paint sits on top and is easier to build up thicker areas.

www.julieriker.com 

Formal Garden

8x10 oil

Another painting from my day at Hershey Gardens.

Roses and Rollercoasters

11x14 oil

Last week I painted at the Hershey Gardens which is right up the hill from Hersheypark - beautiful places, but far from tranquil with the background noise of ratcheting roller coasters followed by screams - sort of an interesting contrast.

If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website

www.julieriker.com

McKees Half Falls

6x12 oil

painting this morning along the banks of the Susquehanna River

a recent commission

16x20 oil

Just finishing this commissioned house portrait which came as a result of Camp Hill Plein Air.

Wildwood At Dusk

This 8x10 plein air was painted at Wildwood Sanctuary as the sun was setting.  It is one of the pieces in my show at  Gallery @ Second.  There is still one week left to see the show, so stop in if you have a chance.  The gallery is located at 608 N 2nd Street Harrisburg and is open Thursday and Friday 4:30-8, Saturday 10-8, and Sunday 12-4.

Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painters in print!

The summer issue of Susquehanna Life Magazine features an article on my plein air group, the Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painters.  (That's my French easel on the cover page!) I was interviewed for this in December 2011 so it is nice to finally see it in print!  You can pick up a copy at most local news stands.

Across the Pond

8x10 oil

painted today at a farm in Ortanna, PA

If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website

www.julieriker.com

Painting the Lilies

8x10 oil

Today my friend Cecelia invited me to join her in painting the gorgeous lilies in her neighbor's garden - but I ended up painting her instead.

 

If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website

www.julieriker.com

Italian Lake

16x12 oil

This is one of 21 paintings which are currently hanging in my exhibit at Gallery @ Second.

The show runs through July 14, so please stop in to see it in person

Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday 4:30-8, Saturday 10-8, and Sunday 12-4.

more information at http://galleryatsecond.com/

Al Retherford's

10x20 oil

This was one of the paintings I did during the week of the Camp Hill Plein Air Festival.

I did this in two plein air sessions.

Most people driving along Market Street have noticed this flower stand along the side of the road.  It is always a burst of color in any season, with pumpkins and mums in the fall, Christmas trees and wreaths in December, bulb flowers in spring, and now in summer is filled with gorgeous hanging planters.  It beckoned to be painted.

If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website www.julieriker.com

Gallery @ Second Exhibit

     Camp Hill Plein Air is over and now I am anticipating the opening reception for my exhibit.
  
     Here is a virtual postcard to promote my show.  It offers a sneak peek at some of the paintings currently on exhibit in Harrisburg.  There is a reception this Friday evening from 6-9 and everyone is invited to stop by.
     Gallery @ Second is located on 2nd Street next to the Firehouse Restaurant and is open Thursday and Friday 4:30-8:00, Saturday 10:00-8:00, and Sunday 12:00-4:00.  If those times are not convenient please let me know and I will arrange a private showing with the gallery owners.

     For more information visit http://galleryatsecond.com/

Camp Hill Plein Air Quick Draw Competition

My painting was awarded third place AND (even more dear to me) the people's choice award.  Thanks so much to everyone who voted for me.  I am so honored!

Riverbend

12x24 oil

So happy to share the news that "Riverbend" won the Purchase Award at the Camp Hill Plein Air Festival.  The purchaser will be donating the painting to the Fredrickson Library where it will become part of their collection for anyone to view.

interview with the artist

 Thanks to everyone for the great support and encouragement as I anticipate the opening of my very first gallery exhibit.

This link should take you to a short video interview of me speaking about my work.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=450180178326628

Alpacas

8x10 oil

Just found out that my painting sold at the Carlisle Art Center's showing 

of the Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painters.

Today I deliver 25 paintings to Gallery @ Second and hang my show there.  It will be hanging from June 7 through July 14.  Hope you can stop in to see it.

Lotus on the Lake

20x20 oil

I posted this painting several times as I was working on it.  This is a large version of a much smaller plein air sketch I painted at Wildwood Preserve last August.  The painting went through many changes and I was constantly tweaking various sections, but I am pretty happy with how it came out.

This painting is being used to promote my upcoming show at Gallery @ Second.  

It is also featured on the cover of June's "The Burg", along with a nice write up about my painting on pg. 26.  You can read that here 

http://www.theburgnews.com/TheBurg-June2012-p26.pdf

Stella

11x14 oil

Just finished this commissioned pet portrait.

Announcement

 

My exhibit at Gallery @ Second is fast approaching.  If you have a chance please stop by to see my work.  Information and hours at http://galleryatsecond.com/

an unexpected paint out

I ended up with some available time at the last minute on Thursday so I was happy to join my friend Cecelia and 2 other artists in  Cecelia's neighbor's yard.  I was tempted to paint the poppies that the other 3 chose to work on, but I really liked the way the sunlight was hitting this small pond in the back of the property. 

When I came home I did just a few adjustments to the lily pads - eliminating a few from the composition.  I still need to come up with a title for this and am open to suggestions.

 8x10 oil

If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website www.julieriker.com

Heading out to paint!

One of the things I love about my new pochade box is that it fits so easily in my bike carriers.  I could never do this with my French easel.

Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painters exhibit

 

 I currently have 2 paintings in an exhibit of the Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painters at Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC).

 18 artists showing impressions of local PA scenes.  

The show will remain hanging through June 2nd.  More information is available on CALC's website

http://www.carlislearts.org/

Spring in Willow Park

Spring is a great time to paint in the park!

8x10 oil

I actually started this little painting around this same time a year ago and then set it aside for a long while.  Today was the perfect time to finish it.

If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website www.julieriker.com

Marbling a fireplace surround...

This week I painted the large columns and mantle surrounding this fireplace for a client.

Below is how the fireplace looked before I started...

It was important to compliment the client's tapestry hanging and not compete with it.  I chose to create a terracotta marble for the columns to pull those colors from the tapestry and a lighter marble for the upper and lower mantle.  A black marble effect was used on the bases and tops of the columns as an accent.

If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website www.julieriker.com

Redbuds and Rocks

8x10

I had never been to Gettysburg at the height of redbud season and I was impressed at how lovely it was to look into the woods and see all this brilliant color.   I drove around the battlefield for a long time to scout locations , and by the time I settled on a spot there was only and hour and a half to paint. I quickly sketched in some basic information and colors and then did some additional work on this at home.

Socked In

 9x12

Today's paint out was at Samuel Lewis State Park.  I was so excited for the rest of my plein air group to see the expansive river view from the top of the hill.  I was looking forward to painting that vista, but we arrived to find the area dense with fog.  Visibility was only about 100 yards ahead and the "view" was under a white cloud.  Most of us decided to make the best of the unique lighting of the day and focused on the rock formations and veiled trees.  Though it was not the painting I had planned on doing, I am happy with the results.  You can never really plan on nature to give you the perfect conditions, but it usually presents something different, and often better.

If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website www.julieriker.com

Just painted a ceiling FULL of flowers...

 ...for some wonderful clients in their powder room.

If you look closely you can see the tiny spider webs.

If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website www.julieriker.com

Locust Knolls Farm

      So much of my work straddles the line between "fine" and "decorative" art.  Sometimes I tell myself that the decorative painting for clients is a lesser art than the work that comes purely from myself, and I know that is a false insecurity that I need to work through.  Even though I am working for a homeowner or interior designer, and the work is on a wall or furniture piece rather than on a framed canvas, I still put the same thought into a project.  In fact, sometimes I feel it takes more talent and creativity to work within someone else's guidelines of color, size, or style.  You have to also think of the entire room as a work of art where all elements work together, and not just what is happening within the borders of your painting.

     This is a vignette I painted on a large stove hood which is being installed in the Harrisburg Symphony Designer Showhouse.  It shows the historic house and barn as I imagined it would look in the 1700's.   I did some sketching and photographing on the property which I used as references for this painting.  The color scheme (or lack of) was the designer's request, but everything else about this design is mine.   At first I was wishing I could add more color, but now I think the muted grays and creams add to the vintage feel of this and will work well with the other elements in the room.

     The showhouse will run from May 19 - June 10 and more information can be found at http://www.symphonyhouse.org/

Winter Reflections

6x12

This was painted a few weeks ago (just after our last snowfall) at West Fairview where I met to paint with some friends.  It started out being a sunny day, but by time we set up the skies became overcast and there was a strange pink glow on the horizon.  I saw it as a good opportunity to work on finding and emphasizing color in those dull muted tones.

If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website www.julieriker.com

Daylilies

11x14 oil

This is one of two paintings that I just delivered to Brath & Hughes Gallery for their Feburary floral exhibit.  I actually started this last summer when the lilies in my yard were in their glorious bloom, but then I got busy with other projects and the painting was pushed aside for awhile.  The prospect of this exhibit prompted me to finally finish the piece.

There is an opening reception at the gallery on  Friday the 3rd and the show will hang through the month of February.

Look who's on the poster!

 Camp Hill is having it's Plein Air Competition for the 2nd year.  The Call to Artists and application for 2012 can be found on this site.
 http://www.pleinaircamphill.org/
 The site is still being updated so make sure you are looking at information for 2012.

Another pet commission...

Maggie

11x14 oil

This was for a relative of the client who commissioned the dog portrait prior to Christmas.
I was given horrible photos taken on an Iphone, but managed to piece them together along with some research on the breed. 

  It was fun to play with the Rottweiler's complimentary coloring.