9x12 oil
I've been scoping out these houses in my neighborhood - just plain old row houses - but every evening there is this magical Edward Hopper moment.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Puddles
10x8 oil
Yesterday's rain left us with a pleasant Sunday - cool and low humidity - and also a lot of water! The birds enjoyed splashing around in these puddles as much as I enjoyed painting them. They were putting on a show for me!
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Peachy
8x10 oil
Friday was an unexpectedly beautiful day. I wanted to take advantage since we are expected to have a rainy weekend.
Once again I visited the Boyers' lovely garden. There are a few lilies blooming, and I chose to focus on these vibrant peach flowers. By next week many more of the lilies will be blooming - if the rain doesn't damage them.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
The Artist's Studio
The Harrisburg Symphony Showhouse ended last weekend and was a great success. This is the room I decorated, the Artist's Studio. I painted the walls, floor, and most of the furnishings. The idea was to create a venue to display my oil paintings, but to also decorate the room, not just hang paintings like a gallery. I wanted it to feel like a true working space. Visitors loved the light feeling in the room and were especially delighted in the floor. I sold 20 paintings, several objects, and picked up a few new clients. Overall a great success, and a fun project!
Ladybells
10x8 oil
Finished a client job yesterday... so (as is becoming my treat to myself for a job well done) I took the day off to paint for myself.
Some neighbors of a friend have extended an open invitation to artists to paint in their gardens and I took advantage of the opportunity. I chose to focus on these flowers, which I thought were larkspur, but found out through some friends are called Campanula, or "Ladybells".
This garden is full of possibilities for painting - a plein air haven. I plan to visit next week when, hopefully, the lilies will be blooming.
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Painting The Alley - Fredrick Quick Draw
8x10 oil
Today I participated in the Quick Draw competition in Fredrick, MD.
I was set up and all ready to paint the alley when artist Stephen Doherty set up in front of me, so I added him to my composition.
Two hours is not much time to complete a painting - especially with figures - but I gave it a go.
Friday, June 12, 2015
Side Yard With A View
8x8 oil
The collector who purchase one of my paintings from Plein Air Camp Hill told me of a property he owned on Front Street in Wormleysburg. He suggested I stop by and take a look, perhaps do a painting, told me to park in the back and walk around the side of the building. I was delighted to find this amazing view directly across the river rom the capital.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Blushing Beauties
This was painted last weekend at Lindenwood, the Harrisburg Symphony Showhouse. The roses and many other flowers are in bloom now and the gardens are lovely. "Blushing Beauties" will be available in the Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painters gallery in the showhouse barn.
8x10 oil
This is the final week to visit the showhouse, open every day 10-4 and Thursday until 8 PM. Directions and other information can be found at http://www.harrisburgsymphonyshowhouse.org
Monday, June 1, 2015
Dappled Alley
9x12 oil
Here's another Camp Hill alley that I painted as part of the plein air event this past week. This painting was purchased during the Friday night preview party.
Saturday, May 30, 2015
St. John's Alley
9x12 oil
It was a beautiful sunny morning for the Quick Draw event at Plein Air Camp Hill.
This view of St. John's Alley was painted in under 2 hours and sold in 2 minutes.
If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website www.julieriker.com
Monday, May 25, 2015
A Cool Corner by Julie Riker
8x10 oil
This was painted on Saturday at Lindenwood, site of the Harrisburg Symphony Showhouse, in the relaxing and colorful garden behind the outbuildings. I was interested in the greenish/yellow glow on the white building, reflected off of the grass and plants.
This painting is available in the Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painters gallery which is located in the upper level of the barn. There is no charge to visit the barn and explore the showhouse grounds.
Entrance to the house is $20.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Lindenwood - Harrisburg Symphony Showhouse opens!!
Lindenwood
16x20 oil
The Harrisburg Symphony Showhouse will open this Thursday night 5/21 with a special preview party and tour. It officially opens to the public on Friday the 22nd and runs through June 14.
This has been a big but very rewarding project for me. In addition to creating the painting above which is being used for promotional materials, I've also taken a space on the third floor and created an artist's studio.
If you are able to visit you will enjoy. There is plenty to see - from the landscaped grounds, designer rooms, boutique, cafe -- Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painters will be painting on the weekends and exhibiting work in the barn.
For more information visit
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Fields, Late Afternoon
8x10 oil
Just getting around to posting this painting that I did last weekend as a demo during the Art Center benefit at Hershey Vineyards... a beautiful view from their deck looking out over the Pennsylvania fields. I enjoyed chatting with patrons and sampling wine as I painted...fun time!
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Pink Explosion
I've noticed the last few days that all the cherry trees are beginning to shed their petals. This particular grouping of trees caught my eye in a neighborhood where I was doing some painting for a client. The trees were growing on a mulched hill and the effect of the petals laying on the ground was amazing - like a carpet of pink. Surreal.
I experimented a bit with this painting, using a palette knife to lay in some thicker patches of paint.
Here is my painting.
Pink Explosion
8x8 oil
Friday, May 1, 2015
Showhouse News in "The Burg"
Thanks to Lori Myers for this nice article in the May/June issue of The Burg which describes my room at the upcoming Harrisburg Symphony Showhouse.
https://theburgnews.com/culture/house-note-beauty-awaits-discerning-eye-lindenwood
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Painting Chairs
These stripped down plank bottom chairs were a great find at $30 each. I've restored the paint surface by researching similar chairs for my design.
I'll be placing these chairs in my room at the Harrisburg Symphony Showhouse which opens to the public on May 22nd. The showhouse is in an 1860's stone farmhouse and I feel these chairs are appropriate to the period of the house.
I love creating old and worn finishes - so much character!
If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website www.julieriker.com
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Harrisburg Symphony Showhouse: Progress Report
This it the room I am decorating for the Harrisburg Symphony Showhouse, which will be open to the public from May 22 - June 14.
I plan to turn it into an artist's studio and fill it with many of my paintings.
Work began a few weeks ago and so far I have painted the floor and started texturing the walls.
I am really loving this room. The afternoon light is beautiful! Perhaps once the easel comes in I will do some paintings in this room during showhouse hours.
For more information on the showhouse visit http://www.harrisburgsymphonyshowhouse.org
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
The Still Life
I am eager for outdoor painting weather but still not ready to venture outside. The past week I have dedicated some days to practicing the still life in my studio. I am working directly from a live setup (no photo) and completing each painting in one sitting. My subject matter all came from a trip to the grocery store. The tulips were a delight to have in the house and made their way into several paintings before they wilted. Here are two of them.
Tulips and Tapestry
11x14
Pink Tulips and Grapefruit
16x20
Friday, March 13, 2015
Empty House
10x8
oil on panel
I painted both Saturday and Sunday at the Empty House Tour for the Harrisburg Symphony Showhouse. On Saturday I did the winter scene looking out the window, but for Sunday I decided to turn my easel around and paint the interior of the living room looking in to the hallway and library. I don't usually paint interior scenes and I enjoyed it.
There were over 300 visitors to the house over the weekend - people anxious to get a sneak peek before the designers starting working. I had set some of my paintings around on window sills and mantles to make the house not look so "empty" and was thrilled that 6 paintings sold over the 2 days...including this little one wet off the easel!
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Winter Shadows
Winter Shadows
8x10
Last weekend I had the opportunity to paint at the future Harrisburg Symphony Showhouse for their Empty House Tour. The house was open for the public to see before the designers worked their magic. I painted in the light filled sunroom surrounded by windows and view of snow covered fields...much warmer than painting outside.
The Harrisburg Symphony Showhouse will run from May 22 through June 14. More information is on their website http://www.harrisburgsymphonyshowhouse.org
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Good Day PA
I did a live painting on TV!!
I was on Good Day PA with Amy Kehm helping to promote this year's Camp Hill Plein Air event and did a painting during the hour long show.
The producers showed several teasers with stages of my painting throughout the show.
There was a short interview discussing the plein air event.
You can view it here
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Red Barn In Winter
8x10
I painted along McCormick Road on Sunday morning.
It was great to be out but I realized I had not done this kind of painting from observation in a long time and was feeling like I couldn't concentrate due to the cold. The forecast was 40 degrees...they were wrong...I was unprepared and my feet were frozen.
Perhaps the gloves, cold conditions, and stiff paint consistency led to the looseness of this painting.
To see more of my work please visit my website www.julieriker.com
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Florida #2
8x10 oil
Here's another plein air painting that I did during my stay in Florida
as a break from painting walls. This is a corner of my client's/host's
pool looking out over the canal. I left this with them as a thank you
for giving me the business and making my stay so nice.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Cloudscape
8x10 oil
This is one of three paintings that are included in a multi-artist
"Skyscape" exhibit at Harrisburg's Whitaker Center. The exhibit will
hang through January 9, 2015. If you happen to be there over the
holidays to see a performance or the IMAX be sure to check out the art.
If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website www.julieriker.com
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Florida
8x10
I have been away for the last month doing a large decorative painting commission in Florida.
Contrary to what many of you may think, it was not a vacation, but a lot of long hard working days.
I had taken my plein air equipment with the idea I would go out several
times a week painting, but after most work days I only had the energy to
jump in my client's pool. I did find time to do a few plein airs as a
break from painting walls. This was one that I painted from the
homeowner's dock looking across the canal at a neighbor's fishing boat.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Sky Blue MG A
10x8
I painted this today at Carlisle's Harvest of the Arts where several of
us from Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painters were displaying our work
to promote an upcoming show.
Part of the festival was the Meeting of the Marques, a great lineup of vintage English cars.
What fun!
It was hard to decide which to paint!
I was draw to the beautiful blue color on this one and the reflections of the trees and sky on the trunk.
The owner has restored the car himself over 8 years and was so happy that I chose to paint it.
If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website www.julieriker.com
Friday, September 19, 2014
Retired
8x10 oil
There is no shortage of scenes like this on Chincoteague Island. I could have created 5 compositions from this one property but chose to crop in on mostly the rusty truck with a bit of the old cottage.
This painting sold quickly at the show and was very popular. I could have sold it again 20 times! Maybe next year I should just paint rusty trucks!
Monday, September 15, 2014
Summer's End
Where did the last month go? It's been so long since I posted here and now the summer is over.
8x24 oil
This past weekend I participated in the Chincoteague Plein Air event for the fourth consecutive year.
Summer's End was one of 7 paintings that I did during the 3 day event
which ended in a Saturday evening sale. I brought this unusual size
canvas with the intent of painting a beach scene but decided to use it
for the sunset on the Wildlife Refuge. I had to work quickly to capture
the changing colors in the sky. It did not take long before it was too
dark and I could no longer see my work. As soon as the sun went down
the mosquitoes came out and chased me away. I finished the painting
that evening in my hotel room.
If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Seaside Shed
8x10 oil
Today I was invited to paint at a private home outside Annapolis. It's a lovely property - on a peninsula,
surrounded on 3 sides by water.
I painted this outbuilding and made it my intention to keep the shadows
high key as the whole scene was blown out by sunlight. The only deep
shadow is the interior of the shed seen through the one broken window
pane.
If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website www.julieriker.com
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Back Alley
.JPG)
9x12 oil
Today I went to Easton, MD to participate in the Quick Draw - one of the
largest plein air events in the country. There must have been close to
200 artists and I can't believe no one else spotted this charming scene
tucked between 2 houses in a back alley.
I was happy that the painting was sold to a couple from New Hampshire.
To see more of my work visit my website www.julieriker.com
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Fragrant Lilies
11x14 oil
I stopped by to check it out a neighbor's garden - not even sure if I would paint - but the wonderful fragrance of the lilies kept me there!!
Just heavenly!
If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website www.julieriker.com
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Salvage Inspired Stairs
These new pine stairs leading to an apartment above a garage were stained and painted to look like they were constructed from old salvaged crates...a fun and funky vintage look.
If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website www.julieriker.com
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Red Roses And Bunting
8x6 oil
One of the paintings that I did as part of the Gettysburg Festival Plein
Air Event - I was interested in the play between the crimson red
bunting and the magenta red of the roses.
WISHING EVERYONE A
HAPPY JULY 4TH
HOLIDAY!
Monday, June 30, 2014
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