Michaelis Live Oaks

Michaelis Live Oaks, 5x7

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Last spring PAA had a paintout at the Michaelis Ranch outside Kyle, Texas, which is about twenty miles south of Austin. My brother, Paul, was visiting from the east coast and I was able to talk him into coming with me to take pictures while I painted. This piece was painted from one of the many he took that day.  Thank you, older brother.

Staying Put

Staying Put, 6 x 6

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This spring, Plein Air Austin had a paintout at the Michaelis Rance, south of Austin. On this particular day, feeding the cattle and mowing a pasture were enough to keep the hands busy. Happily, that meant this aging trailer was around to be admired, photographed, and finally today, painted.

Painting Michaelis

Painting Michaelis, 9 x 12 

The picture above is from a photo taken the day of the PAA paintout at Michaelis Ranch. I caught these girls chatting as they painted, as good a way as any to spend a spring day in Austin.

Looking East

Michaelis Ranch Field Study No. 2, 8 x 10

The rising terrain to the right of this composition intrigued me after getting a close look at it earlier in the day. It's full of cactus, scrub oak, brambles and live oak, with pockets of spring grasses that just light up from a distance when the sun peaks through the clouds. This type of terrain is typical of central Texas, along what is known as the Balcones Escarpment. This study is another very rough one, but I think I did a better job with the values here, than in today's first attempt.

One other note worth mentioning. Sharon Michaelis, along with ONE long-trusted hand, for all practical purposes ranch this land and its two hundred plus head of cattle by themselves. She is an amazing and delightful woman — relentless in her care for her ranch and every head of cattle on it, yet at the same time lighthearted and extraordinarily welcoming toward visitors. THANK YOU, Sharon.

Silos and Old Barn

Michaelis Ranch, Field Study No. 1, 6 x 8

This morning, PAA drove out to the Michaelis Ranch, twenty-five miles or so from downtown Austin. This place had so many things to paint, it took a good hour just to look around and see what felt most inviting. Because of all these choices, I decided to try for two. This commitment to get two studies fully down on location is good for me, though I feel some anxiety about posting these very raw and imperfect efforts, which were, at least for now, the inevitable result. Hopefully, though, this will force rapid improvement, in which case the exercise will have been worthwhile.