The Austin City Limits Portraits (a second helping)

Here is the second installment from the ACL portrait series. I am really glad we took the time to do this. We met some really wonderful people including Esther (the woman below with the amazing eyes) who is a local photographer and Giselle (the woman in the b&w photo) who is a local screen printer who is making some very cool clothes for kids. You can check Giselle out at forwardcollective.org. Again, a big thanks to all our participants.

Austin City Limits portraits

Instead of going in to the big ACL festival this year, we thought it would be fun to grab the camera and head down to Zilker Park and shoot a series of portraits of this years attendees. It was a fun project that allowed us to enjoy the festival on a different level. Over the next couple of days I'll post some of our favorites. Thanks to everyone who allowed us to take their portrait.

Hillary and James: wedding shoot

I had not met Hillary and James until this weekend. Hillary had hired us over the phone while we were away, I didn't quite know what to expect. I had them come to the studio so we could take a little time to get to know one another and then drive around town together for their wedding day photo shoot. I couldn't have been more pleased when there they were, bride and groom, in my back yard. They looked great! Full of smiles and nervous grins, obviously very much in love.

Anyone familiar with Austin will recognize many of the South Congress locations we visited. We had a great time wandering around, eliciting hoots and hollers, car horns and many other quieter congratulations from passerbys.

So one more time, "Congratulations Hillary and James, may all your days be as fun and full of love as this one."

Pomegranates

I recently finished this painting of pomegranates. It was a little more difficult for me than the previous paintings. Maybe because of the colors, or maybe because there was so much out of focus.

Today, a Sunday, I will spend the day painting. Brian and I have chosen to make it a "Silent Sunday". This is a practice I read about many years ago in an article in the magazine section of the Sunday New York Times. The writer would not speak for the day. After a week of visitors, and much socializing I am ready for a little quiet, a long of day of sitting and painting.

Angela and Tom's Four Seasons Wedding

Beautiful days like today are one of the big reasons we choose to live in Austin, and although it was a bit warmer last weekend, it was still simply beautiful on the lawn of the Four Seasons Hotel downtown. This was the location for Angela and Tom's wedding and cocktail reception, green green grass, a big shade tree, good friends and cocktails, all overlooking the lovely Lady Bird Lake.

Oh and I loved the cake topper too!

yet another loquat painting

This one is titled, "loquats #143". It is 20x30 inches, oil on panel. I think this one is one of my favorites.

I have already started work on my next piece. It is of pomegranates.

The opening reception for the exhibit I am having of these botanical paintings at the Davis Gallery is scheduled for Saturday, October 25th in the evening. Hope to see you there.

stella

Mr. Johnson

Last week our Bouldin Creek neighborhood lost one of it's most beloved neighbors, Mr. Johnson. I took this photo of him a few years ago when I was out in my front garden and he walked by on one of his daily walks. He always stopped to talk with me a bit, telling tales of the Austin he knew long ago. I always enjoyed those conversations and will miss him very much.

stella