Painting Like Eric Carle by Leada Wood, Artist Of Texas

Young Artists At Work

We are learning about American Painters in art class at Studio Twenty. This week we studied about Eric Carle who has illustrated and written numerous children's book, he is most famous forThe Hungry Catapillar. Carle paints tissue paper and makes collages for his illustrations giving his work a very recognizable style. He uses very bright colors that appeal to his audiences. These girls have painted their tissue papers in preparation to begin their painting in his style. They chose this painting from one of his books to emulate.

Eric Carle Illustration

They will be busy little bees (pardon the pun!) cutting and gluing paper to a substrate. I will post the girls results when they finish their works of art.

Cupcake Faries by Leada Wood©, Artist Of Texas

Cupcake Fairies by Leada Wood©

I did this painting 8x10, watercolor on paper for a sweet lady named Cindy who does the most fabulous decorated cupcakes and they taste wonderful also! I was hosting a tea for some friends from Denmark and Cindy made the prettiest cupcakes you can imagine for the tea.  There were flowers and butterflies in every color imaginable...each cupcake was a little work of art. I think Cindy must have a bunch of little fairies helping her decorate! Thank you Cindy!

Wild About You! by Leada Wood ©, Artist Of Texas

Wild About You by Leada Wood©

This painting is 22x28, liquid acrylic on arches paper. I did this using Henri Matisse techniques. Matisse used lots of pattern, bright colors, and outlined in black. I used patterns from a Matisse painting, used my own colors and a stamp I carved for some of the patterns in the blocks and outlined in black. I also added a bit of lepord collage to the girls neckline and a bit in her hair. I don't think I am done with this painting yet as there are a few things I want to do...so I will repost it again when I finish!

All That Jazz! by Leada Wood, Artist of Texas

Joanna George and Betsy Dillard Stroud

We had a delightful lunch on the last day at Jazz's restaurant in Lubbock, Texas. We all tried a bowl of shrimp gumbo and it was very tasty. Couldn't resist taking a picture of Betsy sitting underneath the crawfish and oysters sign. We had such a good time!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Karla Bennett, Betsy Dillard Stroud, Joanna George


Here are three painting Divas outside the Texas Tech Museum where the Betsy Dillard Stroud workshop was held. There was never a dull moment with these gals!

Betsy and Me by Leada Wood, Artist of Texas

Betsy Dillard Stroud and Leada Wood

I had such a fun time at the Betsy Dillard Stroud workshop in Lubbock Texas.  A great group of artists and a wonderful instructor were together for a weeklong painting frenzy! Betsy challenged us every day to do something different with our art and we rose to the challenge. Betsy was vivacious, fun and very knowledgable about art techniques as well as art history. I would highly recommend her workshop to anyone who wants to kick up their art a level or two.

Dimensions by Leada Wood, Artist Of Texas

DIMENSIONS by Leada Wood ©

This is a full sheet, 22x28, watercolor paper painted with liquid acrylics. I divided the spaces into different dimensions and taped them off. I used hand carved stamps to add texture into some of the spaces. It is hard to see the various depths and dimensions at such a low resolution but hopefully you can see most of them. I veiled some of the areas with washes of gesso to add mystery. It's always hard to know when an abstract is finished as I usually have to look and lived with it a while to see if there is anything else I need to add.

Three Amigos by Leada Wood, Artist Of Texas

Three Amigos by Leada Wood ©

This is a value painting exercise in Betsy Dillard Stroud's workshop. I chose my subject and drew it three times on a full sheet of watercolor paper. I used acrylic paints, both liquid and soft bodied to paint the bird. The object was to have a light, midtone, and dark subject with the other two values in the background. I learned a lot about value and I think it was pretty successful. What do you think?

Moon Flowers by Leada Wood, Artist Of Texas

Moon Flowers by Leada Wood ©

I have been in Betsy Dillard Stroud's workshop in Lubbock, Texas this week put on by the West Texas Watercolor Society. We have been working in acrylics but using them transparently as well as opaquely. I have had so much fun experimenting with Betsy guiding us. This painting is a full sheet, 22X28, and I started by doing an underpainting wet on wet and then doing a  drawing of moon flowers when the paper was dry. I then divided up my space with tape and circles and when ever I crossed a line I changed value or color. I left the flowers with the underpaintings  showing and  just adding a little detail to the focal flower. It was a fun exercise and I encourage you to try it!

Down On The Ranch by Leada Wood, Artist Of Texas

Dena Wenmohs

This is Dena Wenmohs who owns the Wenmohs ranch and the Bunkhouse. The Bunkhouse is an artist retreat where you can stay and enjoy world class artist workshops and ranch life at the same time. Dena provides lodging and food for her guest if they choose to bunk  there. She is a really great lady and you always have a fun  time down at the ranch! To check out the workshops just click here: http://www.wenmohsranch.com/   

Liz Hill Workshop by Leada Wood, Artist Of Texas

Left Liz Hill, Right Leada Wood

I just finished  a figurative painting workshop with the renown Liz Hill at the Bunkhouse on the Wenmoths Ranch. What a wonderful time we all had. It was a three day event with a new model everyday. We would sketch all morning and paint all afternoon. Now this is NOT your ordinary figurative painting. Liz showed us how to use prepared surfaces and collage and charcoal to get very interesting paintings. There were a lot of great pieces that came from the workshop. I will post some of my pieces later when I finish them. We really crammed a lot in three days! To see Liz's work go to http://www.lizhillart.com/ and you will have a better idea of what I am talking about.

Illusions by Leada Wood©, Artist of Texas

Illusions by Leada Wood ©

This is a mixed media watermedia on illustration board and is 14x22. I love doing
non representaional abstracts. They are very intuitive and freeing! While I am doing them I seem to go into a mediative state and just go with the flow, very relaxing.
 I put down lots of texture on the board before I started painting. I used rich earth colors, getting in the mood for autumn. It's hard to see all the textures with this low resolution. Be sure to check out my web site where I have larger resolution pictures and a zoom where you can really see how it looks.
My website is http://www.leadawood.com/

This painting will be on exhibit at the Louise Underwood Center for the Arts in Lubbock Texas during the month of October.