Birds Of A Feather by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 30 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

It has been a challenge but I have made it! Whoo Hoooo! It has been fun but I am glad the pressure will be off. I just hope I can continue to paint everyday...at least some.  I have been also learning to paint on my ipad during this month. That is another challenge in itself!

I do appreciate those who have taken time to look at my blog and say kind words. I also really appreciate my friends on Facebook who have been so encouraging. I don't think I could have made it without you! My life has been enriched knowing you care.

I stared with bird paintings so I though it appropriate to finish with a bird painting. This 5x7 transparent watercolor of Zebra Finches is the last of the 30/30 challenge. But I will be back with more paintings...so stay tuned.

You can sign up for my blog post by email on the sidebar. It will let you know when I have finished another painting by delivering my post to your inbox.
Thanks for dropping by!




Birds Of A Feather by Leada Wood©2014

Tea Time by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 29 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

I love to have tea parties with my grand daughters...what fun we have! Sometimes we dress up with jewelry and hats and have special treats, other times it is just spontaneous with muffins or whatever I have on hand. They enjoy getting out the special little cups that I have collected. I am collecting old  ones from antique stores when I find just the right one. They will have to be older to use these. We are making memories and always enjoy our time together. Nothing like a cup of tea and sweet company to warm your heart.

Tea Time by Leada Wood©2014

 

Golden Dragon by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 28 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

 The Dragon Dance is an important part of the Chinese New Year celebration. It is believed that the dragon represents prowess, nobility and fortune; drives out evil and brings good luck. The dragon mask and body used for the dance may be gold, green or fire red. Green symbolized great harvest; yellow symbolizes the solemn empire, gold symbolizes prosperity and red represents excitement. Some of the dragons are 100 feet long.  Wouldn't it be fun to see the parade with the dragon dancing?

Hope your new year has been prosperous so far! Mine has been...28 paintings in 28 days...nearly finished with the challenge. It has been fun!

Golden Dragon by Leada Wood ©2014

Mandarin Duck, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 27 of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 days challenge.

Okay just so you know this is like any project  or deadline....it begins to keep me awake. I started last night or I guess you could say early morning since i started this painting 12:30 am. I wanted to do a couple of more for my Chinese New Year series so that when they hang in the gallery they will make a big square.

You might have wondered about my series all having nearly the same background. I collaged Chinese newspaper...for inspiration and then painted the canvas red. I did this day by day not massed produced ahead. The color red in Chinese is a symbol of good fortune, and I happen to like red! After all that has dried I draw my design onto the canvas with a water soluble white pencil. I have used Acrylic paints for my series, kind of like oils but not so toxic.

Boot Man said we have eaten more Chinese food while I was painting this series than we have in our entire lives! Gotta have inspiration!

I thought of doing a plain white duck and naming it Peking duck but as I was surfing free images I ran onto this these Magnificent Mandarin ducks! Painting does take some research and development before the painting begins. Sooo....noooo. No plain white duck for me! All those gorgeous colors just sparked me into action. 

If you grew up in China or Japan, where the Mandarin ducks are wide-spread - you most probably have heard stories about the love and devotion of Mandarin ducks. They mate for life and are considered loyal and devoted to their chosen partner. I knew I liked those ducks!
Thanks for stopping by!

Mandarin Duck by Leada Wood Copyright 2014

Golden Poppy by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 26 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

Bet you thought I wasn't going to make it today...to tell you the truth neither did I! Getting tired! Only 4 more days....

Golden Poppy by Leada Wood©2014

 

Beautiful Butterfly by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 25 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

As I was painting this butterfly I was thinking of all the stages it must go through before it can fly. That in turn reminded me of all my beautiful grand daughters and how they are morphing into little women right before my eyes! Funny how we have to go through life stages as well in order to spread our wings and fly.

Metamorphosis is the magic that the butterfly teaches us. Changes insure our growth and we must struggle to shed the old before we can become new. A butterfly will only emerge when the conditions are favorable. The same things happen in our life... things unfold adoring to a plan. That is the force of creation...we are always changing. Hopefully for the better! Growth and change can be joyful or sometimes painful.  The butterfly reminds us of the never ending cycle of life.  It is only working through these stages that we emerge as the person we are to become.

Butterflies also symbolize joy, warmth, faith, celebration, freedom, naturalness, purity and transformation. I think that symbolizes my grand daughters as well!

Beautiful Butterfly by Leada Wood©2014

 

Black Cat, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 24 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

My brothers always liked firecrackers, but they scared me! I did enjoy the big ones that blew up in the sky but didn't like the small ones you had to light...I was more of a sparkler girl.

 I was discussing with boot man about doing a firecracker painting, I had in mind doing one big firecracker. Hearing him talk about his firecracker days and black cats stirred up a lot of memories of the 4th, and one thing let to another. I never liked that mean looking cat on their packages either! I was such a sissie girl.

Many historians believe that Independence Day’s most explosive form of entertainment originated in China, which continues to produce and export more fireworks than any other country in the world. It is thought that, as early as 200 B.C., the Chinese had already stumbled upon a sort of natural firecracker: They would roast bamboo, which explodes with a bang when heated due to its hollow air pockets, in order to ward off evil spirits.

At some point between 600 and 900 A.D., Chinese alchemists—perhaps hoping to discover an elixir for immortality—mixed together saltpeter (potassium nitrate, then a common kitchen seasoning), charcoal, sulfur and other ingredients, unwittingly yielding an early form of gunpowder. The Chinese began stuffing the volatile substance into bamboo shoots that were then thrown into the fire to produce a loud blast. The first fireworks were born.

The firecrackers, both then and now, are thought to have the power to fend off evil spirits and ghosts that are frightened by the loud bangs of the firecrackers. Firecrackers are used for such purposes today at most events such as births, deaths and birthdays. Chinese New Year is a particularly popular event that is celebrated with firecrackers to usher in the new year free of the evil spirits.

     Black Cat by Leada Wood copyright 2014

Oh Hummingbird! By Leada Wood,Texas Artist

Day 23 of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.

Hummingbirds are natures jeweled messengers and there is a lot to be learned from the smallest of birds. Because of its speed, a hummingbird is known as a messenger and a stopper of time. It is  also a symbol of love, joy, and beauty. Hummingbirds are able to fly backwards, hover and stop in an instant. They are fierce warriors defending their territory from other hummingbirds, and are tireless always seeking the sweetest flowers.

When a hummingbird hovers over a flower drinking nectar, we learn we should savor each moment, and appreciate the things we love. They remind us of the beauty of life, and to appreciate the magic of the moment and to enjoy the gift of being alive.

In China and around the world the Hummingbird symbolizes powerful energy, transformation and joy. This tiny, colorful bird also symbolizes the ability to overcome the impossible, as well as flexibility in life circumstances.

I can't wait for spring and their return!



Oh Hummingbird, by Leada Wood©2014

 

Lucky Bamboo by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 22 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30
days challenge. I can't believe only 8 days left! I kind of got on a roll with the Chinese New Years series. I was having fun painting traditional Chinese lucky symbols and learning a lot about their culture and traditions. I hope you have had fun along the way!

We've all heard that lucky bamboo (which of course isn't really a bamboo at all) increases feng shui, but what exactly does lucky bamboo mean? According to the Chinese tradition, the meaning of lucky bamboo is tied to how many stalks you have. Here are some of the meanings associated with different lucky bamboo arrangements:

• Two stalks represent love.
• Three stalks represent Fu (happiness), Lu (wealth), and Soh (long life).
• Five stalks represent the areas of life that represent wealth (e.g., spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, and intuitive).
• Six stalks represent good luck and wealth.
• Seven stalks represent good health.
• Eight stalks represent growth.
• Nine stalks represent great luck.
• Ten stalks represent perfection.
• Twenty-one stalks represent a powerful blessing.

I painted lucky bamboo representing love and I didn't know that until the painting was finished and I researched the symbols. Now that I know, I like the way they are intertwined and standing side by side, supporting each other. I know in my own life I have been lucky in love and blessed. 

Thanks for dropping by!

 

  Lucky Bamboo by Leada Wood ©2014

 

With A Cherry On Top! By Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 21 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. Only 9 days until the challenge is complete!  I usually do something with my art everyday even if it is just dreaming it up. There is more to it than just painting...there is conception, drawing, planning, and finally painting. Sometimes people ask me how long does it take you to do a painting? I tell them a lifetime...not that I am not trying to be smarty, but its true. I have studied art most of my life and have been doing it in one form or another.

Today I took a break from my Asian theme because it is my birthday! So I decided I would paint my cake and maybe eat some too!

Lotus Flower by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 20 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

Well it's getting tougher to get the painting a day done and get it on three blogs and face book. Whew! Ten more days! I think I can, I think I can! I hope I can!

Still doing my Asian series for the Chinese New Year. The Lotus flower has many meanings in Chinese culture but the one symbol I liked was purity. I thought it especially fitting for a white Lotus blossom.

Lotus Flower by Leada Wood ©2014

Lucky Fish by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 19 Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

I am still going, some days are tougher than others...they require discipline to continue. Today was one of those days, but finish I did!  I got to enjoy my family as well...it was a good day!

In Feng Shui Fishes are regarded as Symbols of good fortune and abundant wealth. So they are widely used as pet fishes in the aquarium, paintings or pictures or kept as figurines to attract success and prosperity. It is said that the fishes saves us from danger and bad luck. There are many types of fishes used to create positive energy and abundance in Feng Shui like the Arowana, Flowerhorn, Dragon Carp or Gold Fish. 

Today I decided to paint a gold fish, I especially like the ones with the long flowing tails. I also like to paint koi. I love to watch the little fishes swim around in an aquarium or pond. It's very relaxing, whether it brings good luck or not who knows.

Lucky Fish by Leada Wood, copyright 2014

Moon Lantern, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 18 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I still painting every day but today I noticed my right hand was beginning to hurt. Painful...it hurt all day. I hope it's not tendonitis setting in. There are pitfalls of being a painter. Seclusion, tendonitis, neck ache back aches, writing on 4 blogs is quiet a challenge in itself! And posting on Face Book...oh my! It has been a very busy month! That is just when you can squeeze it in between the other jobs and life. I have been staying up way too late getting the business of art completed but that's ok because it's my life and I enjoy it...it's who I am.

This year, the year of the horse, the lunar new year will begin with the new moon on January 31st. The Chinese New Year is a fifteen day event, now that's a celebration! Chinese lanterns play a big part in the celebration especially red lanterns as red is a lucky color.  People will write their wishes and desires on their lanterns and then pray for them to come true. The lantern festival officially ends the new year celebration and commences the next new moon after the celebrations beginning.

I hope you are enjoying following my Asian series as I find their culture very fascinating. They have been around for thousands of years and have invented many things .Their culture is quite evolved in music, dance, theater and art. I hope you will check back tomorrow as I will have another surprise  for you!

Moon Lantern by Leada Wood ©2014

Sushi! by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 17 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.





Sushi! by Leada Wood©2014

I know...Sushi is Japanese but this is an Asian inspired series so it qualifies, right? I can't say sushi without smiling...it's just fun to say!  I also can't think of it without thinking of my niece. She and her husband love the stuff.

Lucky Coin by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 16 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.




Lucky Coin by Leada Wood ©2014

Chinese cash coins, round bronze coins with a square hole in the middle were made for more than 2,000 years. There are hundreds of different types with thousands of varieties. Most  coins have an inscription of four Chinese characters to identify the historical time of their casting and their monetary value. Most Chinese charms, or lucky coins also have four or more character inscriptions but they do not have monetary value. Instead the inscriptions are to bring good luck, good fortune, good health or some other wish to avert misfortunes. They are very big in Feng Shui.

Green Tea by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 15 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge...half way to the finish line!

Maybe you have wondered about my obsession with Asian things...well it is almost Chinese New Year. 2014 is the year of the horse. I started this series and I am having so much fun with it I don't want to stop! I am sitting here looking at the paintings together and they make a really cute grouping. I can't wait to do some more of them!  Got a few ideas marinating...keep you posted!




Green Tea by Leada Wood ©2014

Chinese Take Out by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 14 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. Whoo Hoo! Nearly half way there! I have been having such fun painting my Asian series. They are small 6x6 and would make a cute grouping..so far there are 4. They are available, just contact me here: www.leadawood.com. Thanks for looking!

"Chinese Take Out" by Leada Wood copyright 2014

Fortune Cookie by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 13 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge nearly halfway there.i had a little Asian series going with GIrl With The Golden Fan, Yin and Yang, and now Fortune Cookie. They are all 6x6 mixed media collage sure would make some one a cute grouping. There is a plan for a fourth one to be added. I just love making Asian mixed media collage.

If you have never painted a fortune cookie why don't you get you one and give it a try. I thought oh yeah that will be quick and easy! WRONG! For such a simple little subject matter it was tough! I think you should try it you will be amazed how difficult it is, especially one with crack showing around the edge. If I had thick bodied paints and palette knives it would have mad the job simpler I think. I may have to try it again like that just to see. It was fun to paint just surprising at how challenging it was.

Fortune Cookie by Leada Wood copyright 2014

Yin and Yang by Leada Wood,Texas Artist

Day 12 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. Almost 2 weeks gone...I think I can, I think I can.....hey that means we are half way done! Whoo Hooo! It has really been fun seeing all the great art on line from people all over the world and learn about their techniques and stories. I try to go to different ones everyday and look at their blogs and comment.

I enjoy painting Asian inspired art . Their Culture and history have always fascinated me. I was feeling a little out of balance with this flurry of painting. When I need to get connected to my art I turn to my mixed media collage. It centers me. I used a grid pattern on a canvas board 6x6, acrylic paints,using complimentary colors and black and white. I wanted to keep it simple creating balance using circles which symbolize completion or wholeness.





Yin and Yang by Leada Wood©2014

I thought you might enjoy a little Chinese history on yin and yang. Very interesting!

Yin and Yang are ancient Chinese philosophical terms, with the Yin Yang Theory being a fundamental part of Feng Shui. It is a Chinese theory on the perspective of continuous change and balance.
The theory is that all things in the universe have an opposing force, and though they are opposing, they are very interconnected. 
These forces are represented in the yin yang symbol with black and white. The black symbolizing the Yin energy, while the white symbolizes the Yang energy.

• Yin is the passive energy of silence, slow and relaxed movements, and deep darkness, and is the predominant energy of sleep, resting, relaxing and replenishing.
• Yang is the active energy and is symbolized by bright lights, strong sounds and bright colors. It is the prominent energy for such times as working in a busy office or enjoying a good party.

                                                                 Yin and Yang are a duality – one cannot exist without the other  

Freakin' by Leada Wood,Texas Artist

 

 

Day 11 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 Days. Whew! It maybe a very long month! Okay, okay I know I signed up for it but can't I whine just a little? Not only do I have to come up something to paint and then get the job done but then I have to name my creation. Realism is a little easier I think as the subject matter usually gives me a clue, like red apple or sunset. I guess I could have named this one red sphere, blue sphere...nah. Since I have been freakin' out a little about not only doing a painting a day but trying to get a little ahead in case I get in a pinch I thought that was an appropriate title. Do you think paintings on my I Pad would count...it is very difficult to paint with only a finger...hmmm what do you think?

 

 

Freakin'  by Leada Wood ©2014

Beach Bum by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 10 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. Woohoo! I am 1/3 of the way done with this challenge. I started to name this painting Feeling Crabby...but painting brings me such joy I couldn't do it. I know I am very fortunate to work at something I love to do and have the ability to do it.

The crab painting comes with a story...no extra charge.  When our kids were at home we took them to the beach every summer on vacation. We  all like the beach and doing beachy things. One day we decided we would go crabbing. We get the chicken necks, string, nets and hit the beach. Oh my the crabbing was great! We had a big cooler full of crabs but we started noticing they had a funny orangey spongy under bellies . Not knowing anything about crabs we decided that was the way they were suppose to look. A nice man walking on the beach came by and started talking to us so my husband shows him our big haul of crabs. The man said we had several thousand dollars worth of crabs! Come to find out the spongy under bellies were eggs and we had a whole mess of female crabs and it was illegal to catch them when they had eggs. We quickly let the critters go! To this day seeing crabs reminds me of our fun day crabbing on the beach. I especially like the blue crabs and the tiny little sand crabs that skittle quickly across the sand. Aww nothing like spending time at the beach!

"Beach Bum" by Leada Wood ©2014

Harvest Moon, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Harvest Moon by Leada Wood, Day 9 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. Yep I'm still painting! I sure am glad I took Leslie's advise and made a file of photo references that I might like to paint before the challenge began. It would be getting hard to go though all those files and make those decisions right now. When I am not painting I'm sketching to get ready for the next painting. Whew! It is a challenge! Even though I do something related to art everyday normally, this is different. Besides painting and sketching, I am writing about it and posting on 3 blogs and Facebook. It is a good thing to confront yourself occasionally so that you can see if you can complete the challenge. Only 21 more days!

Harvest Moon is an acrylic collage on canvas board. I used one of my citra solv papers I made from National Geographic pages for the background and then painted on top of that. Thanks for looking!

"Harvest Moon" by Leada Wood copyright 2014

Girl With The Golden Fan by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 8 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. Hope you aren't getting tired of seeing a post by me everyday in your inbox. I do appreciate your support and welcome your comments.  Don't be afraid to comment...I love to hear what you think. I am happy that I am still hanging in there and have already painted 8 paintings this year! I would say 2014 is off to a good start. I have been bouncing back and forth between realism with watercolor and acrylic mixed media collage. This keeps me on my toes as well as creatively challenged.

Todays painting of the day is a mixed media collage, 8x8 on canvas board painted with acrylics. Even with these small paintings it takes time. I make the papers for these collages using various techniques. Very rarely do I use purchased papers. I use found papers as well. They might be pages of an old book or pages out of a telephone directory or newspaper. I am searching for interesting calligraphy and line. When I create my collage paper it is a 2 or 3 day event as I do lots of different colors  and lay them out to dry. The next day I will get out my collection of hand carved stamps and put design onto the paper. I sometimes add another layer the next day. I enjoy the making of the paper as I think it gives a unique and personal touch to my collages.  

Girl With The Golden Fan by Leada Wood ©2014

By The Light Of The Silvery Moon by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 7 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. One week down...only 23 days to go! It is very difficult to keep up the pace, but I keep cheering myself on and doing a painting a day. It's a mind game. Your comments make my day as well. Today I needed a change of pace so I did a mixed media, a little smaller than I have been painting. I may be down to Artists Trading card size by the end!

When I do mixed media I created my own papers using hand carved stamps and hand cut stencils from my designs. There is a lot of creative process in mixed media collage as well as many layers. It is a lot more work than painting but I enjoy it.

"By The Light Of The Silvery Moon" is 8x8 on canvas board with collage, silver leaf and acrylic paint.

By The Light Of The Silvery Moon by Leada Wood ©2014

"Roadrunner's Gift" by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 6 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days. I am still hanging in there. I am not a fast painter and enjoy the process of the painting so this is a real challenge for me! I may learn to paint faster!

I live in Texas and the land around my house is terra cotta clay color, good old red dirt. We live on a small ranch and have llamas, sheep, goats and lots of birds. One particularly fine summer morning I got to noticing sticks at my front door and wondered where they came from. A mystery. The next morning I heard a tapping on the front glass door so I go to investigate. There was the roadrunner with another gift of a stick in his mouth to leave at the door. I don't know if he was thanking me for the cat food and scraps I put out or if he saw himself in the glass and was courting the pretty bird! Anyway he kept it up for a while and I guess he eventually gave up on the pretty bird and moved on. I still have visits from him, he likes to sneak around on the porch and window peek.

That is the story and the inspiration for my painting Roadrunners Gift. I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for looking!

"Roadrunners Gift" by Leada Wood copyright 2014

Image Is Everything by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

 

 

Day 5 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days. It is quiet a challenge to keep on going...to do a painting a day is a real stretch! It's kind of like exercise, I know it's good for me and it gives me a good feeling when I finish. I am keeping my brushes wet!

 

This is a 9x12 mixed media collage on watercolor paper.

 

 

Image Is Everything by Leada Wood ©2014

There's A Song In The Air by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 4 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

 

"There's A Song In The Air" is a 8x8 mixed media collage on paper using liquid acrylics. A mixed media collage is where you use found papers, paint, transparencies, image transfers and whatever else you want and layer them, making  them cohesive enough to make a painting. A mixture of various techniques goes into each one. I do enjoy doing these as they are creatively challenging, kind of like a puzzle.

 

 

"There's A Song In The Air" by Leada Wood ©2014

Bird On A Wire by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

 

 

 

This is day 3 of 30 paintings in 30 days. Leslie Saeta 's challenge has about 411 artists from all over the United States.

 

I love painting my little birdies, and watching them and feeding them! Such fun! This is a scissor tail as we call them in Texas and after a cold hard winter we are delighted to see them. Legend has it that the return of the scissor tails means winter is over...and it is usually true. I don't think I have ever seen the legend fail. This painting is transparent watercolor on archival paper and is 9x12 and is available. You can see more of my work on my website www.leadawood.com or contact me about the paintings.

 

 

 

Bird On A Wire, by Leada Wood © 2014

Out On A Limb by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Happy 2014! What a way to start the new year by accepting a challenge from Leslie Saeta to paint 30 paintings in 30 days. Well I certainly went out on a limb and signed up...what was I thinking! First I was thinking oh that will be fun! I have followed her other challenges and enjoyed seeing everyone's progress and wished I had participated. So this year I am joining in. Here is number one, 9x12 watercolor. This painting is available.