Drawing With Graphite, Dog Portraits by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Maxine" ©2017 Leada Wood

Maxine is a Labradoodle and my brother belongs to her, or at least that is how Maxine sees it. She is friendly and outgoing and can put her paws on my shoulders, but thinks she is a lapdog. She has never met a stranger and loves to gaze adoringly with her pretty brown eyes into mine. I just love Maxine!

"Air Mail",Watercolor by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Air Mail" ©2017 Leada Wood

"Air Mail" was inspired by a birds's nest in an abandoned rural mail box. I started looking for a grouping of old rusted mailboxes and sketched them. Then I thought about the play on words airmail and how fun that would be.

Crows are a lot like people in that they are intelligent and adapt to their environment. They are sociable and sometimes live in communal roosts.

I combined the two concepts and came up with the painting "Air Mail" which show the crows borrowing from humans a nice nesting place in the country. A condo ready made for them to occupy. Looks like they are moving in!
                                                                   
"Air Mail" is on exhibit at the Buddy Holly Center, Lubbock, Texas with the ALWT spring show "The Borrowers" from April 7th to May 21st. Stop by and see how a group of painters interpret the theme of The Borrowers.                                                                            

"The Girl Has Style" Mixed Media by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"The Girl Has Style" ©2017 Leada Wood

We all know one or have one in the family…a borrower. She promises to put back that dress she
borrowed or not to lose your favorite earrings. Constantly borrowing what you have, trying your patience when you must hunt down the object of her desire.

 Creating mixed media with collage is a little like borrowing only I like to refer to it as upscaling, recycling or, green art. Whatever you call it, the idea is the same. Taking bits and pieces of found papers, hand painted papers or objects and giving it new life. I delight in combining different medias to create my work.

"The Girl Has Style" is on exhibit at the ALWT spring show, "The Borrowers" at the Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock, Texas, April 7th - May 21st. Stop by and see the show, I think you will enjoy seeing how a group of painters interpret the theme.

"Borrowed Time", Mixed Media, by Leada Wood, TexasArtist

"Borrowed Time" ©2017 Leada Wood

All artists are borrowers...borrowing ideas, borrowing color palettes, borrowing techniques using them to spark our imaginations. We are inspired by the genius of generations of creative minds.

It always seems like the 11th hour...borrowing time from the busyness of each day to get into the studio. There is never enough time to complete the daily task list, I take a few hours here and there and make the most of it. Chiseling away...working...trying to make my creative concept a reality before the inspiration fades or writing down my intentions for another day. On and on it goes...borrowing time.

My dad was a watch and clock repairman and the bits and pieces fascinated me. It was amazing to see him take the springs and gears out of a watch and replace them again. I have been surrounded by watches and clocks my whole life. "Borrowed Time" was inspired by thinking about time and how I use my time. Time runs out and we are never promised tomorrow...we only have today.

I am intrigued by ravens...I don't know why but I paint them a lot. Ravens are intelligent, mischievous, playful birds and can live to be 70 years old. They are empathetic and adaptable. Some cultures consider them messengers from the gods. The Native Americans considered them sly tricksters.

The combination of elements in my painting just came together while I was thinking about the theme for our show. I considered Time and how deceptive it is...tricking you into thinking you have more of it. Time is elusive and I endeavored to show a spatial quality in my painting.

 I enjoy themed shows although they stretch me and cause growing pains. They also make me think outside the box to find solutions that will work and grow as an artist. I hope you have as much fun viewing my painting "Borrowed Time" as I did in creating it!

                                                                                                                          Leada Wood 1/17


"Borrowed Time" was created for the Art League of West Texas Spring show at the Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock, Texas. The shows theme is "The Borrowers" and it will be interesting to see how a group of artist interupt the meaning. Please come see the show, I think you will like it. The show opens April 7th during First Friday Art Trail And runs until May 21st, 2017.

Thanks for stopping  by!

Drawing With Graphite, Dog Portraits, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Mollie" ç2017 Leada Wood

It's true what they say about doing a portrait of someone you love...it"s always the hardest. This is Mollie and she is some D O G, fearless, energetic, friendly with a mind of her own. She is a small Yorkshire Terrier with the attitude of a Great Dane. I keep her hair shorter because living in rural West Texas everything sticks to her hair, not that she is outside that much but she does like to romp when I let her. April 15th is her birthday and she will be 9...oh my how time flies!
Happy Birthday Mollie!