Family Fun by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

It's a pleasure to be a part of a family having fun. This group were having a family reunion and asked me to host a paint party for the afternoon. What an honor to share those precious moments with their family.

Grandmothers, Grand-daughter, Sisters, Aunts and cousins came together to create. Some of their family members came from as far away as Chicago IL.

Since a Texas theme was requested by Chris, I gave them a choice of Cacti or Sunflowers. They embraced the white canvas with enthusiasm and created their paintings.

Every good party is a work of heART! I couldn't have done it without the help of my Grand-Daughters! They pitched in and helped me set up and worked all during the festivities. I am so blessed!



“The Many Faces Of Eve” by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"The Many Faces Of Eve" ©2019 Leada Wood

"Tear off the mask, your face is glorious." ----Rumi

This painting has had many faces. I started it in a figure painting workshop with Liz Hill several years ago but it was tossed in the unfinished painting stack to deal with later, when inspiration arrived. I cropped the finished (is a painting ever finished?) version to give it more mystery.

Inspiration finally did come but in phases, as most paintings do evolve in stages. I thought it might be interesting for you to see the process that Eve has been through.

The original had shorter hair, but I wanted it longer. I also painted over her face and  added crackle paste to give her texture.

This is another version before I decided she needed longer hair and a new face, back in the pile of unfinished paintings she went.

"The Masque" ©2019 Leada Wood


One day I saw a mask that captured my attention and decided to draw it. I really enjoy drawing with graphite and it is very relaxing to me. This one action created a reaction and got me thinking about the "lost girl' painting.  I retrieved Eve and started working on her again.

     

This is a very rough sketch on velum to see if the mask idea would work on the painting. I decided it would so I added a face and the mask to the girl.

“The Many Faces Of Eve”@2019Leada Wood

One idea usually leads to another and I started thinking of Eve and women in general and how we all hide behind masks at times. We wear many hats or masks throughout life. We are daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, nurse, nanny, cook, housekeeper, and soooo much more! Some have careers added onto all of these titles and change from one role to the next at the drop of a hat.

All of this brainstorming was how I came up with the name, "The Many Faces Of Eve".  In life, just like painting, we undergo so many transitions and they take time. We are all the Daughters of Eve, the mother of humanity, all different but related and we all wear masks at times.

"Behind every mask there is a face, and behind that a story" ----Marty Rubin

Challenge Yourself by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Life is a challenge, right, I get that, but it’s fun to set up creative challenges for myself. Whether it’s diet, exercise or my art I enjoy the challenge of something new and different. Recently I have started a new way of eating called Keto and believe me it is a challenge! I also completed a 30 paintings in 30 days challenge and was so relieved when I was finished but what a sense of accomplishment to have 30 new paintings that I otherwise would not have done.

"Out of Bali" ©2019 Leada Wood

This is the finished version of the jewelry challenge. I don't use metallic paint for silver or gold, as they look so flat and I don't care for them. Painting is an illusion after all, so it's another challenge to paint metal without using metallic paints. I also used Golden's interference paints, which are utterly luminous and that was a learning curve as well.

Recently at a WTAG meeting we were told to bring a black canvas and a piece of jewelry. In this photo the easel is more colorful than my canvas, but this is only the beginning! I'm not sure the other women at the meeting enjoyed the challenge as much as I did. Oh well, sure beats eating cookies and I thought it was fun!

My personal preference for drawing on a dark surface is white charcoal pencil or some light colored chalk. It rubs away easily and takes the fear of drawing straight on the canvas away. I am still laying in color at this point. I did learn that all black gesso are not created equal and that I have been using one brand that I will not be using again. 

I thought I was finished as I signed my name but with fresh eyes this week, I decided it needed more work. I used Golden's interference colors and they are very hard to photograph but give an iridescence glow to the paint that no other paint can give. I wasn't quite happy with this so I added more highlights, as seen in the first photo, to give it more depth.

You can see the piece of jewelry that was made by M Douglas Walton in the upper right corner that gave me my inspiration for this piece. I may do it again, who knows, only use a square canvas and create it even larger.  It was an entertaining experiment with materials that were new to me and I learned somethings along the way. That's what challenges are for...to learn new things. This is 8x10 in acrylics.

January Challenge by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 29 of the 30 objects in 30 days challenge. Almost there! Now I can hear the music! Thought today was a good day for a little music especially Beethoven played by the skilled Schroeder on his toy piano.  



January Challenge by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 26 of the 30 objects in 30 days challenge. Who doesn’t love Peppermint Patty? She was a fearless leader and a natural athlete. She is always up for any challenge, except studying.





january Challenge by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 25 of the 30 objects in 30 days challenge. Don’t you just love Linus?

Happy Birthday to my son, Jeremiah, who always loved his blanket too! Happiness is a warm blanket.

January Challenge by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 24 of the 30 objects in 30 days challenge. I just couldn’t resist painting a few more of the Peanuts gang. Here’s Sally Brown!

January Challenge by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 22 of the 30 objects in 30 days challenge. An apple a day, keeps the Minions at bay!



January Challenge by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 21 of the 30 objects in 30 days challenge. Party time! After all it is my birthday!



January Challenge by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 20 of the 30 objects in 30 days challenge. My little brown eyed granddaughter really likes this one, so I painted it!



January Challenge by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 19 of the 30 objects in 30 days challenge. Minions, who thought of these funny little characters? They are pretty cute! A little change of pace created by rummaging around in my grandkids toy basket.

This one look a little grumpy, maybe his goggles are too tight.



January Challenge by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 14 of the 30 objects in 30 days challenge.  My tribute to Charles Schulz and his amazing Peanuts gang would not be complete without good old Charlie Brown.  He has been called the best cartoon character of all time. Personality wise he is gentle, insecure, and lovable. He is full of determination and hope but frequently fails because of his insecurities, outside interferences or just plain old bad luck. While he can be smart, he over thinks things and this often gives him a tendency to procrastinate.

All the characters are his friends and his greatest skill is leadership, especially in baseball. He leads the team and keeps hoping for a victory despite their numerous failures and painful letdowns. He is always there yelling words of encouragement to the players and ready to lead them to the next game. Charlie Browns character inherited a massive number of traits from his creator, Charles Schulz.

Who doesn’t love this meek, gentle, innocent, polite, and kind-hearted child, who means well and cares deeply about his friends and family...good old Charlie Brown.

"Good Old Charlie Brown" ©2019 Leada Wood



January Challenge, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 13 of the 30 objects in 30 days challenge.  Woodstock was Snoopy's sidekick and best friend. He was named after the 1969 music festival in New York state. Schulz's character never speaks normal words and the only one who can understand him is Snoopy. Despite being a bird, Woodstock is a very poor flyer, perhaps because he has very small wings, although he usually gets to where he wants to go.

"Woodstock" ©2019 Leada Wood

The inspiration came from the playroom with a little wind up Woodstock from my collection.



January Challenge by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 12 of the 30 objects in 30 days challenge. Lucy was another cutie from the Peanuts gang by Charles Schulz. Lucy van Pelt was the older sister of Linus and was considered somewhat of a fussbudget. She was opionionated, crabby, bossy and bullied most of the other characters, particularly Charlie Brown and Linus. You might remember her psychiatry booth where the other characters came to tell her their problems.

“Lucy” 2019 Leada Wood

The little Lucy that inspired my painting today is missing her scooter. I am not sure if it is still in the playroom as I painted rather than ransacked. Who knows maybe it will turn up one day?



January Challenge by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 11of the 30 objects in 30 days challenge. Hard to believe Charles Schulz created the beloved comic strip Peanuts in 1950, and he entertained us all those years with his characters. Snoopy was the beloved beagle of Charlie Brown and is more recognizable than any other of the characters in the comic strip. The original drawing was inspired by Schulz's childhood dog, Spike.

"SNOOPY"  ©2019 Leada Wood

 The lovable beagle has been around all my life and has amused many generations with his comical antics. His happy attitude has always brought a smile to my face. His little buddy Woodstock was another favorite. What a legacy Schulz created with his cartoon adventures of Peanuts and the gang.


This little guy, from my toy collection is what inspired me to paint Snoopy. He made me smile and I hope he brought a little happiness your way today as well.
 After all "Happiness is a warm puppy."--Lucy

January Challenge by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 10 of the 30 objects in 30 days challenge. You remember Kermit the Frog, who was Jim Henson’s most famous creation and the star and the host of the Muppet Show. I found a little Kermit in the kids play room and decided to paint it today. I can still hear him singing Rainbow Connection.

“What’s so amazing
That keeps us stargazing
And what do we think we might see
Someday we’ll find it
The rainbow connection,
The lovers, the  dreamers and me.” La da do da dum da duh.....I love that song and Kermit!

"Rainbow Connection" ©2019 Leada Wood

 One third of the way through! The objective is to create art every day. I love to paint but it becomes challenging after a while. I am learning to paint faster and make better decisions as I go so that’s a good thing.



January Challenge by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 8 of the 30 objects in 30 days challenge. I thought painting a ball and 3 jacks would be a quick little piece but I was wrong! The ball went really good but oh those jacks! Not an easy task! If you are ever wanting a challenge try to paint try some jacks.



"OH THOSE  JACKS!" ©2019 Leada Wood

January Challenge by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day  6 of the 30 objects in 30 days challenge. I am so blessed to be able to do this challenge. I get to make art everyday! It is not easy because life at our house continues. There are meals to cook, dishes to wash and cleaning and washing, grandkids to play with... you know LIFE! Our kitchen bar has become a mini studio and I can do other things while paint dries. It is much easier than running to the studio for a few hours.



"Blessed" ©2019 Leada Wood

I keep a little tote with paint and supplies so I can move it off and on the bar at mealtimes. The challenge was to choose 30 objects and paint one every day, not an easy task.  I chose kids flash cards for the substate and prepared the card before hand. I am loving looking at all the tiny art I am creating and I hope you are enjoying it too!