“Cock-A-Doodle-Do”, Mixed Media by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Cock-A-Doodle-Do" ©Leada Wood 2018

Chickens hold a special place in my heart, especially white Leghorn chickens. Growing up my parents gave my brothers and I baby chickens at Easter. One year they gave us 30 chickens hoping they were hens so they would lay eggs. Only turns out we had 30 roosters and they were bound for Sunday dinners.  I made one of them my pet and he followed me everywhere. He would cross the road with me when I ran to the corner grocers. But he didn’t like my mom especially when she was hanging out clothes and would peck and spur her. I don’t think he lasted too long after that. I guess chickens will always bring a smile to my face and hope my painted versions bring a smile to yours.

"Dream Deep" by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

                                          

"Dream Deep" ©2018 Leada Wood

"Reach high, for the stars lie hidden in your soul"

Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal."

                                ---Pamela Vaull Starr

Anything can be an inspiration and fair game when making art, whether an old dictionary page or a tiny basketful of starfish. What others sometimes see as garbage I see as an opportunity to repurpose and create. Artists look at the world differently than most and that is what feeds the artist's spirit and inspire us to keep making our art, one piece at a time.

Expressions of Spring; Mixed Media by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"May Flowers" ©2018 Leada Wood

With the warmer weather and flowers blooming my thoughts have turned toward spring. Still using a square format I incorporated bright colors working with green, yellows and orange. Nothing says spring like sunflowers and butterflies! Thanks for stopping by!

"In The Groove", MIxed Media by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

©2018 Leada Wood

"In The Groove" is a mixed media collage using line and color to create movement. I applied layers of paint using various techniques and my favorite colors. I think spring is in the air...at least in my studio. Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birds, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Go Confidently in the direction of your dreams and Live the life you imagined. --Thoreau

Happy Bird Series, ©2017 Leada Wood, mixed media, iHannas 2017 fall postcard swap



Watercolor, Mixed Media, Sunflowers by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

The hot days of July are upon us with their fluffy white clouds floating in the turquoise blue sky...ahhhh summer! The prickly pear cactus are bearing fruit and the sunflowers are abundant, life in west Texas is good!

July is also World of Watercolor month, in order to celebrate I have been doing a few watercolors, mostly in my sketchbook and as cards for friends, in other words just for fun! That is what art should be... enjoyable, to celebrate the moments of my life and to share them with you!

"Sun Seekers" ©2017 Leada Wood

"Sun Seekers" is 11x15 on Archival paper, painted with transparent watercolors using mixed media to give drama and mystery.

"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!

30 Paintings In 30 Days By Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

"Reach For The Stars" by Leada Wood ©2015

 

Day 30 of the 30-30 challenge

Sometimes inspiration waits until the 11th hour to strike, that was the case today. "Reach For The Stars" has been through so many changes today, I labored long and hard to get it done today. Mixed Media usually take a while to finish as there is usually an incubation process along the way, most are never finished in a day. I am not sure this one is finished but I had to come home sometime and this is it for today...and so ends this 30 day challenge.

I thought you might like to see a little of how I begin a mixed media so I am posting another photo of the beginning...beside the white canvas. This is another one I have begun. I forgot to take a photo of today's and there is music and writings barely visible under the paint, might not show in the low resolution photo above but the process is the same.

 

 

Thank you for looking at my paintings during this challenge and I appreciated the comments along the way! Keep checking my blog or follow by email and you will be notified when I post new works.

 Happy Trails!

iHannas Winter Postcard Swap, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

I am so excited! I received all my names yesterday and mailed out my cards. Can you tell it's my first swap? I had one from UK and one from Australia and the rest were spread across the USA. I can't wait to get mine! I made a collage of the cards that I created just for the swap. I want to share my post with Hanna and hope this works as I am a newbie at all this sharing stuff. To see iHannas winter diy postcard swap blog please click on the link:  http://www.iHanna.nu  or copy and paste in case it doesn't work.

I had two lovely comments on Google + but could not get my comment to work...so thank you Sue Marrazzo and Sandra D for your comments. Sandra D I cannot wait to get your card! Have a wonderful weekend!