West Texas Watercolor Society, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Here's To The Crazy Ones

"Here's To The Crazy Ones" ©Leada Wood

Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits...the rebels...the troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules and they have no respect for the status quo. You can praise them, disagree with them or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They invent...they create...they inspire. They press the human race forward. 

Maybe they have to be crazy. How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art? Or sit in silence and hear a song that's never been written? Or gaze at a red planet and see a labrotory on wheels?

We make tools for these kinds of people. While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones that do.

                                                                                 
                                                                                 -Apple Computers shared by Robert Burridge

West Texas Watercolor Society, Legacy Event Center

Thank You West Texas Watercolor Society for a fun afternoon! It was nice to see so many friends in the audience. I was honored to be able to share my techniques with you.

Never enough time when sharing my creative journey with friends. Beginnings are easy and the endings are up to you!

Love this wonderful group of artists! Lubbock is an amazing supporter of the arts and I am so fortunate to be a part of this group.

Free To Be Me by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

"Free To Be Me" ©Leada Wood 2016

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my Happy, Whacky Bird series at least half as much as I enjoyed painting them. My desire was to bring color into your day and a smile to your face, I hope I succeeded. 

There is still time to run by Howard College and see them closer. The Caboose Watercolor exhibition will close May 4th. The show is  excellent with exciting work from various artists.

"Art is, after all, only a trace...like a footprint which shows that one has walked bravely and in great happiness."

                                                                                                                       ---Robert Henri                                               

Gelli Printing by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Gelli Fun In Studio Twenty

 

This is what a good afternoon at Studio Twenty looks like when Gelli Printing...piles of colorful, interesting papers waiting to be repurposed into a new work of art. This is also only what I consider keepers...the rest need working on.

My dear friend Sue and I had a great play day making Gelli prints. She had never made them before and thought they were a lot of work, but fun! I guess it is all a state of mind. I love making Gelli prints and go into my own creative space when doing so and before I know it is time to go home.

I have been doing a little printing on cloth. The one on the right is the original print and the one on the left is the ghost print. I made the material 9x11 so that if I want I can make prayer flags out of them.

 

This Gelli is on Watercolor paper.

 

This Gelli is done on brown Kraft paper.

 

 

These Gellies are on fabric.

I started by printing a solid color and letting it dry and then used stencils, stamps, masks and black paint to make the design. I also tried different surfaces than I normally use.  I discovered that if using Gellies for prayer flags you have to leave a little quiet space of color to incorporate your prayers.

 

These are the same piece of fabric, I zoomed in on the bottom one after I worked on it a little. I decided that the top one needed a little refining to discover some of the shapes. I used Sharpie markers to draw on the fabric...you can't hold it in place too long or it will bleed...unless that is the effect you are after.  I used a little alcohol on the Sharpie in the bottom right corner to make the color spread.

 

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I have been up to...thanks for stopping by!

 

 

copyright 2015

 

#leadawoodart #mixedmedia #watercolor

Leada  Wood

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Roz Stendahl of Sketchbook Skool by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

copyright by Roz Stendahl and Sketchbook Skool
 

 

What a wonderful week we have had with Sketchbook Skool's Roz Stendahl. The whole class has been great but Roz's generosity and teaching videos were extraordinary! This was one of her parting gifts to us, a memento of our week together. I had to print it out and cut the cards of course but it was worth every minute! Roz has an awesome blog you should check out: http://rozwoundup.typepad.com

It has been so cold this week the only live animal sketching I did was of my little Yorkie, Mollie. She was very suspicious of all the activity following her around with my sketchbook and pen. I found that sometimes standing up and calling her name was the only way to get her to be still...she is a little hyper.

This was my first attempt at a live animal subject and sketching with a Pentel brush pen. This was drawn standing up calling her name as it was the only resource to get her to stand still. This is called a gesture sketch and probably doesn't take over 35 to 40 seconds to create...or however long your subject cooperates. These quick sketches are not meant to be fine art but only practice of capturing the essence of your subject.

The assignment was to draw a live animal everyday. Another gesture pose of Mollie with the brush pen. I really like it for fast sketches.

Mollie getting use to me following her around and tired too...but she won't be still for long!

 

 

 



 

 

I caught her napping in the sunshine before I left for work so I had a quick go at drawing her again.

 

 

 

 

 

And this is the way she looked laying in the sunshine on a cold winters day When it warms up a little I will try again sketching live animals on the farm. Maybe sheep, goats or llamas!

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"The Dance" by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

 

"The Dance" © Leada Wood 2014
www.leadawood.com

 

 

"The Dance" was a fun painting to do. It is an imaginary painting of Bootman and me...imaginary in that we never go dancing anymore...sad isn't it? I tried to depict movement and a soft romantic feeling to the painting. The Dance is transparent watercolor 15x22 and is in my private collection but prints are available.

 

#leadawoodart #mixedmedia #watercolor

Leada  Wood

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Forrest Friend by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Forrest Friend

 

15x22

Leada Wood©2014

Oh! How I love mixing mediums! This wise old owl has many layers of various mediums. I started with a drawing, then did a very loose under painting, a dusting of charcoal, more paint and finished up with charcoal and pastels. "Forrest Friend" is on archival paper with professional paints and he was definitely fun to paint.
 

#leadawoodart #mixedmedia #watercolor

Leada  Wood

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Dutch Art Gallery
Studio Twenty



 

 



Daddy's Keys, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Daddy's Keys

 

 

copyright2014Leada Wood

 

 

 I have been doing Sketchbook Skool the past 5 weeks and one of this week's assignments was to do a drawing of a collection. I had a bunch of antique keys for clocks from my dad laying around, so I decided I would sketch these as a tribute to my parents.

 

Their anniversary was yesterday, August the 8th and they would have been married 65 years! My mom and dad had a jewelry store and they both repaired clocks and watches. Clocks hold a dear place in my heart as I was always around the chiming and heart beats of their steadfast ticking. Their continual ticking can still be heard in our home and the chiming of the hour. It will be a sad world when they are no more. Something about them is comforting...familiar...homey. 

 

This sketch was done with a Bic Velocity Gel pen in blue because it was my dad's favorite color. I leaned a lot from drawing with only a lowly ballpoint pen and think my shading got a little better toward the end of the drawing. I plan on drawing the keys again in some way with another medium.

 

One of the things I have enjoyed the most about Sketchbook Skool is that it reminded me of my love of drawing. I have also enjoyed seeing artist's work from around the world. It's a small world after all!

  

 

 

 

 This is their wedding day photo. Don't you just love old black and whites? 

 

 

 

 

 

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THE RAIN BRINGS, BY LEADA WOOD, TEXAS ARTIST

 

My Mom and Dad brought me this sign from one of their trips to Missouri, many years ago. It sure sums up how I feel about my garden! Here at Dragonfly farm in Texas we have been blessed with rain and cool, cloudy days...but I know the heat will be on eventually. I have been out capturing the moments with my camera so during the dog days of summer I can sit in my cool studio and paint. I wanted to share some of them with you.

Nothing as beautiful as our flag waving in the breeze. The symbol of our freedom, so many have given their lives for the privilege... and I am grateful.  This photo was from a trip to the hill country to see all the gorgeous wildflowers.

Feeling a little tropical around here with all the Hibiscus in full bloom.  Boot Man gave  them to me for Mother's Day! Flowers I can enjoy all summer long, they love the heat and bloom profusely.

The Petunias have loved the rain as well and are bigger than a bushel basket. The baby kittens love to hide under them.

The Herbs and garden have enjoyed the rain as well. You can see the garden has been calling me and taking my time away from painting and blogging...ah well, it's LIFE! I have been enjoying the time in the garden, while it is cool enough to do so. These photos are of some of my Herbs, Sage, Basil, and Dill. I grow others as well.

The Caterpillars have been plentiful on the Fennel...I grow it just for them. In turn I have lots of beautiful butterflies. As you can see from the photo they get pretty big!

Spring on Dragonfly Farm always brings baby kittens, one of my favorite things! I hope you have enjoyed my little tour of the farm and a peek into my life. Now you know what I have been up to...just in case you wondered. Have a wonderful week!

Every good and perfect gift is from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.   James 1:17

Blue Door by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Blue Door

 

5x7 watercolor

 

copyright Leada Wood 2014

Blue Door is 5x7 watercolor on canvas and will be donated as a door prize for the Dutch Art Gallery's Great Out Doors show in May.
 

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Happy Easter! by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Happy Easter!

 

 

 

I had big fun with my little grandson Saturday dying Easter eggs for the family hunt tomorrow. Usually there are more of us dying eggs but the others were busy with other things this year. It was really nice to spend one on one time and enjoy him. Maybe next year things will be back to normal...whatever that is! From our family to yours Happy Easter!

 

 

Leada  Wood

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Air Mail by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Air Mail

 

15x22

 

 copyright Leada Wood 2013

Air Mail is 15x22 transparent watercolor on rag paper and is AVAILABLE.

I like rusty old mail boxes and they are becoming harder and harder to find except in very rural areas. They are being replaced with modern plastic ones which don't rust...sad. I do have lots of photo references as I take lots of photos whenever I run across some. I wanted to do a painting with a group of ravens and decided to combine the two and the title just seemed a perfect pun for the painting.
 

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Beyond The Mist by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Beyond The Mist 

 

12x12

  

copyright Leada Wood 2014

Beyond The Mist is  12x12 experimental abstract  on wrap around canvas and is AVAILABLE and ready to hang.

 

#leadawoodart #mixed media   #experimental abstract #contemporary art

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Black Iris by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Black Iris

 

12x12 acrylic on canvas

 

Leada Wood©2014

Black Iris is an experimental 12x12 painting created with latex paint on a wrap around canvas and is available and ready to hang.
 

#leadawoodart #mixedmedia #watercolor #acrylic #abstract #experimental

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Shadow Of The Moon, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Shadow Of The Moon was painted in Walton's workshop last week at the Heritage Museum in Big Spring. I choose a small skin 3x3 that I was drawn to and quickly, in 8 to 10 minutes laid in the colors. Then I sprayed water in places to let the paint run and create drama. The object was to leave as much of the painting untouched and still have a good composition. This one passed Mr. Walton's keen critique and I only had to add a tiny moon with a halo for its completion. Sound easy....give it a try! Most artists tend to overwork the painting and create mud and chaos with this technique. It is quite a challenge! 

                                           

There is an exhibition of the groups works at the Heritage Museum until May. It is a very unusual and exciting show. Stop by and see it if you are in the area.  Artists from Houston, Dallas, Santa Fe, and Louisiana, as well as locals, traveled the distance to take this innovatitive workshop with Mr. Walton.

Froggie Went A'Courtin' by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

I always liked the song and children's story " Froggie Went A'Courtin'" when I was a little girl. Just the thought of it brings a smile to my face...so many fine childhood memories. Books were a big deal when I was growing up. We took care with them because we didn't have as many as children today. Most of my reading was done by going to the library and checking out stacks of books and taking them home and devouring them. Maybe that is why I have such a vivid imagination!

 Today I just download a book from the library on my ipad or several books if I am traveling. I love the convenience of that, nice not to have to carry books. They do add weight to your luggage! Yet I still like the comfort of holding a good book in my hands.

This painting is transparent watercolor, 6x9, and is available for purchase.
contact me@ www.leadawood.com

"Froggie Went A'Courtin'" by Leada Wood ©2014

 

                                         

Love Is...by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

I am  currently working on a series entitled  Love Is. It is very difficult to put your thoughts on the canvas without making the theme appear too valentinish ( is that a word?) or girlish...to make it seem like art! Since it is Valentine day....almost....I thought I would just get it out of my system! The thing every girl associates with Valentines day is hearts and flowers...symbols of love, right? I received my new gardening catalog and since it has been soooo cold I decided I would make a collage out of flowers to brighten the dreary winter days. I used symbols for love in this 12x12 collage on canvas. Flowers and hearts are both symbols for love. The color red symbolizes passion, excitement, and happiness. The color pink is romantic and  can represent compassion, unconditional love, understanding, and nurturing . Purple is a royal color and can symbolize mystery, creativity, and spirituality. White is the color of perfection, purity, innocence or completion.  The spiral is a very feminine symbol and can represent balance, awareness, the act of creating, or intuition. A lot of meaning in this little collage...all with references toward love... real love...not infatuation  I did not research the meanings before I began the collage but only as I was writing this post. Maybe some of this I just knew from previous explorations or maybe it was just intuitive.

 Whatever rhyme or reason it was fun to create and I am using it to wish you a happy Valentines Day filled with lots of love and hopefully a little romance!

                                               

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preservers. Love never fails.     

   1 Corinthians 13:4-8

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

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