Let The Good Times Roll, Mixed Media, Original, Contemporary Art, byLeada Wood, Texas Artist

"Let The Good Times Roll" ©2016 Leada Wood

Pink flamingos are always fun to paint and always remind me of Alice and her adventures...kind of like Leada Land where nothing is as it seems. We have been on a great adventure here at Dragonfly Farm...called remodeling. What stared out as a 3 week job has now turned into 6. Do you remember the movie The Money Pitt...now you have the picture! Oh my!

It's always a good feeling to fill up a sketchbook and start a new one. The covers must be designed first, so no plain black sketchbooks for me. Bootman is a pilot so I get all the outdated maps for collage papers. I really like painting over maps of all kinds, letting the paint be transparent in places so that the map peeks through. "Let The Good Times Roll" is mixed media using acrylic paint, stablio pencil and collage.

"I knew who I was this morning but I have changed a few times since then"

                                                                                                                  ----Alice

Star Light, Star Bright by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

"Star Light, Star Bright" by Leada Wood ©2016

Do you remember looking at the starry sky on a summers night and saying the little poem "Star Light, star bright, the first star I see tonight, I wish I may I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight." It's funny when I am painting a title just pops into my head or sometimes during the drawing stage. They just seem to come out of the blue and remind me of different times throughout my life. That's why I always say " Art takes you places."

I have been working on this series of bird paintings for a show that the Caboose Watercolor Society is having at Howard College. The exhibition opened on April 1st and will run until May 4th. The reception will be April 12th from 5:00 to 6:30, be sure to drop by and see the show.

The birds are collaged from hand painted papers that I create with Gelli prints and then paint on top of the prints. It gives a whole different look to a painting. The process is a bit long but I enjoy it...I hope you do too!

"We lose ourselves in the things we love...we find ourselves there too."

Bluebonnet Time In Texas by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Bluebonnet Time In Texas

Just returned from a road trip down to Kerrville to look at the wild flowers. They were the best on highway 16 from Fredericksburg to Llano and then on highway 29 to Mason. They soon will be gone as they were peaking this past weekend. Hurry and take a day trip and enjoy the scenery!

                                     Here is a closeup of our state flower...love those blues!

Be careful walking out in those gorgeous fields of flowers as there are plenty of rattlers around. Bootman got this one in our back pasture. Bootman is 6'2" so it was a big rattler. Sure glad he saw him first!

"There are always flowers for those who want to see them"

                                                                                     ------Henri Matisse 

Wish Upon A Star, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

"Wish Upon A Star" by Leada Wood ©2016

I always loved Disney and can remember watching it on Sunday evenings when growing up. I think he was influential in my creative development. I was always an imaginative and curious child asking questions and wanting to know why. 

"Wish Upon A Star" is collage on cradle board. I hand paint most of the paper I use in collage. These papers began as Gelli prints that I embellished before they began their life as collage. A long process that is quite entailed to be sure...but it is all about the process...right?

The song Wish Upon a star was written for Disney by Leigh Harline for the movie Pinocchio and was sung by Jiminy Cricket. It has since become the representative song of the Walt Disney Company.

When you wish upon a star

Makes  no difference who you are

Anything your heart desires 

Will come to you

If your heart is in your dream

No request is too extreme

When you wish upon a star

As dreamers do

Fate is kind

She brings to those who love

The sweet fulfillment of 

Their secret longing

Like a bolt out of the blue

Fate steps in and sees you through

When you wish upon a star

Your dreams come true

When your heart is in your dream 

No request is too extreme

When you wish upon a star

Your dreams will come true

Oh those were simpler times full of imagination! Thanks for stopping by!

Pink Is My Favorite Color, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

Gelli is my new obsession without a question! This is some of my collage paper I am making from my Gelli prints. It is so much fun it could be illegal. I am trying to build a stash, scan it into my computer so I can use them over and over again for cards, backgrounds for art journals or collage. Hopefully I will come up with some more uses along the way as well. Would love to hear what you do with your Gelli prints.

Gelli printing is only the beginning...after slathering layers of paint I stamp it up, stencil, scribble, splatter and color to my hearts content.  I then break them down and reassemble them into something new...kind of like puzzle solving.

This is actually an accumulation of several days work or play...so relaxing and completely takes me away to my happy place. It gives an unique look to my art that is all my own. Immersed in the process I give myself the freedom to create and enjoy the process.

Another Gelli print. You can use them whole or find a small section that floats your boat. The possibilities are endless. It looks pretty busy but as you can see from the one below a small section is nice.

A close up of a happy accident. I impressed my stamp on top of a towel and it picked up the weave in the towel as well...SWEET!

This is my new stamp and you can really see the texture from the towel here. I think they call this magic foam...just heat with a heat gun and impress the design into the foam. MAGIC!

I used my new Derwent Art Bars on this one and love the intense color and creamy texture of them. I have had them for a while but decided it was time to try them out. Do you save your art supplies for special or try them out right away?

Working on a new series is always fun! I started five today...can't wait to get back into the studio and get going on them. I am so grateful for an artist's life and the opportunity to create. 

Have a great weekend!

Peace For Paris, Mixed Media by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media and Collage

  

"Peace For Paris" ©2015 Leada Wood

I started this painting on Friday the 13th before I heard the tragic news about Paris. I decided to finish it with the date to remember and the word Peace as I thought about all the lives this horrific event touched. Peace For Paris...and the world.

iHanna's Fall Postcard Swap, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media and Collage

Fall has finally arrived here in Texas! The days are cool and pleasant and the leaves are turning and blowing off the trees. One of my favorite times of the year.

I participated for the third time in iHannas Postcard swap. It is always such fun to create cards and send them but even more fun to recieve them in the mail. So far I have recieved 8 little jewels, I have shared a collage of them below. You can see more of the cards at http://www.iHanna.nu.  Thank you Hanna for creating another exchange!

"Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves. We've had our summer evenings now for October eves !" -- Humbert Wolfe

I know it's the middle of November but this was on a card from Canada and I liked the prose so I shared it! It fits with our fall which runs a bit later than some states.

iHanna's 2015 Fall Postcard Swap

30 Paintings In 30 Days, Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage



By The Light Of The Moon by Leada Wood©2015

Day 13 of the 30-30 challenge

So far during this challenge I have been trying to paint objects in sunlight. I thought for a change of pace I would try a night time scene, by moonlight. This is a study of a pumpkin truck in the moonlight.

30 Paintings In 30 Days by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

Quirky Quail by Leada Wood©2015

Day 12 of the 30-30 challenge

Painting another one of my collection of Talavera pottery. Since I have drawn and painted these I have even more respect for the Mexican craftsmen who decorate pottery. I know they have a quota that they must meet...pretty amazing when I think about it. They probably do dozens of large pots every day! I was relieved when I finished this daily painting, a little tedious.

 Thanks for stopping by...have a great weekend!

Remembering 9-11, Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

30 Paintings In 30 Days

Remembering 9-11 by Leada Wood©2015

Day 11 of the 30-30 Challenge.

I wanted to do something in rembrance of 9-11 so I decided to paint two symbols of our country. I still get chills at a ball game when the National Anthem is sung and I love to see Old Glory waving in the breeze against the bright blue sky. It brings tears to my eyes to think of all that has been given to keep our great nation home of the free...I hope we never forget. God bless America!

30 Paintings In 30 Days by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

Lemons ©Leada Wood, 2015

 

Day 8 of the 30-30 Challenge

Some days it is just harder to get it done, as simple as this looks...it takes time. This is my first attempt to render a lemon in watercolor and a learning curve. Painting yellows in watercolors is        

not easy, it is difficult to get various shades of the hue. That is why I enjoy the 30-30 challenge...it pushes me to try new things and to do a painting a day. Thanks for stopping by!

30 Paintings In 30 Days By Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Texas Artist, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

Natural Harmony ©2015 Leada Wood

 

 

Day 5 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

This is the companion piece to yesterday's Morning Light.  Painted in a triad of transparent watercolor, cobalt blue, permanent rose and lemon yellow on archival artist paper.

It is almost Monach season, I have seen a few floating around outside the window. Maybe they are scouts for the kaleidoscope of butterflies to come. We have Ash trees in our yard and some seasons they will be covered with monarchs...it is a sight to behold! Isn't nature amazing...everything working according to plan and in harmony, just the way our Creator intended.

Reminded me of the hymn "All Things Bright And Beautiful" by Cecil Francis Alexander.

Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful: 
the Lord God made them all.

1. Each little flower that opens,
each little bird that sings,
God made their glowing colors,
and made their tiny wings. 
(Refrain)

2. The purple-headed mountains,
the river running by,
the sunset and the morning
that brightens up the sky. 
(Refrain)

3. The cold wind in the winter,
the pleasant summer sun,
the ripe fruits in the garden: 
God made them every one. 
(Refrain)

4. God gave us eyes to see them,
and lips that we might tell
how great is God Almighty,
who has made all things well. 

Have a safe and relaxing weekend!

30 Paintings In 30 Days, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood contemporary Texas Artist, watercolor, mixed media and collage

Studio Still Life ©2015 Leada Wood

 

Day 2 of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. This still life is of a handcrafted pitcher I made years ago and from a bird I bought in Denmark at an artists studio. The artist was famous for his brown birds and I brought a small flock home with me.  I still enjoy my birds and think of all the amazing places our dear friends took us! No still life would be complete without the world famous pear.

30 Paintings In 30 Days, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist



Garden Fresh ©2015 Leada Wood

 

It's that time again! Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge and today is day one. This makes the 4th challenge I have done and so far I have finished all 30 days in each challenge. It is not always easy getting through the challenge but is a good feeling when I finish 30 paintings in 30 days. It is amazing to be a part of artists all over the world striving to reach the same goal.

We have been blessed with an abundant garden this year. Enough harvest to eat, freeze and share with family and friends. I love to paint the fresh peppers and tomatoes that come from the garden...you could say they inspire me. 

Nature is all around me and does inspire my creativity. Colors of every hue and description make me want to get out my brushes and keep them wet depicting flowers, fauna or vegetables from the garden. I hope you enjoy seeing what the next 30 days bring as I try to get a painting a day completed. Thanks for stopping by!

Magic Rabbit, Watercolor by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Magic Rabbit  ©2015 Leada Wood

 

This was a fun painting to do as I am still playing in the paint and enjoying the vibrant colors. I  sprinkled a little magic to give interesting texture to the background. 

I think there was a song by Jefferson Airplane called white rabbit...for some reason this painting reminded me of that song. Also Reminded  me of the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. I always loved Lewis Carol's Alice in Wonderland and Disney's intreptation of it...Didn't you? 

Mr. Raccoon, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Mr. Raccoon  ©Leada Wood 2015

Everything is brighter and more colorful in Texas according to our little 5 year old friend from Denmark. Rena Rose is a lover of animals and wanted to see specific ones when she visited us in June. We did see quite a few but Bootman could not catch Mr Raccoon that hangs around our farm. In honor of her visit I painted a very colorful, West Texas version of Mr. raccoon...I hope she likes it!

Happy 4th Of July America! by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Happy 4th of July America!

 

 

 

Celebration, by Leada Wood

Fireworks and Freedom always come to my mind when I think about the 4th of July. Along with swimming, sunburns, watermelon, homemade ice cream, family, friends and cookouts. I guess I am about as traditional as it gets when it comes to holidays. Wishing you a happy 4th!



Sweet And Juicy, Peach Season In Texas, By Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Sweet And Juicy" Copyright 2015 Leada Wood

Our showers of blessings in the form of rain has made Texas come alive with blooms of gorgeous wildflowers, fruits, gardens and of course weeds and mosquitoes! It has been a refreshing spring and summer has arrived! It lifts the spirits to see dry creeks run and lakes filling up...hope it keeps raining until they are all full. Eleven years of drought conditions begins to wear on you after a while. So nice to see everything green instead of brown and cracked. I have noticed more cows grazing in the tall, lush green grasses of the prairies, so happy they have plenty to eat. Feeling grateful and blessed!

The rain has brought on bumper crops of apricots, peaches and pears if they can just hang on through the high winds of the rainstorms. Our June peaches have already been picked, shared, eaten and placed in the freezer. I used one for a model and then ate it...delicious and juicy...yum...life is good.

Hope sweet things are in abundance in your life this summer.

Sketchbook Fun, Summer Dreams by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Painting in my sketchbook is very entertaining especially when I am dreaming out loud. Beachy things beckon to me...mermaids, seashells, sea horses practically anything to do with the beach besides hurricanes. I am landlocked at present but I can feel the pull...maybe because I was born in the sign of water or could be the need to get away and relax. I think I need a vacation! How about you?

I don't see the beach in my immediate future but I can go there in my dreams and sketchbook. Hope you are having a wonderful summer wherever you are and maybe get a little beach time.

iHanna's DIY Postcard Swap by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

I received the final two postcards of my 10 postcards for the IHanna's Spring postcard exchange. Hanna lives in Sweden and arranges the swap, sending addresses to people all over the world. Pretty amazing, don't you think? "I'm Notorious"is from Karen in Illinois...very dramatic! I was so excited to receive 10 little works of art in the mail...what FUN!

This artist did a series of ten entitled "School Of Life" loved the idea and the card! Laurie said she created 30 tiny zentangle fish and cut them out and collaged them to different backgrounds. Can you see the tiny bubbles? I thank all of the artists who sent me a card...hope you had as much fun as I did. A special thank you to Hannna for hosting yet another awesome exchange! Can't wait for the next one!