30 Paintings In 30 Days by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

"Spirit Dreams" by Leada Wood©2015

Day 21 of the 30-30 challenge

"Spirit Dreams" is an acrylic mixed media painting. I begin by writing words or verses onto the blank canvas board. Then I use Gelli Prints that I create for the figures. I collage them on to a canvas board which has many layers of paint and papers, some are just barely visible. Mixed Media is a process and I really like doing them. It is almost like a puzzle to get all the patterns, textures and colors unified into a painting...and you never know IF or how it will turn out...just like any other media. 

I saw this on Bob Burridge's Bob Blast today.

"Collage is an intuitive process of concealing, revealing, adding and subtracting until the artist's goals and intentions emerge from the layers 

of construction and paint. Using a variety of materials and techniques, 

the artist invents in their "laboratory for creativity." Keeping with the 

original history of college art, it's all about risk-taking, new ideas, intentions and inventions."

That pretty much sums it up.

Mixed Media by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

      "Dream Weaver" Copyright 2015 Leada Wood

I found this today in my flat file, not sure I have posted on my blog. "Dream Weaver" is a mixed media piece, mounted on black and is 12x12. I made the tiny sculpture from clay and painted all the collage papers...oh there is some embossing and glass beads thrown into the mix as well. I created another one similar to this one and gave it to a dear friend, it was entitled "Artin' Around".

Thanks for stopping by!

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

Leada  Wood

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Green Tea by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 15 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge...half way to the finish line!

Maybe you have wondered about my obsession with Asian things...well it is almost Chinese New Year. 2014 is the year of the horse. I started this series and I am having so much fun with it I don't want to stop! I am sitting here looking at the paintings together and they make a really cute grouping. I can't wait to do some more of them!  Got a few ideas marinating...keep you posted!




Green Tea by Leada Wood ©2014

Azure Angel by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Azure Angel by Leada Wood, Copyright 2013
www.leadawood.com or www.leadawood.com/blog

This is another in my cruciform series, so much left to explore! This one really took a twist as I kept seeing a blue angel or figure in it so that is where I let the painting take me. This is what I like about painting abstractly...you begin and the process starts... you never know where you will end up until you get there!

I never thought from this beginning that it would turn into a figurative painting. I put lots of texture and collage and threw in some graphic lines. Nothing in mind except to do another cruciform painting...exploration. Again a horizontal beginning turned into a vertical format.

This is where I started seeing a figure. I changed directions and made it into the painting at the top...my Azure Angel. I hope you enjoy seeing a little of the process and reading about the journey. I'm glad you stopped by!

DREAMING by LEADA WOOD, TEXAS ARTIST

DREAMING BY LEADA WOOD©
DO NOT COPY!

 I chose Matisse  because I too enjoy experimenting with a variety of styles and employing new techniques to create my own pictorial language.

Henri Matisse was one of the most influential artists of the Twentieth century whose stylistic innovations altered the course of Modern Art and spanned 6.5 decades.

 Matisse used lots of designs and an abstract quality and was not a slave to photo realism. I use lots of patterns, textures and work abstractly to portray my version of realism. We both enjoy pure colour!

 Late in life while recovering from surgery Henri began his scissor art and it became his favored medium until the end of his life and was the dominant medium of his expression.

I love to make collage art and it is my favorite medium...I only hope I do Henri justice! I think Henri and I had a lot in common both in art and the way we look at life. We both want to paint what is serene, soothing, and a calming influence on the mind. No depressing or troubling subject matter for us. We both love texture, pattern, pure color, and to work expressively.

 Here are two of my favorite Matisse quotes:

"He who loves flies, runs, and rejoices; he is free and nothing holds him back."

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

I hope you enjoy my interpretations of Henri Matisse. It was very inspirational looking at all the wonderful art he created during his long career and learning about his life. What a pleasure it was to visualize two very different works and bring them into being for this exhibition.

This painting was created for the Messin' With The Masters Show at the Heritage Museum. It is 16x20 collage with handpainted paper on canvas.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mardi Gras by Leada Wood, Contermporary Artist Of Texas

Mardi Gras by Leada Wood©




I always wanted to go to Mardi Gras. It looks like such a fun and lively time! I think it would be better to see it from afar, on one of the balconies overlooking the parade. I am a little claustrophobic so I would not like being surrounded by an ocean of people. When I finished this painting it had a festive, colorful flair to it and being Mardi Gras season at the time decided that would be a good name. The vivid colors reminded me of New Orleans.

 This contemporary abstract painting is 22x28 on archival rag paper, painted with acrylic paints.
This painting is available!

White Line Fever by Leada Wood, Contemporary Artist Of Texas

 

 

 

 

 
Do you ever wonder how to tell if an abstract is finished? I thought this one was but I ran across it the other day as I was cleaning or moving piles and decided to revisit it and add some more to it.

 

This is a close up of the variation of the textures and colors that are through out the painting. I didn't use any fancy mediums under the paint. It is just layers and layers of paint.

I kept the white transparent in places where the under painting could glow.

 

I decided to add a transparent circle in the focal point and to keep it company I added some smaller orbs in different sizes for interest and design purposes.

Another close up of the texture of the paint. I made sure this one was finished this time as I signed it, sealed it and framed it! It is acrylic paint on paper and is 22x28 and is available.

Composition 1 by Leada Wood, Contemporary Artist of Texas

This is the finished mono print after several hours of finding forms, pushing and pulling the colors and shapes...tweaking it here and there. I decided to collage some black prints I had done on tissue paper to give a little more interest to the composition. I enjoyed playing with my new printing technique, I have done mono prints before but they were never this easy.  They make a nice starting point for an experimental piece. I will continue to work with this technique to see where else this process will take me. Art is a journey...after all.

Mono Print using Gelli plate

Today was playtime at Studio 20! I have a Gelli plate that has been sitting around waiting for me to try it out so today was the day. I used crafters acrylic paints and spread paint, stamped, drew into the paint and lots of various things to get this print.  I printed several times with different colors and techniques and printed many sheets of paper. I liked the circles on this one and the colors so I decided it was a good starting point. I have soooo much to learn about the gelli printing technique! The thing is you get a substrate that you probably could not get the look of just by painting, there are lots of layers and things going on on this 8x10 sheet of paper.


 

"Landscape" Contemporary Abstract by Texas Artist Leada Wood

"Landscape" Contemporary Abstract by Texas Artist Leada Wood ©

I don't usually do landscapes , but I did enjoy this challenge in Douglas Walton's Walton's Workshop as it was anything but ordinary. We had to think outside the box as we chose five colors and laid them down randomly. We had to let it happen not make it happen and be willing to let insight come.  We then had to decide what was needed and add the unexpected.
Douglas Walton's classes are all about design and creativity and not the ordinary. Such fun!

Visions And Voices by Leada Wood

 ©Leada Wood Visions And Voices 22x28 Latex

Do you ever wonder where an artist gets their ideas? I don't know about others but I know I get ideas from everywhere! Dreams, nature, music...life is full of mysteries just waiting for us to explore. We just have to be open and slow down enough and be aware enough to let them unfold. The hard part sometimes is getting it out of your head and onto your drawing paper just the way you imagined it. That is the beauty of abstracts...you can let your imagination run wild and attempt to capture it in your painting.

"Quiet Journey" Contemporary Abstract by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Quiet Journey" by Leada Wood ©

This contemporary abstract is 24X24 painted with acrylics on gallery wrapped canvas. I layered texture and used a stencil that I had cut out Mylar,adding more texture in various ways. I decided I wanted to go for a tonal painting...using black and white with a splash of red for interest. I guess you could say this was a study in values and textures. I created this one in the Carolyn Riegelman workshop in Granbury.

"Gardens Of The Sun" Contemporary Abstract Painting by Texas Artist Leada Wood



"Gardens Of The Sun" by Leada Wood ©

I just completed a workshop in Granbury with artist Carolyn Riegelman. There were about 20 artists creating abstract paintings...putting layer upon layer of paint on the canvas. There were so many wonderful and exciting paintings created last week, any gallery would have had a fantastic show!
 I have heard so many people say of abstract painting, "Oh my 3 year old could do that". Well I am here to say there is more to it than meets the eye! No visual references only intuitive painting. I enjoy the texture and playing around with color and shapes...trying to bring my vision into reality. No it is NOT easy painting Abstracts and I think if you have doubts you should give it a try!
This painting is 24X24 on gallery wrapped canvas.

White Line Fever by Leada Wood

White Line Fever by Leada Wood ©

This is another Journey Painting that I did in Douglas Walton's workshop.  These paintings are pure spirit and pure energy...letting go and letting the painting develop...decreasing the complexity of the composition and increasing the energy of the paint. I started with a very free under painting and then applied a journey drawing on top and added what I thought it needed to complete the composition. This painting is still in the incubation stage waiting for insight to come. I think I will probably add something in the black square to give the focal point more interest. Any suggestions?

Ascension by Leada Wood

Ascension by Leada Wood©

Taking a workshop with M. Douglas Walton is always an adventure in creativity. I created this painting in his workshop. It began as a journey drawing, 8x11,which I enlarged to a full sheet, 22x28 and put on hot pressed watercolor paper. I then put texture randomly on the paper...let it dry and did an under painting with latex paint, and then continued my journey in painting, bringing it to completion.

Artin Around by Leada Wood, Artist of Texas

Artin Around by Leada Wood©

My friend Linda coined the phrase "Artin' Around". She loves to get  friends together and go to art shows, museums or junkin'.  It doesn't matter what you are doing when a group of artists get together there is always fun!
This 12x12 collage was just fun to do...I started layering my papers that I had hand painted and playing around until I enjoyed the design. I then added one of my little moon faces that I make from clay and a couple of blue sparkles.
It's so nice to have friends to Art Around with!

O Happy Day by Leada Wood ©

O Happy Day by Leada Wood ©

This is a mixed media painting on canvas 12x12, with a two inch cradle. No need to frame as the painting goes around all sides. This painting has cheery colors and lots of interesting messages and layers of texture. The little sunflower is clay and sculpted by me! Of course I had to add my signature blings to complete the painting. This cheerful painting is for sale and would be uplifting everyday!