"Just Elfin' Around" by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"The Fiddler"©2017Leada Wood

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! I have a passion for Christmas and the love and the magical feelings that abound during the season. It’s a family tradition in our home and I wish that we could keep the incredible kindness and good cheer that abounds alive the rest of the year!

My parents did Christmas amazingly well, not quite a page out of Norman Rockwell’s paintings but close. My daddy especially loved Christmas and was the Spirit of Christmas to me. We celebrated both the religious and secular nature of Christmas and observed the holidays from Thanksgiving until New Years Day. Don and I continue the festive traditions today and have a wonderful legacy to celebrate.

Growing up in a musical family was very special as our family band would get together and play nearly every Sunday in someone’s home. My daddy could play almost any instrument and play it well. During Christmas the carols played and were sung and got everyone in the spirit of the season. Those times are fondly etched in my memory still today.

After my daddy passed away in 1998, I started painting at least one Christmas painting every year and sometimes several. My collection has grown over the years and I enjoy sharing them with you.




Nearly twenty years later my muse was not to be contained so I embraced it and have a new series called “Just Elfin’ Around”. I hope my paintings bring happiness to you and put a little wonder back in the season.




                                                                                                               ---Gloria a Dios




                                                                                         


"The Fiddler" was the first in the series created in 2013 when Don and I  lived in Houston for a few months while he received treatments.

iHannas Postcard Swap by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

It was an exciting year for the iHannas postcard swap. The cards came from everywhere and were all original in design and this year I received a bonus card for 11 total! They came from Israel, Kodak Island Alaska, Jacksonville Florida, Shoreline Washington, 2 from Phoenix Arizona,  Redwood City California,  2 from Sweden, one I couldn't read the postmark, and last but not least Texas.

The top one with the pretty zinnias was from Alaska and she put a treasure of a cute ladybug pin on the top that was from the 1940s. The one below, in the spirit of autum colors had leaves that were made from paper that had flower seeds in them and it was from Texas.

Such fun making new friends all over the world! Creativity is putting your imagination to work!

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Creativity takes courage and  I thank all of these creative souls for sharing their art with me and Hanna for hosting the swap.

"Happy birds" by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

My Happy Birds all in a row have flown the coop and are making their ways to their new homes. iHannas 2017 autumn international postcard exchange was fun but now I must move on and create new images and stories. I have been getting little works of art in my post for a couple of weeks now from everywhere. Thank you to Hanna Anderson who lives in Sweden for hosting yet another wonderful exchange!

Here are my happy birds along with the envelopes I painted for the international cards. I was afraid that they might get lost on such a long flight. I sent cards to Israel, United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Sweden, Australia, South Africa, Sverige, as well as Indiana, California and Washington. I will share the ones I received on another post later. Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birds by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

The Autumn postcard exchange is here! When iHanna hosts a swap it is a fun event indeed. I decided to do a series of happy birds along with uplifting sayings...after all there is enough sadness in our world and it is my duty as an artist to entertain you. I hope you enjoy my little birds as much as I delight in creating them. Happy fall y'all!

A Different View, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"A Different View"  ©2017 Leada Wood

                                                                   

What to do with those paint blobs that dry and stack up on your palette...turn them into paintings of course! This cocky little rooster came to life as I began adding layers of dried acrylic skins."A Different View" was a fun experiment in my recent workshop with Bob Burridge. Thanks to Anna Lee and Jane for the skins as I had already used my extra paint on paper. There was an orange underpainting on the paper to begin and I used a greyish background to make my little feathered friend pop. What a fun and educational week...such a wonderful group of artists and friends!

"Ronny Rooster", Watercolor by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

 

"Ronny Rooster" ©2017 Leada Wood

One spring my parents brought home 24 fuzzy, yellow baby chicks to my brothers and I. They were such fun! I had one chicken that followed me everywhere, even to the corner grocery store. He waited by the door until I came out and then we walked home. Like all babies those cute little chicks grew up and it turned out they were all roosters. My special rooster did not like my mother and would spur her every time she went out side. He was a big ole boy too! Needless to say those roosters soon disappeared and we suddenly began having a lot of chicken dishes but I had lost my appetite for chicken. I think of those times every time I paint a rooster.

Painting and drawing animals seems to be my passion lately. Trying to capture their personalities in watercolor is challenging and I enjoy pushing my abilities to see if I can create a likeness. I hope you enjoy seeing them! Thanks for stopping by.

Drawing With Graphite, Dog Portraits by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Bob" ©2017 Leada Wood

Labradors are kind, pleasant and outgoing. Their keen sense of smell allow them to track any scent and follow the path of its origin. They are used in the military, police force and for service dogs. Labs have a soft, gentle mouth which allows them to be good hunting dogs for retrieving game birds. They are gentle with children and make excellent pets.

Happy May Day! Watercolor by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

The earliest May Day celebrations were held during the Roman Republic and appeared with Floralia, the Godess of flowers. As Europe became Christenized it became known for traditions of dancing around a maypole and crowing the Queen of May. Since the 18th century the Roman Catholics observe it with adorning the Virgin Mary with a crown of flowers and a two day feast. Fast forward to the 20th century and the  giving of small baskets of flowers or a paper cone with a small bouquet hung on a doorknob marked the first day of May.

Isn't it a shame that some traditions fall by the wayside in our fast paced world? I couldn't let the day pass without wishing you a happy May Day and sharing my little hummingbird and May flower with you!

Copyright 2017 Leada Wood

"Air Mail",Watercolor by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Air Mail" ©2017 Leada Wood

"Air Mail" was inspired by a birds's nest in an abandoned rural mail box. I started looking for a grouping of old rusted mailboxes and sketched them. Then I thought about the play on words airmail and how fun that would be.

Crows are a lot like people in that they are intelligent and adapt to their environment. They are sociable and sometimes live in communal roosts.

I combined the two concepts and came up with the painting "Air Mail" which show the crows borrowing from humans a nice nesting place in the country. A condo ready made for them to occupy. Looks like they are moving in!
                                                                   
"Air Mail" is on exhibit at the Buddy Holly Center, Lubbock, Texas with the ALWT spring show "The Borrowers" from April 7th to May 21st. Stop by and see how a group of painters interpret the theme of The Borrowers.                                                                            

Tulip Time, Watercolor by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Happy Spring! It's Tulip Time in Texas. Don't you just love springtime? It's like the earth is bursting forth with blooms and buds everywhere...and the lovely spring green of the trees glistening in the sun absolutely takes your breath away. Not to mention the gorgeous, delicate fushia blooms of the fruit trees and redbuds. Inspiration is all around!

 As an artist it is hard to focus, so much beauty around me. I want to paint it all and share with you, my world as I see it. The baby lambs, calves and llamas in the green pastures...baby chicks, ducks and birds, flowers blooming. Beauty is all around us, we just have to look around and observe it and take the time to be grateful for all that we have.

 I think Claude Monet said it best, "I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers."

"Tulip Time" ©2017 Leada Wood

 

Drawing With Graphite, Dog Portraits, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Known as the country gentleman because of his black and white tuxedo markings, the Boston Terrier is lively, smart and affectionate with a gentle and even temperament. Who wouldn't love those big, dark, sad eyes? Happy ST Patricks Day!

"Pepper" ©2017 Leada Wood

Drawing With Graphite, Dog Portraits, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Foxxy Jewel" ©Leada Wood2017

Foxxy Jewel is my grand dog and she is some dog. She enjoys swimming in the family pool and dressing up in costumes. You will see her adorned for every holiday. This Corogi even has her own Facebook page...she might be one spoiled d o g.

Corogi are playful, outgoing, and friendly. They are small dogs with a big dog's heart and attitude. Originally breeded for herding cattle they are now family companions and are very trustworthy and loyal. The queen of England is quite fond of them and has several, I guess you could say they are royal dogs.

One cool dog!

Drawing With Graphite, Dog Portraits by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Precious" by Leada Wood©2017

Didn't you just love Disney's Lady and the Tramp? It was just the cutest movie ever! This is my fourth drawing in my "Drawing With Graphite" series. Spaniels are quite a challenge to draw...all of that hair! I sure hope it is a little easier if I decide to paint it.

Drawing With Graphite, Dog Portraits by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Rascal" by Leada Wood©2017

This is the third dog in my series " Drawing With Graphite". This little dog nearly whipped me! As of now I think it is more difficult to draw a short haired dog versus longer hair but that opinion could change with the next portrait.

 My grandmother had a little chihuahua named Rascal and he was very fierce and protective of her. That little dog scared me as he was a friend to no one but my cousin and my grandmother. Funny thing...when my cousin would get asthma my grandmother would put him in bed with her and the next morning her asthma would be gone but the dog would be wheezy. Go figure...

Drawing With Graphite, Dog Portraits, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Ok, ok, it's official! I have gone to the dogs...at least that is what I have been drawing lately. I thought I would share a few of these doggie delights with you during the next few post.

Kris Kringle by Leada Wood©2017

  It's rather difficult to take a pencil and paper and create something much less try to make it recognizeable. I love to draw and have been doing it for years and it is still a challenge which I embrace with enthusiasm. I can tell my hand muscles are a bit out of shape as my right hand is getting sore. It is a lot of repeated motion.

  I use a mechanical pencil, vellum, stump and kneaded eraser when I draw. I like the mechanical pencil because I don't have to sharpen it and it makes a fine line. The vellum is a smooth surface paper and has no tooth so I can push the Graphite around with my stump or use my eraser to lift it. The vellum also doesn't turn yellow like a lot of drawing paper. Do you have a favorite drawing paper that is acid free? Please share the brand in the comments.

 This little pup reminded me of my parents miniature schnauzer Kris Kringle which we gave them one Christmas. He was a comical dog and loved to take naps with my dad. He wasn't allowed on the bed but mom could see the imprint of his head on her pillow. He was a good companion and they sure loved that rascal. Thanks for stopping by!

Okay, okay it's not like I am short of brushes! We all have our favorites...like the ones Bootman gave me for Christmas...pure sable...very exquisite. Some gals want Sable coats I longed for Sable brushes.    I guess he must have heard the yearning in my voice and decided that would make my dreams come true. They handle differently from the synthetic brushes I am use to and it is a learning curve but I can already tell they are special and will enjoy using them.

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This brush is also a favorite, a shape maker and the pointed end had sat curved in my brush container for a while. Long enough to ruin it or so I thought. It was frozen into a J shape and no matter what I did I could not make it return to its original shape. I tried everything and finally googled how to save a brush. Who knew! I placed it in boiling water, like the article said and pounced it around and voila it bounced back into it original form. Don't you just love Google?

Mixed Media, Working In A Series, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Love" by Leada Wood©2017

Working in a series

Happy Valentines Day! What better way to make Valentines than with Mixed Media. I like working in a series and with Mixed Media so it is a win-win situation. They may not all turn out exactly as you would like but working in a series makes them not as precious so you are free to play. I am working small and have started with a lot of cards. Incorporating collage, stamping, water soluble crayons, acrylics, intense pencils and stencils so far. These are still in process and the more layers the better! I also clean my brushes and stamps on extra paper or in a sketchbook so that I have collage material or a background for my art journal. Repurposing is always better than creating more garbage.

 "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage".

Forsythia, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

The Forsythia is blooming...it always blooms in February...sometimes in the snow and it reminds me of Mama. She loved the color yellow and its bright cheery hue is a pleasant respite from the grey of winter, a promise that Spring isn't far away. Today there are bees buzzing and drinking the sweet nectar that it offers and two yellow butterflies floating around the fragrant bush. It is a beautiful day for soaking in the sunshine. I have had these bushes for a long time. Mama dug them up with my Dad and brother in the woods in Virginia and brought them home to Texas. She loved her Forsythia and looked forward to its bright blooms every February.  I now continue the cycle, happy to see its blooms and remember  Mama.



"Beach Boyz", Watercolor, Figure Painting by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Our sweet family loves to go to the beach...maybe because we live in dry west Texas and the water beckons to us like sirens of old. You know sirens, the sea nymphs...part woman and part bird who lured mariners by their seductive singing. They were also quite beautiful. Getting a little off track here but the beach does call our name and we do make several trecks  a year to enjoy the sea.

Maybe that is why I enjoy painting the kids doing beach things so I can flash back in my mind to the days we were there and having great fun. Life is slower and a little sweeter there and we play more. Nothing like fun in the sun on any beach.


                                             
                                                

"Beach Boyz" by Leada Wood ©2017

I have painted this scene twice before but still I am trying to capture the essence of the scene. I think I am getting closer! I loved the light in the photograph and the closeness of the boys sharing an experience they both enjoyed. 

Thanks for stopping by!



"Midnight Dreams", Mixed Media, Abstract Collage by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

I am honored to be a part of the LHUAC's invitational 20th year celebration. The show opens Friday in Lubbock in conjunction with the First Friday Art Trail and will run thru February. This piece is 12x12 with hand painted papers, found papers and a small clay sculpture and is available through the Art Center.

I hope the weather holds! Winter has arrived in Texas!



"Midnight Dreams" by Leada Wood©2016