First Friday Art Trail by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Original Art by Leada Wood©2017

It's that time again! Don't the months seem to zip by  faster and faster? Whoever said time flies was spot on.
February is the month of love and what better way to say "I love you" than  a romantic evening in the art district in Lubbock, Texas. First Friday will be happening February 3rd from 5pm until 10pm. I will be selling my original art at the Louise Underwood Center For The Arts, if you are in the area please stop by and say hi.

Parrot Of The Caribbean, Contemporary Bird Art by Leada Wood,Texas Artist

Parrot Of The Caribbean is painted in acrylic paints and is on the cover of my new travel sketchbook. He was such a fun and lively looking little fellow that I thought he might bring a smile your way today. Now to start on the inside! Have a wonderful weekend!

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 Bootman is a pilot so I get all the outdated maps for collage papers.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

Happy Fourth Of July! Watercolor Painting by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Happy Fourth Of July" by Leada Wood©2015

Happy Fall Y'all by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Whooo's In The Pumpkin Patch? Copyright Leada Wood 2014

Autumn is my favorite time of year...the weather is pleasant and the haverst is in. I especially love all the cheery orange pumpkins and the trees turning shades of gold and red. " Whooo's In The Pumpkin Patch" is  9x11 unmatted, transparent watercolor created lovingly with artist grade materials and is available. 

"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

 Live Joyfully!

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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

 Live Joyfully!

my website

Dutch Art Gallery
Studio Twenty



 

 



PURPLE IRIS BY LEADA WOOD, TEXAS ARTIST

PURPLE IRIS

 

9X11

PURPLE IRIS BY LEADA WOOD

AVAILABLE



 

I was reading an article by Kathie George on batik watercolors. Although I have been doing batik watercolor for a long time her technique was a little different from mine so I thought I would give it a go. I used my mixture of batik wax instead of paraffin like she suggested.  I did enjoy using brushes instead of the batik tools I normally use.  I enjoy the feel and the looseness it gives to the painting. The scariest part of all, in both techniques is at the end when you wad your rice paper into a ball. Sometimes holes occur so one must proceed with caution and practice. I also have done batik  with  acrylic paint and that's another whole ball of wax!

Have a great weekend!

 

 

 

 

#leadawoodart #mixedmedia #watercolor

Leada  Wood

 Live Joyfully!

my website

galleries



 

 



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.
 

#leadawoodart #mixedmedia #watercolor #contemporary art

Leada  Wood

 Live Joyfully!

my website

galleries



 

 



 

Leather And Lace by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

The hardest part of doing abstracts for me is naming them! I can't let my creation go untitled...that is like having a child and never giving it a name...kind of. It is a pet peeve of mine that an artist is creative enough to make a painting yet too lazy to think up a name, or maybe uncaring.  When I am painting realism the names just pop into my head during the process. I guess when I am doing abstract I become so absorbed and right brained that all thinking stops...I just go with the flow...until it's over...and needs a name.

This 8x8 mixed media on gesso board is available. Just comment! 

                                              

                                             Leather and Lace copyright 2014 by Leada Wood

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

Black Cat, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 24 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

My brothers always liked firecrackers, but they scared me! I did enjoy the big ones that blew up in the sky but didn't like the small ones you had to light...I was more of a sparkler girl.

 I was discussing with boot man about doing a firecracker painting, I had in mind doing one big firecracker. Hearing him talk about his firecracker days and black cats stirred up a lot of memories of the 4th, and one thing let to another. I never liked that mean looking cat on their packages either! I was such a sissie girl.

Many historians believe that Independence Day’s most explosive form of entertainment originated in China, which continues to produce and export more fireworks than any other country in the world. It is thought that, as early as 200 B.C., the Chinese had already stumbled upon a sort of natural firecracker: They would roast bamboo, which explodes with a bang when heated due to its hollow air pockets, in order to ward off evil spirits.

At some point between 600 and 900 A.D., Chinese alchemists—perhaps hoping to discover an elixir for immortality—mixed together saltpeter (potassium nitrate, then a common kitchen seasoning), charcoal, sulfur and other ingredients, unwittingly yielding an early form of gunpowder. The Chinese began stuffing the volatile substance into bamboo shoots that were then thrown into the fire to produce a loud blast. The first fireworks were born.

The firecrackers, both then and now, are thought to have the power to fend off evil spirits and ghosts that are frightened by the loud bangs of the firecrackers. Firecrackers are used for such purposes today at most events such as births, deaths and birthdays. Chinese New Year is a particularly popular event that is celebrated with firecrackers to usher in the new year free of the evil spirits.

     Black Cat by Leada Wood copyright 2014

Oh Hummingbird! By Leada Wood,Texas Artist

Day 23 of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.

Hummingbirds are natures jeweled messengers and there is a lot to be learned from the smallest of birds. Because of its speed, a hummingbird is known as a messenger and a stopper of time. It is  also a symbol of love, joy, and beauty. Hummingbirds are able to fly backwards, hover and stop in an instant. They are fierce warriors defending their territory from other hummingbirds, and are tireless always seeking the sweetest flowers.

When a hummingbird hovers over a flower drinking nectar, we learn we should savor each moment, and appreciate the things we love. They remind us of the beauty of life, and to appreciate the magic of the moment and to enjoy the gift of being alive.

In China and around the world the Hummingbird symbolizes powerful energy, transformation and joy. This tiny, colorful bird also symbolizes the ability to overcome the impossible, as well as flexibility in life circumstances.

I can't wait for spring and their return!



Oh Hummingbird, by Leada Wood©2014

 

Lotus Flower by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 20 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

Well it's getting tougher to get the painting a day done and get it on three blogs and face book. Whew! Ten more days! I think I can, I think I can! I hope I can!

Still doing my Asian series for the Chinese New Year. The Lotus flower has many meanings in Chinese culture but the one symbol I liked was purity. I thought it especially fitting for a white Lotus blossom.

Lotus Flower by Leada Wood ©2014

Moon Lantern, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 18 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I still painting every day but today I noticed my right hand was beginning to hurt. Painful...it hurt all day. I hope it's not tendonitis setting in. There are pitfalls of being a painter. Seclusion, tendonitis, neck ache back aches, writing on 4 blogs is quiet a challenge in itself! And posting on Face Book...oh my! It has been a very busy month! That is just when you can squeeze it in between the other jobs and life. I have been staying up way too late getting the business of art completed but that's ok because it's my life and I enjoy it...it's who I am.

This year, the year of the horse, the lunar new year will begin with the new moon on January 31st. The Chinese New Year is a fifteen day event, now that's a celebration! Chinese lanterns play a big part in the celebration especially red lanterns as red is a lucky color.  People will write their wishes and desires on their lanterns and then pray for them to come true. The lantern festival officially ends the new year celebration and commences the next new moon after the celebrations beginning.

I hope you are enjoying following my Asian series as I find their culture very fascinating. They have been around for thousands of years and have invented many things .Their culture is quite evolved in music, dance, theater and art. I hope you will check back tomorrow as I will have another surprise  for you!

Moon Lantern by Leada Wood ©2014

Sushi! by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 17 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.





Sushi! by Leada Wood©2014

I know...Sushi is Japanese but this is an Asian inspired series so it qualifies, right? I can't say sushi without smiling...it's just fun to say!  I also can't think of it without thinking of my niece. She and her husband love the stuff.

Lucky Coin by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 16 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.




Lucky Coin by Leada Wood ©2014

Chinese cash coins, round bronze coins with a square hole in the middle were made for more than 2,000 years. There are hundreds of different types with thousands of varieties. Most  coins have an inscription of four Chinese characters to identify the historical time of their casting and their monetary value. Most Chinese charms, or lucky coins also have four or more character inscriptions but they do not have monetary value. Instead the inscriptions are to bring good luck, good fortune, good health or some other wish to avert misfortunes. They are very big in Feng Shui.

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

Chinese Take Out by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 14 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. Whoo Hoo! Nearly half way there! I have been having such fun painting my Asian series. They are small 6x6 and would make a cute grouping..so far there are 4. They are available, just contact me here: www.leadawood.com. Thanks for looking!

"Chinese Take Out" by Leada Wood copyright 2014

By The Light Of The Silvery Moon by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 7 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. One week down...only 23 days to go! It is very difficult to keep up the pace, but I keep cheering myself on and doing a painting a day. It's a mind game. Your comments make my day as well. Today I needed a change of pace so I did a mixed media, a little smaller than I have been painting. I may be down to Artists Trading card size by the end!

When I do mixed media I created my own papers using hand carved stamps and hand cut stencils from my designs. There is a lot of creative process in mixed media collage as well as many layers. It is a lot more work than painting but I enjoy it.

"By The Light Of The Silvery Moon" is 8x8 on canvas board with collage, silver leaf and acrylic paint.

By The Light Of The Silvery Moon by Leada Wood ©2014