Feed The Birds by Leada Wood

Feed The Birds by Leada Wood©

This was the original painting I did in August of  last year. You can go back into my blog and see how I did this work step by step. It just never seemed finished to me so it sat in my studio while I decided what to do to make it better. I decided it needed more color and  interest on the girl...sooo I collaged a hat band and flower and repeated the pattern in her shirt and apron. It warmed the painting up and created more movement through the painting. A ghost bird seems to have appeared behind the pigeon. Anyway I am happier with this painting and it is finished...at least for now. I like her better...how about you?
Feel free to comment!
This is a mixed media painting.

Feed The Birds by Leada Wood©

Feed The Birds by Leada Wood, Artist of Texas

Feed The Birds by Leada Wood ©

This was fun mixing media with my watercolor, I will definitely continue playing around with this. Funny how a ghost bird appeared behind the one in her lap...hmmm...also looks like there is part of another one. That is what makes experimenting so interesting...you never know what is going to turn up OR if it will work out!  I did enjoy the way this background turned out...kind of moody and mysterious. Oh as I was taking the painting off the gator board I ripped it! AHHHHH! Used a different paper, not my usual Arches. Will use the rest of that paper for my students or collage, live and learn...





Feed The Birds by Leada Wood, Artist of Texas

Feed The Birds by Leada Wood ©

Well I can say one thing...this background has mystery! I have charged color wet into wet into her flesh and added a blue apron. Progess is being made!

Feed The Birds by Leada Wood, Artist of Texas

Feed The Birds by Leada Wood ©

Here we go again! This time I added a layer of Ultramarine blue and flow release.  Before I did that I used a pencil and drew into the other layers and wrote some things to give it a little mystery. Oh yeah there was some alcohol dribbled here and there and I used my brush handle while the other layers were wet and did some drawing. See I am just having fun with this! No worries. I always have a problem with backgrounds so that is why I decided to find another way of doing them. You never know until you try. Stay tuned to see if I can pull it off or if  I recycle.

Feed The Birds by Leada Wood, Artist of Texas

Feed The Birds by Leada Wood ©

Hmm, things have changed! I painted with gesso around the focal point and  when dry I painted with quin gold and added flow release to it. When that dried I added quin red and more flow release and turned it sideways so that is would flow.  Well anyway it is getting more interesting.....what do you think?

Feed The Birds by Leada Wood, Artist of Texas

Feed The Birds by Leada Wood ©

I started laying in watercolor but am not happy with the way things are going. Think I will have fun with this one, even if I ruin it I still have my drawing if things go bad, I can start over and use this paper for a collage painting.

Feed The Birds by Leada Wood, Artist of Texas

Feed The Birds by Leada Wood ©

When I was in New Orleans at Jackson Square I saw this lady  having lunch and sharing it with her pigeon friends. This little bird just hopped up on her lap to help himself to more. Luckily I had my camera with me, as always, so I captured the momemt. This is the drawing I did from the photo. I only drew the lady and the bird as they were what sparked my imagination. So this is the beginning of another painting....stay tuned!