"Goldie", Coastal Painting by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Ok, ok, maybe I am watching too much Island Life and Beachfront Bargain Hunt...but they are

inspirational for my beach series. Things are really heating up in Texas and nice cool water looks good wherever it is!

Adela Pech once told me to never lose my sense of whimsy in my art and thinking about beach things makes me want to paint entertaining, vibrant, colorful paintings. Remembering all the fun island trips with the kids over the years just makes me smile...so I guess I am painting in my happy place now. 

Thanks for stopping by!

"Goldie" by Leada Wood©2016

Free To Be Me by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

"Free To Be Me" ©Leada Wood 2016

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my Happy, Whacky Bird series at least half as much as I enjoyed painting them. My desire was to bring color into your day and a smile to your face, I hope I succeeded. 

There is still time to run by Howard College and see them closer. The Caboose Watercolor exhibition will close May 4th. The show is  excellent with exciting work from various artists.

"Art is, after all, only a trace...like a footprint which shows that one has walked bravely and in great happiness."

                                                                                                                       ---Robert Henri                                               

Blackbird Fly, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

"Blackbird Fly" by Leada Wood ©2016

I just loved the Beatles...I can remember seeing them on the Ed Sulliven show. It was their first American performance. I was pretty young but my younger cousin and I followed our older cousin to their house to see what it was all about. I didn't quite get it...all those girls screaming on tv...and of course my older cousin was quite excited as well. I soon got it though and still enjoy their music. They were very creative and their music kind of changed the world of music. I never got to see the Beatles in person although I have gone to many concerts since then but I did get to see Paul and Ringo perform.

Music takes you places as well as visual art. That is why it is so important to support the arts...to keep creativity alive in our fast paced world.  Where would we be without art? All great inventions begin with an idea born out of a creative mind. Everything you wear, live in, drive , talk on, began with a vision born out of creativity.

"Blackbird Fly" is another mixed media painting in my Happy, Whacky Birds series.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life you were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these sunken eyes and learn to see. All your life you were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly into the light of the dark, black night.

                                                                                                 ---The Beatles

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."