"ColorScapes" Contemporary Abstract by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"ColorScapes" by Leada Wood©

This Contemporary Abstract is acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas and is 24x24 inches.  I used texture to begin the painting and when dry started laying in vibrant, clean colors. I used a handmade stamp to give a little pattern and then wove the colors into that to incorporate it into the painting. This is another experimental painting completed in the Granbury workshop.

Lake Granbury Art Association has the nicest facility in the Shangley House close to the heart of Granbury. They have many master painters from all over the country come there to teach workshops. I was so impressed with the nice group of people, I became a member! I already signed up for the next workshop which is Carol Nelson from Colorado. I can't wait! I have waited nearly two years to get into one of her Texas classes.

Thank you Diana Littlejohn for all your hard work getting such high quality workshops.     

"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.

"Lucky Dogs" Watercolor Painting by Texas Artist Leada Wood

"Lucky Dogs" by Texas Artist Leada Wood©

This painting was done especially for my brother Ken's birthday, it is 15x22 watercolor on paper. There is a story that goes with the painting...my big brother loves hot dogs...all kinds of hot dogs but especially bratwurst. We were in New Orleans and every time we passed a Lucky Dog wagon he would have to get a hot dog. Every city he is in where they have hot dog wagons he patronizes them.
  Now Ken has a dog named Maxine and she is the sweetest dog ever! My brother loves Texas Tech Red Raiders and is a tailgater and Maxine goes to all the games...and Maxine loves hot dogs too! As a matter of fact Maxine and Ken were on television where Ken was throwing her bits of hot dogs at a tailgating event in New Mexico during one of the Tech games. So I thought it only right that Maxine should be in the painting as she is one Lucky Dog!
 Happy Birthday Brother!

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.

Art Journaling by Leada Wood

Art Journaling by Leada Wood©

During the Holidays I entered a painting in Creative Catalyst's Paint Out and I was one of the winners! I won Ann Bagby's new DVD "The Grunge Book: An Acrylic Art Journal". The DVD was very inspirational and got me fired up AGAIN to do an art journal.
 One of the things I wanted to accomplish this year was to start an art journal and draw and paint in it everyday....wellll...it hasn't happened yet! I have decorated several journal covers but have not until now started the inside of the book. Today I changed all that...I BEGAN my art journal. There is a little preparation in getting your book started but I think it will be worth the effort.

I keep files of words and pictures that spark my imagination and that is what I turn to when I want to play. It is very helpful and gets me going. Sometimes I add a veil of paint transparently so that I can paint on top of that and the words are not so obvious.

Sunny Days by Leada Wood

Sunny Days © Leada Wood

We have been getting lots of moisture in Texas over the winter and spring which has really brought the wild flowers on strong, especially the pretty yellow flowers.
I just love springtime in Texas!
My mom's favorite color was yellow and she really liked sunflowers, as do I. I Love to see the giant ones heavy with seeds swaying in the wind with their heads bent over. Every time I see some I have to stop and snap a few photos for future paintings. I have done  several sunflower paintings and never tire of painting them, so cheery to look at.
This painting is 8x10 on Arches paper painted with transparent watercolor and it needs a home!

Spring Scenes by Leada Wood

Spring has definitely sprung at Dragonfly Farm! Here are some of our cute kids of Sunnye Brooke Farm with Boot Man admiring the newest kid on the farm. Now that's a Kodak moment!

Baby llamas are abounding! I have seven babies at this time. Sure glad it has been a gentle winter as they came a couple of months earlier than I would like. Very thankful that we have enough wheat for them to eat, as last summer we were having to buy hay and that was getting hard to come by.

Our fruit trees are in all their glory, a beautiful sight. I may see some peach blossom paintings in my future! I love Spring! The earth is reawakening, the promise of Resurrection...what's not to love! I have been busy planting and enjoying the warm days. Too nice to be indoors so not much painting going on...but lots of inspiration all around. I have been soaking up the sunshine as well as the inspiration in the great outdoors. Taking lots of photos for future paintings...love my digital camera!

Hope you enjoyed taking a peek at what I have been up to and my life on the farm! Y'all come back now!

Joy! by Leada Wood

Joy! by Leada Wood©

Another day another journal! I keep a stash of hand painted papers on hand so that when I feel like doing a collage my papers are ready to go. When I don't have a painting going and don't want to start one...I break out the papers and start painting and stamping on them. This releases my creativity and after a bit I am ready to go on to the next painting, or journal.


The colors on this journal were so bright and cheerful that I had to paint "Joy" on top. If you haven't tried collage yet,you really should! It is so relaxing layering all the beautiful colors and designs to create something new. There isn't a wrong way...you just keep layering until it pleases you...or as Gerald Brommer says "until you can't pick it up!"