Happiness Symbols by Leada Wood, Artist Of Texas

Happiness Symbols by Leada Wood ©

This is a new little Jewel, only 5X7 with a powerful punch and message.  There are various symbols for happiness incorporated into this painting as well as the Japanese Kanji symbol for hapiness. This symbol can also be translated as blessed, welfare, well-being or fortunate.
I used the symbol of a man and woman, as I believe that one completes the other thus bringing happiness to each other. I used the coins for good fortune and prosperity.
The spiral is associated with the cycles of time, the seasons, cycle of birth, growth, death and then rebirth. Some also consider the spiral a symbol of a spiritual journey. Life doesn't progess in a straight line, it resembles a spiral. We seem to pass the same points over and over again with a different perspective each time.
The circle is an unbroken line which has no beginning, and no end which represents completeness.
The color orange is a power color! It stimulates creativity and enthusiasm. People who like orange are usually sincere and thoughtful. Lady Luck's color is orange.
The color turquoise is a friendly and happy color. It controls and heals the emotions creating stability and balance.
Can you believe one little Jewel has so much symbolism?




 

Right Brained by Leada Wood, Artist of Texas

Right Brained by Leada Wood©

I am very right brained...so does that mean I am in my right mind? I certaintly hope so!
This funny fellow is either having a bad hair day or has a very creative hairdo!
This painting is 8x8, acrylic on canvas and is sold!
Prints are available just contact me at: www.leada_w@hotmail.com for more info.

I am the right brain. I am creativity...a free spirit. I am passion...yearning...sensuality.
I am the sound of roaring laughter. I am taste. The feeling of sand beneath bare feet.
I am movement...vivid colors...I am the urge to paint on an empty canvas.
I am boundless imagination...Art...Poetry.  I sense...I feel. 
I am everything I wanted to be.

Front Row Shimmer by Leada Wood, Artist Of Texas

Front Row Shimmer by Leada Wood©

Beginning


The bottom photo is how this miniature piece started out. I lay down 4 or 6, 5x7 substrates and start playing. I have quiet  a stash of collage papers...just ask my friends...something was said about hoarding, but I disagree! I am a collector! And talk about Green Art! Look at all the things I am repurposing!
After I glue down all the paper I want to use, I start laying in the paint. I usually use acrylics along with lots of other things to get the effect I'm after.  I wanted to give this a soft, dreamy effect of a young girl stretching in the wings getting ready for her performance. I left the words Front Row Shimmer showing...thus the title of this little jewel.
 

Cosmic Energy by Leada Wood, Artist Of Texas



Cosmic Energy by Leada Wood ©

Speaking of Cosmic Energy....my new laptop is somewhere in the cosmos! I have been trying to post for over two weeks  and the compose dashboard has disappeared and the screen where you see the post was about two inches high! Uggggh!
don't know what is going on with it. So I get a brainstorm to try my trusty old laptop which the keys are falling off of and it hiccups along but by golly I am posting!  Sometimes I just want to forget all this technology! But nooooo, can't do without it now! Who would have thought 20 years ago we would always have a phone on our person and be in a constant state of communication via satellite. Gotta love it though! It is really hard to be unconnected...I feel so alone if my internet is not working...don't you?

This painting is a mixed media on paper created with hand painted papers, layered to give depth. There are select embellishments to give it an Asian feel.
Contact me at leada_w@hotmail.com

 

"God Bless Texas", by Leada Wood, Artist Of Texas

"God Bless Texas" by Leada Wood©

I guess you must have figured out I enjoy painting boots...the older they are the more personality they have. I am married to Boot Man and have been around boots most of my life and where we live are daily wear. I try to make each painting unique so that my patrons all have original works of art.

I was working on this painting  in my studio and a couple came in and the man saw it and asked if it was finished. I told him no I had more to do and he told me he wanted it and not to put it out when I finished. This painting is 16x20 acrylic on canvas and is SOLD! You can order an archival high quality print on canvas or paper by contacting me. 

Kody's Sugar Skull, by Leada Wood, Artist Of Texas

Kody's Sugar Skull ©Leada Wood

Can you believe it??? Already August! Summer is rushing by and I have been busy organizing and creating. I wish I could clone myself so that I could have a little help! You ever have that feeling? There is so much I want to do! I feel as if I am always racing the clock trying to get more out of each and every day. Life is good... And full... So many blessings to count! Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my work and feel very lucky to be able to do what I do.

In case you are wondering about these photos...this was a commission from a very special young man. Kody is my grandson and he will be going to his first year of college this fall. I can't believe that either! He asked me to do a sugar skull for his apartment. Never heard of that? Neither had I so I started googling sugar skulls. Very interesting...it has to do with the day of the dead in Hispanic culture. I don't know if you realize without seeing this in person how much painting I did on this bad boy! It has taken several weeks to paint. I guess you could say I paint on anything! Any how it was a fun challenge and there is nothing I had rather do that create for those I love. I hope he will think of his Nana... call me often and come see me when he comes home. I love you Kody Don!

Enjoy The Journey by Leada Wood, Contempory Artist Of Texas

Enjoy The Journey by Leada Wood©

My sweet niece has a very big heart. She has donated her hair to Locks Of Love and now she is going to shave her head on her birthday to raise money for St. Balricks to help find a cure for childhood cancer. She will be 24 on her birthday. Not many young folks at that age are into raising money for good causes.  She has also done various other things all year to raise money for this wonderful cause. I am so proud of this young lady! And thankful to all those who spend time and energy for good causes.

I wanted to help her raise even more money at her event on Tuesday, her birthday. I am donating this painting, the one she picked to  help her with her cause. We should do all the good we can while we are able. We have been given so much, so many blessings to enjoy! I hope you take the time today to be grateful for all your many blessings.

I love you Whitney and I count you as one of my blessings!

Oh a little about this painting! I painted the papers and tore them into pieces and layered them over an underpainting. I didn't paint the small angel on the right, she just appeared! Eerie! I did draw with a gold metal leaf pen around her to bring her into focus. I love the saying "Enjoy The Journey" so I added it to this painting as a reminder to us all.

"White Lightening" by Leada Wood

White Lightening by Leada Wood©


This is a small acrylic painting 6x8 on canvas. Finished today at Studio Twenty. There is texture, vivid colors and lines, oh my! Everything I love about Mixed Media. This one is full of energy and needs a home. Contact me!

"Stella" by Leada Wood, Artist Of Texas, Torn Paper Collage



Stella by Leada Wood©

This was a very special commission for a doctor for her intern, as a thank you for staying with her after her internship. It is always a little unnerving to do a portrait, whether it  be of a person or animal. We all hold such high expectations thanks in part to modern photography.  A painting is not a photograph no matter what the medium. The artist tries to capture the essence of the subject, to show a little of its soul.
 
I was a little nervous when I unveiled the above painting of Stella to her master, you never know how folks will react. Not to worry! Hilliary jumped up and down clapping her hands shouting that's my Stella! She then began to examine it more and tears welled up in her eyes and she gave me a big hug and told me she loved it!

 Now that made my day and all the time ripping and shredding paper and looking for just the right papers worth while. Torn paper collage is more of a challenge than just painting a picture as you use words, texture, symbolism and all manner of found papers to bring your subject to completion, kind of like a puzzle.

"Moon Shadows" by Leada Wood, Artist of Texas

Moon Shadows by Leada Wood©

Close up of Moon Shadows by Leada Wood©

This was started in Carol Nelson's workshop and has gone through many changes since then. I decided today what was needed to finish and here it is on my blog at last!  I started the same as in the previous post layering papers I had designed, then glazing.The flower is a new technique Carol taught in her workshop to paint our papers. After all the collaging I started laying in my lights and darks and putting the finishing touches on.

I love Moonflowers! My mom and grandmother always had them in their yards.They bloom at night and early in the morning. I haven't carried on the tradition as yet but I do see moonflowers in my future!