Composition 1 by Leada Wood, Contemporary Artist of Texas

This is the finished mono print after several hours of finding forms, pushing and pulling the colors and shapes...tweaking it here and there. I decided to collage some black prints I had done on tissue paper to give a little more interest to the composition. I enjoyed playing with my new printing technique, I have done mono prints before but they were never this easy.  They make a nice starting point for an experimental piece. I will continue to work with this technique to see where else this process will take me. Art is a journey...after all.

Mono Print using Gelli plate

Today was playtime at Studio 20! I have a Gelli plate that has been sitting around waiting for me to try it out so today was the day. I used crafters acrylic paints and spread paint, stamped, drew into the paint and lots of various things to get this print.  I printed several times with different colors and techniques and printed many sheets of paper. I liked the circles on this one and the colors so I decided it was a good starting point. I have soooo much to learn about the gelli printing technique! The thing is you get a substrate that you probably could not get the look of just by painting, there are lots of layers and things going on on this 8x10 sheet of paper.


 

Peace by Leada Wood

by Leada Wood ©

This is another Little Jewel, 5x7 with lots of layers. I make my own collage papers and a lot of my stamps so that it will give an original look to my art. I love adding embelishments to my work.

This is the begining of this little jewel. 

Making Paper For College by Leada Wood, Contemporay Artist Of Texas

These young ladies are painting deli papers. This is the first step in creating your personal collage papers. you can also use, art tissue, gift tissue or any number speciality papers. You must have color harmony so we choose 3 primary colors, red, yellow and blue. Added water to the paint, just a little, and painted papers.

To change the colors up a bit the girls added a little black to create a different tone. As you can see you need lots of space when you are creating your papers.

The whole studio was covered in painted papers! This is only the first step. The girls have started making their stamps to decorate their collage paper. People sometimes have a misconception about college...that it is just gluing papers to a substrate.  But noooo....a true collage artists starts from scratch and makes their own original papers. A lot of work but the results are worth it!

Legends by Leada Wood, Artist Of Texas

Legends by Leada Wood©
www.leadawood.com


This is a 12X12 torn paper collage on a deep cradle canvas...no need for framing as the painting wraps around.
The Meek's children's hospital in Abilene holds a special place in my heart, as my grandson Carter was one of the poster kids a couple of years back. It is not a place you want one of your loved ones to be in but I am very thankful for their care, concern and ability to heal. We have been donating to their cause for many years as a business. This year I had the opportunity to donate a work of art to their auction at Hendrick's Hospital.
Hendrick's Hospital sponsors a Legends Dove Hunt the first of September every year to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network.
 I decided to do a torn paper collage in honor of the dove hunt with a map of Abilene in the background and various paper from the Legend's brochure . Their is absolutely no paint on this painting...just torn paper from various sources. Fun to do...kind of like a puzzle.
This one is for you Carter!

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!