"Starr" by Leada Wood, Artist Of Texas

"Starr" by Leada Wood©

I love my studio/gallery, right on Interstate 20. You just never know who will wander in the door. I have had people from all over the world, literally. It is very interesting talking with them, getting to know a little about them and their country or state. I have had people from Russia, Denmark, China, Canada, Hungary, just to name a few off the top of my head. I keep a guest register to keep track of where everyone is from. This time of year is especially nice because of all the Snow Birds traveling south to warmer climates. I can't blame them...I am non too fond of the cold!

I had the nicest couple from Canada come in last week and we had a lovely visit. Made me want to visit their part of the world, I am always up  for a trip! He fell in love with Starr, said it reminded him of his wife. Starr will now live with the couple in Canada when they go back. It's a small world after all!

Chihuly Exhibition by Leada Wood, Contemporary Artist Of Texas

Renowned artist Dale Chihuly’s brings his dramatic sculptures and installations to the Dallas Arboretum. Many of the artist’s most well-known and iconic sculptures will be on display in the 66-acre garden. The Arboretum has extended the exhibition until December 30th. It is an incredible display throughout the garden, I know it will be beautiful through the Christmas Holidays. I hope I am able to go back to Dallas and see it again! It was amazing with all the fall flowers and pumpkins.
 I thought I would share my photos with you in case you cannot get to his show. ENJOY!

     

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED SEEING SOME OF THE INSTALLATION, IT IS MUCH MORE IMPRESSIVE IN PERSON. I KNOW IT WOULD BE EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL AT NIGHT. CHECK IT OUT AND GET YOUR TICKETS EARLY! IT IS WORTH THE TRIP!

                                                         HAPPY THANKSGIVING !

12x12 Show by Leada Wood, Contemporary Artist Of Texas

It has been a busy November...openings...receptions...demos...art exhibitions...Life is good! I want to invite you to the 12x12 show in Houston at the Betz gallery. Sorry I didn't get this posted earlier for those of you in the Houston area, the reception was last night, but you can still see the show as it will run until December the 7th. I hope you will try as there will be lots of wonderful artists from across our great state!

 There is also still time to see the Artist of Texas show at the Dutch Art Gallery in Dallas, it will run until January. The AOT show has an amazing variety of talented artist's work on display and for sale. Pam Messar is such a sweetheart and a joy to work with! I know she will make your visit a pleasure!

Some Like It Hot! by Leada Wood, Contemporary Artist Of Texas

Some Like It Hot! by Leada Wood©

I am so excited! October has been an awesome month for me! Besides celebrating 41 wonderful years with Bootman and going to Santa Fe I was one of the featured artists in two books and two magazines! I was published in Art Tells The Story, The Colors Of Texas, Southwest Art and in Visual Lanuage. I just had to crow! Pardon the pun :0)

This painting was juried into the Artists Of Texas Annual show at the Dutch Art Gallery, in Dallas Texas. The show opens November 3rd, with a reception from 11 to 3. I would love to see you there!

Cosmic Connection by Leada Wood, Contemporay Artist Of Texas

Cosmic Connection by Leada Wood©

This mixed media acrylic abstract is 18x24 on illustration board. I incorporated lots of textures and rich colors to this one. I enjoy the freedom of painting abstracts...it allows my creative child a chance to come out and play! I usually start with abandonment and then try to bring a little control to the painting in order to give the design a cohesive look. This one has lots of energy and movement to it. This painting is available!

Colors Of Autumn by Leada Wood, Contemporary Artist Of Texas

Bootman and I took an anniversary trip to Santa Fe to enjoy the autumn splendor of the mountains.

The mountains were ablaze in all God's glory. Beautiful golden aspen everywhere you looked.

I know I took a lot of tree pictures! But they were so gorgeous I couldn't resist! It is not every day a flat land girl sees the trees at their peak of autumn splendor.

Last tree picture...I promise. I am a genuine leaf looker.

Not only are the trees a sight to behold but the sage was blooming everywhere! Beauty surrounded us.

I love Santa Fe in the Autumn! The light is different up there...the colors are vibrant. I am not normally a landscape painter but I am having thoughts about some of these photos! They would make lovely paintings...don't you think?

This was a friendly fellow and was the greeter at the entrance to the Santuario De Chimayo. A nice lady kept feeding him carrots so he didn't mind posing at all.

This is a very special church, the Santuario De Chimayo. People consider it very holy and make pilgrimages here. It is very old and beautiful.

No trip to Santa Fe would be complete without a stroll up Canyon Road. Art is everywhere! Fabulous galleries and art abound! An artists Mecca.

I loved the light shining through the colorful umbrellas...don't you?

Santa Fe is always delightful, any time of year. The colors of the flowers are vibrant, the turquoise skies and purple mountains...sigh. I am ready to return, maybe in the spring. I hope you enjoyed seeing a little of my trip and if you have never been to Santa Fe, it is time to go!

Red And Black Squared by Leada Wood, Contemporary Artist Of Texas

 

Red And Black Squared by Leada Wood©

This Little Jewel is 6x6 and has lots of texture. I used a triad of red, black and grey, layer by layer. I am enjoying using a limited palette and exploring color fields a little more. There has been lots of stamping, scrapping and paint application going on in Studio Twenty! I turn up the music and create!
 This jewel is on paper with acrylic paint and I have adhered it to an 8x8 black canvas so all you have to do is hang it on the wall or place in a small easel. This one is available!
Please contact me at www.leada_w@

Color Fields by Leada Wood, Contemporary Artist Of Texas

I have been exploring color fields...doing series of them...lots and lots of them. I thought I would show you some of the more successful ones. As color field suggests, the color is the dominant element of the painting. It is the subject of the painting. You don't have to "get it" just enjoy the colors! It's all about the impact of color on your senses and emotions. So relax and enjoy the colors.

 

 

 

I used a triad of three colors. A green, red and yellow.

 

 

In this one I did a series exploring the triad of orange, gold and green.

 

 

 

Same triad as above. Love these warm, earthy, autumn colors!

 

 

 

 

I explored the triad of three different greens. A light, medium and dark.

 

 

 

 

Had to shake thing up a bit and get some brighter colors. This triad is red, magenta and orange.

 

 

 

Still enjoying those brights! This triad is two shades of violet and lime green.  I hope you enjoyed seeing what I have been up to. I know what you are thinking that anybody can just lay down color...go ahead...I dare you! I always thought that until I tried it...much harder than you think! At least to do it right. Some people spend their whole lives just doing color fields...exploring color. WOW! Imagine that. Mark Rothko was one of the masters of color fields. I will leave you with a quote from his book The Artist's Reality: Philosophies of Art, page 80:

"...abstract art does not employ subject matter that is obvious as either the anecdote or familiar objects, yet it must appeal to our experience in some way. Instead of appealing to our sense of the familiar, it simply functions in another category."
                                                                                         Mark Rothko

Hope you enjoyed seeing some of my color field explorations. Thanks for dropping by!
                                                              

Changes by Leada Wood, Contemporary Artist Of Texas

Changes by Leada Wood©
www.leadawood.com

October! Where has the year gone? I love fall...rich warm colors... crisp mornings...pumpkins...the feeling of change in the air. I enjoy using the rich warm color in my art as well. Nature inspires me...the shapes, colors and beauty.

This is a mixed media painting, 5x7, on illustration board using layers to give texture and depth.
 It is available!

Composition 2 by Leada Wood, Contemporary Artist of Texas

 

 

This 8x10 monprint has come a long way from the beginning, don't you think?  I enjoyed the complimentary colors of violets and greens but decided it needed  a spice color so I opted for a deep red. I guess you could say I am still going around in circles! But I did lose the snowman!

 

 

This is another Gelli mono print...mmm I see a snow man I am going to have to lose. I liked the colors and the circles on the right side so I thought it had possibilites for another experimental beginning.