With A Cherry On Top! By Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 21 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. Only 9 days until the challenge is complete!  I usually do something with my art everyday even if it is just dreaming it up. There is more to it than just painting...there is conception, drawing, planning, and finally painting. Sometimes people ask me how long does it take you to do a painting? I tell them a lifetime...not that I am not trying to be smarty, but its true. I have studied art most of my life and have been doing it in one form or another.

Today I took a break from my Asian theme because it is my birthday! So I decided I would paint my cake and maybe eat some too!

Lotus Flower by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 20 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

Well it's getting tougher to get the painting a day done and get it on three blogs and face book. Whew! Ten more days! I think I can, I think I can! I hope I can!

Still doing my Asian series for the Chinese New Year. The Lotus flower has many meanings in Chinese culture but the one symbol I liked was purity. I thought it especially fitting for a white Lotus blossom.

Lotus Flower by Leada Wood ©2014

Lucky Fish by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 19 Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.

I am still going, some days are tougher than others...they require discipline to continue. Today was one of those days, but finish I did!  I got to enjoy my family as well...it was a good day!

In Feng Shui Fishes are regarded as Symbols of good fortune and abundant wealth. So they are widely used as pet fishes in the aquarium, paintings or pictures or kept as figurines to attract success and prosperity. It is said that the fishes saves us from danger and bad luck. There are many types of fishes used to create positive energy and abundance in Feng Shui like the Arowana, Flowerhorn, Dragon Carp or Gold Fish. 

Today I decided to paint a gold fish, I especially like the ones with the long flowing tails. I also like to paint koi. I love to watch the little fishes swim around in an aquarium or pond. It's very relaxing, whether it brings good luck or not who knows.

Lucky Fish by Leada Wood, copyright 2014

Moon Lantern, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 18 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I still painting every day but today I noticed my right hand was beginning to hurt. Painful...it hurt all day. I hope it's not tendonitis setting in. There are pitfalls of being a painter. Seclusion, tendonitis, neck ache back aches, writing on 4 blogs is quiet a challenge in itself! And posting on Face Book...oh my! It has been a very busy month! That is just when you can squeeze it in between the other jobs and life. I have been staying up way too late getting the business of art completed but that's ok because it's my life and I enjoy it...it's who I am.

This year, the year of the horse, the lunar new year will begin with the new moon on January 31st. The Chinese New Year is a fifteen day event, now that's a celebration! Chinese lanterns play a big part in the celebration especially red lanterns as red is a lucky color.  People will write their wishes and desires on their lanterns and then pray for them to come true. The lantern festival officially ends the new year celebration and commences the next new moon after the celebrations beginning.

I hope you are enjoying following my Asian series as I find their culture very fascinating. They have been around for thousands of years and have invented many things .Their culture is quite evolved in music, dance, theater and art. I hope you will check back tomorrow as I will have another surprise  for you!

Moon Lantern by Leada Wood ©2014

Sushi! by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 17 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.





Sushi! by Leada Wood©2014

I know...Sushi is Japanese but this is an Asian inspired series so it qualifies, right? I can't say sushi without smiling...it's just fun to say!  I also can't think of it without thinking of my niece. She and her husband love the stuff.

Lucky Coin by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 16 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.




Lucky Coin by Leada Wood ©2014

Chinese cash coins, round bronze coins with a square hole in the middle were made for more than 2,000 years. There are hundreds of different types with thousands of varieties. Most  coins have an inscription of four Chinese characters to identify the historical time of their casting and their monetary value. Most Chinese charms, or lucky coins also have four or more character inscriptions but they do not have monetary value. Instead the inscriptions are to bring good luck, good fortune, good health or some other wish to avert misfortunes. They are very big in Feng Shui.

Green Tea by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 15 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge...half way to the finish line!

Maybe you have wondered about my obsession with Asian things...well it is almost Chinese New Year. 2014 is the year of the horse. I started this series and I am having so much fun with it I don't want to stop! I am sitting here looking at the paintings together and they make a really cute grouping. I can't wait to do some more of them!  Got a few ideas marinating...keep you posted!




Green Tea by Leada Wood ©2014

Chinese Take Out by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 14 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. Whoo Hoo! Nearly half way there! I have been having such fun painting my Asian series. They are small 6x6 and would make a cute grouping..so far there are 4. They are available, just contact me here: www.leadawood.com. Thanks for looking!

"Chinese Take Out" by Leada Wood copyright 2014

Fortune Cookie by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Day 13 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge nearly halfway there.i had a little Asian series going with GIrl With The Golden Fan, Yin and Yang, and now Fortune Cookie. They are all 6x6 mixed media collage sure would make some one a cute grouping. There is a plan for a fourth one to be added. I just love making Asian mixed media collage.

If you have never painted a fortune cookie why don't you get you one and give it a try. I thought oh yeah that will be quick and easy! WRONG! For such a simple little subject matter it was tough! I think you should try it you will be amazed how difficult it is, especially one with crack showing around the edge. If I had thick bodied paints and palette knives it would have mad the job simpler I think. I may have to try it again like that just to see. It was fun to paint just surprising at how challenging it was.

Fortune Cookie by Leada Wood copyright 2014

Yin and Yang by Leada Wood,Texas Artist

Day 12 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. Almost 2 weeks gone...I think I can, I think I can.....hey that means we are half way done! Whoo Hooo! It has really been fun seeing all the great art on line from people all over the world and learn about their techniques and stories. I try to go to different ones everyday and look at their blogs and comment.

I enjoy painting Asian inspired art . Their Culture and history have always fascinated me. I was feeling a little out of balance with this flurry of painting. When I need to get connected to my art I turn to my mixed media collage. It centers me. I used a grid pattern on a canvas board 6x6, acrylic paints,using complimentary colors and black and white. I wanted to keep it simple creating balance using circles which symbolize completion or wholeness.





Yin and Yang by Leada Wood©2014

I thought you might enjoy a little Chinese history on yin and yang. Very interesting!

Yin and Yang are ancient Chinese philosophical terms, with the Yin Yang Theory being a fundamental part of Feng Shui. It is a Chinese theory on the perspective of continuous change and balance.
The theory is that all things in the universe have an opposing force, and though they are opposing, they are very interconnected. 
These forces are represented in the yin yang symbol with black and white. The black symbolizing the Yin energy, while the white symbolizes the Yang energy.

• Yin is the passive energy of silence, slow and relaxed movements, and deep darkness, and is the predominant energy of sleep, resting, relaxing and replenishing.
• Yang is the active energy and is symbolized by bright lights, strong sounds and bright colors. It is the prominent energy for such times as working in a busy office or enjoying a good party.

                                                                 Yin and Yang are a duality – one cannot exist without the other