"Landscape" Contemporary Abstract by Texas Artist Leada Wood

"Landscape" Contemporary Abstract by Texas Artist Leada Wood ©

I don't usually do landscapes , but I did enjoy this challenge in Douglas Walton's Walton's Workshop as it was anything but ordinary. We had to think outside the box as we chose five colors and laid them down randomly. We had to let it happen not make it happen and be willing to let insight come.  We then had to decide what was needed and add the unexpected.
Douglas Walton's classes are all about design and creativity and not the ordinary. Such fun!

Visions And Voices by Leada Wood

 ©Leada Wood Visions And Voices 22x28 Latex

Do you ever wonder where an artist gets their ideas? I don't know about others but I know I get ideas from everywhere! Dreams, nature, music...life is full of mysteries just waiting for us to explore. We just have to be open and slow down enough and be aware enough to let them unfold. The hard part sometimes is getting it out of your head and onto your drawing paper just the way you imagined it. That is the beauty of abstracts...you can let your imagination run wild and attempt to capture it in your painting.

"Honey Does This Dress Make My Butt Look Big?" by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Honey Does This Dress Make My Butt Look Big?"
by Leada Wood©

This little lady was such fun to do! I started her with an altered background and used hand painted collage papers for her dress. I used transparent watercolors for this piece and she is 15X28 on Arches paper. You can see her in person at the Buddy Holly Museum in Lubbock, Texas, if you are in the area. She is on exhibit along with all the other wonderful works of the West Texas Watercolor Society.

"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.