Mixed Media Gals, Contemporary Figure Art by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Fun Weekend at Studio 20. Busy week so I decided it was play time! It is always a pleasure to just play with paint and not have an agenda...to go with the flow and see where the painting takes you.

What a wonderful diversion to smear paint around and make a color field painting...sometimes they turn out and sometimes they don't.  It's only paper and you can always use it for collage or gesso over it. I am a big believer in repurposing.

I decided to take it to the next level, so I drew free hand with gesso and a brush trying to keep it transparent enough so that the under painting would show through. I could have stopped there but nooooo.....I was having too much fun!

I brought her to completion with pan pastels, chalk paint pen, black fine tip pen, Tombow pens and a water brush. She is really a mixed media gal! It was a fun experiment and I want to do some more. Why don't you give it a try?

Artist Of Texas Show, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Happy Fall Y'all !  I am so excited to have three of my paintings juried into the annual Artist of Texas fall show, "Open Spaces".  Living in the Wild West I enjoy observing all God' s creatures big and small and that inspires me to capture them in my paintings.

"A Good Scratch" ©Leada Wood 2016

Some critters we don't see as much as we use too, like the Jack Rabbit. They use to roam the range everywhere, maybe it's getting too crowded and they have moved on. Whatever the reason I still love to paint them and get really excited when I spot one of the long eared fellows!

 "A Good Scratch" is watercolor on archival paper and won an honorable mention in the Art League of West Texas Foundation's Spring show this year.

"Mama's Lillies" ©Leada Wood 2016

We have Hummers darting around our yard from early spring to October when they make their long journey to warmer climates. They especially love the Red Salvia bushes and the Canna Lillies in the garden. Inspiration is all around when you can "see" and look with "artists eyes".

"Bird On A Wire"  ©Leada Wood 2016

Seeing a Scissored Tailed Flycatcher is a sure sign of spring in West Texas. I try to hold off planting my garden until I see they are back and the mesquites are out. They are quite aggressive and sometimes you will see two of them picking on a hawk or bigger big bird,  maybe their idea of fun. 

They like to spend their winters in Mexico along with the Hummingbirds and a lot of other birds. Who wouldn't love a nice tropical climate while the cold north winds blow.

The "Open Spaces" exhibition will run from September 13th until October 22nd. The Breckenridge Fine Arts Center is a beautiful gallery and the drive is certainly worth doing to see all the exceptional art. The reception is Setember 17th and I plan on being there so stop by and say howdy!

Parrot Of The Caribbean, Contemporary Bird Art by Leada Wood,Texas Artist

Parrot Of The Caribbean is painted in acrylic paints and is on the cover of my new travel sketchbook. He was such a fun and lively looking little fellow that I thought he might bring a smile your way today. Now to start on the inside! Have a wonderful weekend!

Let The Good Times Roll, Mixed Media, Original, Contemporary Art, byLeada Wood, Texas Artist

"Let The Good Times Roll" ©2016 Leada Wood

Pink flamingos are always fun to paint and always remind me of Alice and her adventures...kind of like Leada Land where nothing is as it seems. We have been on a great adventure here at Dragonfly Farm...called remodeling. What stared out as a 3 week job has now turned into 6. Do you remember the movie The Money Pitt...now you have the picture! Oh my!

It's always a good feeling to fill up a sketchbook and start a new one. The covers must be designed first, so no plain black sketchbooks for me. Bootman is a pilot so I get all the outdated maps for collage papers. I really like painting over maps of all kinds, letting the paint be transparent in places so that the map peeks through. "Let The Good Times Roll" is mixed media using acrylic paint, stablio pencil and collage.

"I knew who I was this morning but I have changed a few times since then"

                                                                                                                  ----Alice

Happy Fourth Of July! Watercolor Painting by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Happy Fourth Of July" by Leada Wood©2015

"Sand Dollar", Coastal Paintings by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Sand Dollar"by Leada Wood©2016

Have you ever found a whole, white glistening sand dollar laying at your feet while walking on the beach? Finding a perfect sand dollar is one of life's little pleasures. Our family is easily entertained seeking sea treasures while strolling along jumping waves and dodging jellyfish. Even finding the broken pieces gives quite a thrill to young and old alike. It is amazing how some sand dollars continue to remain intact with the relentless pounding of the surf. Maybe a life lesson there...some are damaged and some are unharmed within the currents of tide and time.

"Goldie", Coastal Painting by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Ok, ok, maybe I am watching too much Island Life and Beachfront Bargain Hunt...but they are

inspirational for my beach series. Things are really heating up in Texas and nice cool water looks good wherever it is!

Adela Pech once told me to never lose my sense of whimsy in my art and thinking about beach things makes me want to paint entertaining, vibrant, colorful paintings. Remembering all the fun island trips with the kids over the years just makes me smile...so I guess I am painting in my happy place now. 

Thanks for stopping by!

"Goldie" by Leada Wood©2016

"Mermaid Tales", Coastal Painting by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Mermaid Tales" by Leada Wood ©2016

I have been infatuated with the little mermaid ever since I saw her in the harbor of Copenhagen. She is a Danish icon inspired from the story by Hans Christen Anderson, long before Disney came out with the movie. Now over a hundred years old she still reigns supremely on her rock in the harbor.

There have been myths, legends and stories about mermaids for centuries and most not as endearing
as Disney's Little Mermaid, Ariel. I prefer to think of them as guardians of the sea. They have, after
all gotten a bad rep for centuries. Maybe it's time for a cool change as the song by Little River Band implies.

I am currently doing a series of beach paintings and of course it wouldn't be complete without a mermaid. "Mermaid Tales" is rendered in acrylic on canvas and I have added a little sparkle here and there with glass beads. There are also genuine dried starfish collaged to the painting for added interest.

"You've got your own style, now let it shine through and remember no matter what...you got to be you!"          

          -------- Sebastian

                    

"Crusty Crab", Coastal Painting by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

"Crusty Crab" by Leada Wood©2016

Art takes you places and all this rain in Texas has me dreaming of sunny days at the beach. Don't get me wrong, after ten years of drought we Texans are very thankful that our rivers are running and lakes are filling up. The state is lush and green and cattle are grazing again. Not complaining just letting my mind wander...thinking of summer fun... like crabbing, fishing and swimming.

Art is more than a hobby, it is a way of life, a different way of seeing things. I am an observer and life inspires me. I endeavor to capture a moment in time, to express an emotion, to dream aloud on paper or canvas. I am not trying for photo realism, but to capture the essence of the subject with a painterly feel.

I guess you wonder what a west Texas gal has in common with crabs? Our family loves to go crabbing when we are at the beach...sometimes with a net and sometimes just observing them. I think they are pretty cute...God certainly has a sense of humor...don't you think?

"Crusty Crab" is interpreted in transparent watercolor. He would look so cute at a beach or lake house. Prints are available, just contact me. Thanks for stopping by! 

iHannas Spring Postcard Swap by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

This is my fourth postcard swap and I love getting art in the mail! It is amazing at the variety of different techniques and is exciting to see what part of the world they come from. The diving girl is from Norway.

 It is an eclectic mix of styles and interesting to see what each person comes up with. The world is full of talented people.

Near and far, it is always nice to make new friends or get a card from a old friend. Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."
                                               --------unknown