The Market

I actually painted "The Market" (14x18 acrylic on canvas) awhile ago, but I've always liked it. It was another attempt to not focus so on every little detail, but touch on the things that mattered...to me it was the sun...on her dress, on the drums. And, it is a bit more complicated a painting than I've done in awhile.
Today I'm going to Carol Nelson's acrylic workshop in Parker Colorado. She is one of the very talented artists I follow and a friend from years ago when we were in a gallery together. With her permission I will post any pics I may get soon. If you have a minute, check out her blog and her website by following the links on my blog...you will enjoy your visit I promise!

I'm working on a 10x10 of some daisies my husband brought home one day and hope to have those up on Sunday or Monday...but for now it is off to learn something new! Happy Painting today!

Some Yellow

I was getting a big hungry for brighter colors than the past two paintings and thus the sunflowers. I haven't named them yet, but I certainally put some bright color to the canvas! It was a sunny day outside and in. I read in one of the blogs I follow that it is good to just put the color to the canvas, don't draw with either pencil or line brush, just paint. So, I tried that with this 8x10 acrylic canvas wrap. It felt a little intimidating at first, but then it seemed easier to get into the body this way. I try to paint with as large a brush as I feel comfortable, so this one was done with a 1". I also picked up a new yellow the other day (Diarylide Yellow by Golden) that made it easier to get the different yellows. My newest green is Green Gold by Golden. I have found that Golden has the viscosity that I need for the work I do. It keeps its body longer than any other brand I use, so it is back to Golden paints.

Two in the Morning

I was still in the mood to paint yesterday, eventhough it was cloudy, so I just shifted my view a bit and painted these two ladies. The colors in the atmosphere were so soft I was focused on capturing that...still trying to loosen up. I'm beginning to feel that if I loosen MYSELF up a bit my paintings will follow suit without being a bit of a challenge! I'm smiling at that one...Another 8x8 acrylic wrap around...And next I'm in the mood for a bit of bright color...who knows what will come out of the end of my brush! Tomorrow will tell me I suppose! Happy Day to you all!

Morning Tree

This morning was a bit cloudy up on the mountain, but I wanted to paint one of the trees that I see from my front deck. I'm still playing around with loosening up, so was more concerned with blocks of color. I'm not sure where it will take me, but I feel like I must try. I read a lot of articles about style, and I had developed some sort of style, but it changes with the medium I've noticed. My collages of trees have sharper edges. This 8x8 acrylic worked out for what it was, but I don't know if I'm doing myself any favors by experimenting...I've spoken to several artists who are in the same boat, and we are artists, so perhaps experimentation is merely following our own creative muse...time will tell...

Summer Rocks

My husband is going to put a wooden structure up today in those rocks so we can get a signal in order to have high speed internet access. I have mixed feelings...YES, I desparately want high speed so I can actually work and he really needs it as he works from home, BUT I will never again have my unobstructed view of these rocks which are outside my kitchen. I've seen deer and a bear standing on those rocks...So, this small work was on my mind today. They are covered with snow this morning, but I remember those colors, which will come again, just with a 4x4 intermixed...AHHH progress...Maybe I'll paint on the 4 by...(I'm smiling now)...

Aspen Paper Cast © Saundra Lane Galloway Fine Art

Do you ever have one of those days when everything technical seems to be out to get you? Yep, I bet you have. I'm having some of those days these days. We live in the BEAUTIFUL mountains, and I love it, BUT...we live in ancient times of the dreaded DIAL UP! We have tried several different companies, but apparently we live in SUCH a secluded place that we can't get a signal...apparently we need a clear shot to a tower. Recently we had one very determined technician with Whispertell that even climbed up the mountain to try to get a clear signal from some rocks above our house. He climbed on our very steep roof, all to no avail...SOOOO, we are left with the choice of building a tower on the rocks to get a clear shot, OR my latest idea of getting a new laptop with wifi and me loading pics from the house, going DOWN the mountain to Starbucks every day and posting from there...Hmmm...still deciding on that one...BUT, in the meantime, I can at least load one photo...the one you are seeing now...I had intended to upload the photos of the process, but since that doesn't seem to be working I'll just explain it...

First I decide on an image, second I draw it out, third I use some brass stripping I found at Ace Hardware and bend it to the shape, fourth I make a paper cast and let it air dry for a day or so and THEN I paint on it...WHEW...seems like a lot, but it is really enjoyable, and after the mold is made I can make as many casts as I wish and do with them whatever I wish...

That has brought us to this very simple looking (photo I'm not really thrilled with, but you get the point) aspen paper cast...

So, I hope this might inspire you to try something new, and I HOPE I get much tea and sympathy due to the difficulties I am currently facing...ha! PS...just uploading one photo took all of 5 minutes! I'm off to Starbucks for a much needed reward!

Happy painting today to you all!

Bowl of Pinecones

This 18x24 acrylic on canvas was fun (seems I say that about them all)...probably because they are all fun! A friend of mine turned this bowl for me and I've always loved the oxide type glaze he put on it. It is sitting in my living room and as with so many things I put a bunch of pinecones in it. My backyard being a mountain I have plenty of pinecones to go around! So, I was testing my new Nikon camera one day; taking close up pictures and when I went to load them I discovered there were about 150 pictures on the memory card. Somehow, close-up meant continuious shooting. Well, with so many pictures I figured at least one was good to paint. HA. I wanted to work loose, so I reminded myself through the whole thing to just capture the shapes within and not worry about the photo. That was the fun part. To watch it come to life was great! This one came together in about 6 hours. There was a piece of blue fabric with a faint design on it that I put as background, and now I like the blue and orange working together.

Mt. Bierstadt

On one of my hikes with my husband we saw this view of Mt. Bierstadt and I thought as I always do how lucky we are to get to live in such a place where we get to see things and places like this. This little 6x6 acrylic on museum wrap was fun because I didn't know I could get so much information on such a small canvas...and work as loosely as I could.

Tiger Box

I thought I'd sneak in another end result of a workshop I taught from the summer. Sometimes when I feel a little board I try something different...and this little tiger box was one. The summer was all about recycling and projects that went along with that...so, the tiger was a part of something else I found, and the papers were what I had on hand...so just a little break from the paint...but not for long...I'm working on a large version of pine cones, and soon the backing for the new paper cast will be in and I will show you the second in the "series"...Fun stuff! Happy Creating to you all!

Teddy

I did a larger black/white teddy not long ago and thought it would be a good day to give him a debut...Valentines Day...I told you my husband was so good about giving me teddys (many times with jewelry attached! :)), so that is what is on my mind today...not the jewelry (ok, a little), but the sweetness of teddy bears and the sweetness of my husband. Don't they all look so innocent? (the bears, not necessarily the husbands...ok, maybe the husbands a little on Valentines Day anyway...)...So, Happy Valentines Day to everyone! I hope your day is full of something soft and happy!

Lemons and Cherries

I was hungry for some bright colors, and now I'm hungry for cherries period! AHHH summer...can't wait! This 10x10 acrylic was fun mainly because of the color! I also liked the bright light coming from the window; made me feel warmer (we have more snow today)...I hope this day brings a desire for you all to jump in and paint something wonderful!

Pinecone and Shadow

This 6x8 1/2 acrylic canvas on panel was another attempt to capture the values mostly, and to work a bit more loosely than this previous pinecone trio.

I find the pine cone a very good subject for value changes. I'm working on an 18 x 24 of pinecones and I wanted to see what would happen if I worried less about capturing the image than just getting the shapes and values correctly. I enjoy working this way, for me it is less stressful! I'm all about that. Again I have to laugh as I see a similarity in the two pieces, though perhaps a subtle difference.

Soft and Fuzzy

This little guy was one of my attempts (6x9 3/8 canvas on masonite) to work more loosely. I have to laugh as I look at it as I'm not sure it is any more loose than much of my other work...but I felt I was working more loosely at the time. My style may have taken me over, so I will go with it and see what happens. What a joy painting is! I have a collection of little "guys" that have been presents from my husband; and lucky me, they have come with jewelry! So, I love him, having him and painting him (the bear, not my husband...figures aren't my best thing - yet! ha). Oops...another ha...in reading this over I had to add...of course I love my dear husband...I just haven't painted him yet! However I did do a caricature of him once...but I was kind in my interpretation...I'll have to post that one day for fun...what do you think about valentines day??

Baby Bear

I love to paint stuffed things that have a heart..."Baby Bear" was fun because of the position he was put in...sort of haphazard, but important (or so he probably thinks)... This one is a 12x12 museum wrapped canvas that I painted around.

I'm still working on my web site, and setting up an e-bay and pay pal account, so eventually I'll be all put together, but for now I'm still enjoying talking to you all and seeing all the wonderful work that your sites bring me to. So, until then...happy painting to you all!

A Slice of Life

Yes, it is another tree! I am about ready to do something entirely different, but I couldn't resist this little close up of this aspen that I've named "A Slice of Life". I love the changes these trees go through. I think it certainally has an interesting life...it changes about as often as women's lives do! This one is a 10x8 on a museum wrap canvas. I've finished another paper cast and am waiting for the frame. I've got a series of pics on that one so you can see the process. That should be here in a week or two.

I have been so inspired by some of what I've been following I think I'm going to try working more loosely (we'll see what comes of it) like I've wanted to for some time. So, off to try it and I will invite any comments you may have.

A bit of inspiration for your morning

Hi all...I know I posted this morning...but I just had to send this picture of my latest sunrise picture to hopefully inspire you to do a bit of painting today...So...for those of you who wake up and check your blogs...this was my view not so very long ago...for those of you who check at night...just imagine what you can do tomorrow!

Welcome to my newest followers and all those who stop by from time to time. I so appreciate your comments and you! I check out all new sites and, as I've already said...AWESOME you all!!

My day at the zoo

I went to the zoo and saw this momma sitting on the rock watching her babies. It took forever for her to sit still long enough to get this shot, she was like most mothers, always on the look out for what they were in to. I think this was the only moment when she wasn't pacing back and forth, ready to jump down and take care of whatever they might have been doing that she didn't agree with. This was fun as I don't usually do many animals, and I was happy to work with the shadows and different colors within her "white" coat.

Two at a time

These are 6x6 museaum wrapped little summer memories painted in acrylic. At a time of year when everyone is thinking Valentines Day I'm thinking I want to be warm! And then I used green...so I don't know if I felt warmer, but nice memories of summer. I painted them at the same time so the colors are the same. When I set them side by side they make a dyptich of a sort...I don't know if that is what will happen to them or if they will set in the small pole acrylic easels I got for them. So, now that I'm "warm" at heart again, and the weather outside is nice I think I need to put some thought into Valentines Day!

Speaking of Wax Collage

While I am setting up to photograph a few new things I did over the past few days I wanted to share another wax collage that was a demo from a workshop I taught this summer. It is a tiny thing, only about 4x6 mounted on a board and set inside a small frame and set on an easel. I wanted to show that you can wax about anything...in this case fiber. I layered the board with tissue and then added some oil pastel before I attached the leaf and fiber.

Waxing ON!

Ok, I know I am interested in quite a few things, and wax collage is another. I was working on something entirely different (paper casts) (coming soon) but picked up a book on Encaustic Painting and read it during the superbowl...sorry you sports fans, but art was calling to me! (I did however catch the couple outstanding touchdowns...so I can tell my grandson one day if I get one that I saw them) I really liked this book for its variety of methods...it isn't just slapping on colored wax. It is entitled: Encuastic Workshop by Patricia Baldwin Seggegruch. JUST published this year. I encourage you to take a peek if you've ever wanted to play in wax. This little 6x6 piece (entitled Natures Bouquet) was a demo I did in a workshop I taught this summer before I ever heard of adding resin (does that spark your interest? it is in the book)...Natures Bouquet is just a simple little piece that is entirely wax as the medium. I used some real daisies, some photos and the background is different papers. The dark background doesn't show the edges very clearly, but you get the idea...I hope this gets your creative juices flowing!!

Welcome to my new followers. I am so appreciative that you find something of interest here. I have visited all of your sites and am blown away by what I see...