"Pine Sisters"

This little 9"x 6" canvas on board is a collage created with my handmade paper. I started out painting it straight, but quickly felt it needed a bit more, so got out my papermaking supplies and created two colors for the different trees. These are on our property and I've always been attracted to them as their trunks were basically two different colors.

Jane Hunt

Artists are lucky people! How many people can say they live in a world where they get to interpret life in such a wonderful way! Most people think the life of an artist trying to work at their "craft" has it easy, but those of you who are DOING just that know it isn't true. Our lives have to be carefully managed and balanced between those precious minutes in our studios and then the all important work on the computer or visiting galleries or doing the follow up paperwork...It isn't easy work. This is why I think it is so important to be there for each other, help each other, encourage each other whenever we get the opportunity. I am glad to share space with a fellow artist as I can, and I am doing that at this moment in time.

My new friend and fellow blogger Jane Hunt has a blog you should take a look at as well as her website. Her textured paintings are quite beautiful. Jane has been running a contest that involves giving away one of her lovely paintings when she reaches 50 followers; and she is nearly there. I encourage you to stop by her blog and take a look!

Naked Maple Leaf

After a period of "severe" blockage and the snow storm I'm back at work. I find, for myself, when I am getting frustrated and blocked it's time to pull out something different and exciting. I know I've said this before, but it really does work for me...that and a bit of sunshine after the storm!

This is the successful maple leaf paper cast all dry, naked and waiting for what I will paint on it. I usually have several projects going in various states of undress, and this one was decent enough to show. Plus, I want to show each step in this process. It is a blast to do, and a little unpredictable kind of like watercolor when one first starts...I think that is what makes this medium so exciting for me...

Happy Saturday everyone!

SNOW!

If you are anywhere near a television you will see that Denver got blasted with a blizzard. I am so grateful we got some moisture as our fire danger is extreme, but living in the mountains means we got a couple of feet out of this storm...For us that means a day of shoveling and survival. I have hit a bit of a block in my painting so even though I've spent these past few days dealing with storm and helping navigate my husband home from the airport in the middle of it I would sneak up to slap some paint on the canvas as well. I don't know if it is the tension of snow survival (and now shoveling the 2' off our 150' driveway) or the block just came simultaneously, but I'm not having much luck with my end results. I know we all face it from time to time. The only solution I know of is to keep plugging on and perhaps find some inspiration from fellow painters out there. I think I'll spend some time (in-between shoveling :)) looking at all the beautiful work you all do, and hope it helps me over this current hump!

In the meantime I thought I'd pass along a couple of pictures I took this morning of what beauty is around, as well as the sheer volume. Happy Painting to you all!

"Colorado"

Sometime last year my husband and I decided we would take a few days and go anywhere that we could go on one tank of gas. We ended up making a loop with a few small side trips down to the Royal Gorge. It was a wonderful few days and I took a ton of pictures. This landscape is from one of them. "Colorado" 8x10 1" canvas wrap painted around caught my attention because of the beautiful stand of aspen. I always enjoy doing these as I love to see just how many different greens I can use that will give a sense of depth.

This painting is available on my website.

Different Strokes

I wonder, from time to time, as I've mentioned before, at how my study of my own art progresses. I occasionally go back and look at what I've done, even a year ago, to see if I am happy in the direction I am moving and if I want to move on, or re-evaluate. I think my fellow blogger Jane Hunt spoke of this very thing not so long ago. These two paintings I did for my beautiful daughter Michelle and her husband Damon. The Palm Leaf was for a wedding present, and the Hybiscus was for this past Christmas. I enjoy them both. They may be something I stay with, or I may continue on with my pursuit of attaining a more loose stroke. I have to tell you that I love doing both...and then there is my collage work and jewelry and wax collage...and, and, and...I don't mind telling you that I wonder at all of this. Part of me says stay with what you do...meaning, interpret each visual you have in front of you the way that speaks the most strongly, and part of me says...pick a "style" and stay with it so you can be recognized more readily...I certainally would like to hear from any of you who may be led to respond how you deal with this issue if it comes before you like it does me...

So, just a thought on this Sunday morning before church...I was a bit frustrated that my casts I had done of the maple leaf were scratched up when I left them outside, by our resident squirrel...Oh Bother!!...Off to pour more today and to keep a better watch!

Happy Painting to you all!

Casting once again

 Maple Leaf Brass Mold © Saundra Lane Galloway Fine Art

So, I always know when it is time to pull out something a little different... When I notice I'm frowning when I'm painting I know it is time to play with some other wonderful creation! I do really love to paper cast, so made a new mold today...I suppose you will recognize the final product by its shape when I finish it...The mold is a bit challenging, but still a fun part of the process. It takes a day or two for casts to dry like I like them, so tomorrow I will be happily painting again...

Time out for Mom

Next week my mother will be 70. She is the most awesome person, full of energy and positive thoughts.... She has decided that she will have no more birthdays, but because she still likes the celebrations of life and presents :) she has decided to call them from this time forward JOY DAYS... It works out perfectly because her name is Joy! Never was a person more suited to their name!! SO...Hallmark does not have any cards that say Happy Joy Day...thus I made her one...It is just a quick little paper cast set of hearts on top of a bit of collage paper, with a little daisy I took in front of our window, but I'm sure she will smile. She also "ordered" a specific painting of a tuscan village, but because it was something she gave me to use a reference and it ISN'T one of my photos I don't think it right to post it...(only for my mom would I do this!!) So, taking time out for mom...and wishing her the happiest of Joy Days!!

"Bunny"

Nothing like being sick to interrupt a girl! I HATE it when I don't feel well; it messes up my schedule. Who among us hasn't had days like that! I've been fighting acid reflux and trying to handle it the natural way...with some success, but not much yet...sorry, I had to get that off my chest...Now, to "Bunny" 6x9 canvas on board. I'm not sure if she is finished; but it's been a few days and I wanted to put this up. I have a few minor problems to correct; on her face and the fabric she is sitting on...but, perhaps tomorrow. I like the idea of her, but am not entirely happy with the outcome...I feel I spent way too much time on her, so I have yet to decide what will happen next with her...So, onward and upward! Any thoughts any of you might have could just be the answer to my dilemna! Happy Painting all!

"Lone Pine" Completed

First version

Finished version

I finished "Lone Pine" this morning. This 14"x32" acrylic on canvas was truly a joy to discover. I think the photo despite my best efforts came out a bit different blue for the sky. The sky is more cerulean blue than the ultramarine it looks like on my monitor. I have included the unfinished version alongside the finished version. I didn't do too much more to it...gave it a bit more depth in the forest floor, and worked on the ground of the sky as I talked about the other day...I saw a black hole in the detail and corrected that after I took these pictures, but it looks very close. All in all I am quite pleased with the end result, but have a few ideas as to how to approach the future "babies" that will come.

"NOT a Morning Bird"

(available for purchase on my website)

I feel kind of bad that I am judging this beautiful little "beeper" as my husband calls them (the noise they make). The markings on it's little face make it look MAD; which is what amused me so much the other morning when I was sitting at my kitchen table looking at him sitting on a feeder outside my window. He looked like he was saying to me "What do you think you are looking at?!" It made me laugh, but I appreciated him sitting still long enough for me to get his photo. I took several; one side view that I think I need to paint to be fair! So, I had to name this one "NOT a Morning Bird" (8x8 acrylic canvas on board). I hope this makes you smile as you see his serious little face!

I am almost finished spicing up my tree "breakthrough" from yesterday...it is sometimes hard work NOT doing much more! But I'm on it...

A Breakthrough..."I think"

OK...so I'm REALLY excited! Those of you who have been reading know I have been working on loosening up a bit...I still like a lot of the way I paint, but have felt a bit stilted...SO, I was painting what I'm going to call "Lone Pine" (14'x32" canvas) the other day from my studio on the top floor of our house...looking through a window I can see a forest of pines. (The tree line was about 3/4 the way up the canvas) At first (I should have photographed it, but I hated it so much I didn't) there was just one pine amongst a bunch of other pines with very little color difference...I pulled out some depth, and really went lighter with the pine I wanted to be the focus, but it just looked like a pine that blended in with the others...nothing different. True, it looked like what I was seeing from my perspective, but I felt it was "blah"...So, I decided I wanted it to be just standing alone, so I quickly mixed sky and some other colors and began to quickly block out what I didn't want...remember this is acrylic so I can't wipe it out...

So, the breakthrough is...I really LOVE this. I know I need to do a bit more, but I like that I can see some of the dark ground from behind, and I love the soft edges I see, and I love the loose interpretation of the pine...It is still "piney", but more loose...

SO...I had to take a picture of it in process, with a close-up view and now need to decide what I need to do to clean it up just a bit...some of the strokes are just white that didn't mix in with the sky...and the top of the sky wasn't a dark ground, so if I want it to carry perhaps I need to put dark ground and go over it the same as I did the lower part of the sky.

ANYWAY...this may be almost finished. This feels like a breakthrough of a sort for me. I am going to work with more dark ground and REALLY concentrate on looser strokes...almost not thinking. I had a friend once who actually knocked the brush out of my hand when she saw I was going to do too much; more than I had described I wanted...Perhaps I need someone standing behind me to knock the brush from my hand...:) Or...just work more intuitively and stop more often...HMMM...what do you think?

Whatever comes of this, today I am excited and I wanted to share this moment...

ps...coming soon...some spring like paintings...some color and some fun objects...my dear hubby is building me a box for still life so...:) Onward and upward!

pss...I hope this doesn't mess up my desire to jury into daily painters as things may...(if I'm lucky to catch on to myself) be changing a bit...?? BUT I'M HAVING FUN!!

Daisy in the Midst

This 8x8" acrylic canvas wrap was really one daisy in the midst of a very busy flower arrangement. I was really interested in how the lights and darks played on the surface of this one flower, and didn't want to get too busy with what was around it as it was "busy" enough on the surface of this flower. I don't know how I feel about it yet, but it was one of those that I just had to paint to see what it would turn out to be...

Back to Collage: "Pears on Pear"

This acrylic and collage painting was an opportunity to think more outside the box; again always looking for ways to stay fresh. It is hard to see even in the close-up photo, but the word pear has been added to each of the three. I also used a gold paint I had picked up to see how that would enhance the whole piece. Though I don't think I would enjoy doing this every day I still stand firm that moving away from what you normally do from time to time can keep your creativity meter running high!

Daisy Trio

My husband brought me some daisies the other day. He thought they were so pretty, dyed different colors. I always take photos of my flowers, but haven't been interested in painting an entire bouquet. I find it more interesting to zoom in and catch different little compositions within the larger one. When I saw the pics of this one it was SO full of flowers...petals going this way or that, so I took a bit of a liberty and just isolated some. It was interesting that the mountain window behind came across so dark, so I decided contrast might be fun...and there it is. This 10x10 acrylic on canvas ended up taking more time than I felt it should have, but oh well...

Pear

Occasionally I work in a medium that I haven't worked in for a bit. "Pear" (9x12" on canvas panel) is my temporary adventure with oils. I find working this way keeps me fresh in my approach, or at least I'm convinced of it, and I guess that is all that matters, since I need the change:). Wax collage or fiber arts is my usual detour from acrylics, but the oils were there and...well, that is ok. It was a bit ago, but I got it out today and considered what I'd done. So, just a reminder, we are so wonderful we can venture from our regular medium and see what will come!

I am so happy to announce I am in my third day of HIGH SPEED INTERNET!! I am so thrilled. What used to take a couple of hours to download now takes about 20 seconds...I am in hog heaven!

Step #2

So, now on to step #2 in my process of moving forward. Today I began the process of setting up my website to sell the works I have been writing about since early last month. I am sure I will be making changes as things move along, but at least I am continuing on my journey. I invite you to visit my site and let me know how it looks and I invite any comments or suggestions that you may have. Thank you for your support! You can find me by clicking on the title or following this link... http://fineartstudioonline.com/SaundraGalloway.

And, there is no rest for the happily weary...tomorrow back to painting!

Carol Nelson Workshop

Yesterday was spent in Parker at a workshop done by my artist friend Carol Nelson. Carol was wonderful at presenting her information. We learned about different grounds and supports used to create abstract art using acrylics and all sorts of metals and other materials. Carol is quite an accomplished artist and one I admire as she is excellent at promoting and selling on line as well as several galleries in and around Denver. Above is Carol wearing an apron that has one of her self portraits gracing the front. This piece was unusual as it can be taken apart and re-arranged...very creative; which is how I would describe Carol. The other two pieces are examples she brought of small works she had done using the materials and method we were discussing. (Carol gave me permission to share photos of the day). Later I will share my creation, but I wanted today to be just a thank you to Carol for sharing such wonderful information and giving us a day to remember! I encourage you to visit Carol's website (click on the title to go to her website) to see just how fantastic an artist she is, and how versitile! Thanks for the day Carol!