WORKSHOP PREPARATIONS...

The past few days I've been working hard for my workshop at the Aar River Gallery.  Tomorrow and Wednesday...of course, the COLDEST days of the season!  Yep, that's my luck! HA.  But, I'm hoping the students will not be scared off and we will all convene and PLAY!

I've made about 17 cradles the past day or so for students who may want to try working on them...so, no new paintings...but, I'm playing with these pics as possible demo subjects...I know I've GOT to do the bamboo as my daughter dear wants it in the nursery! PS...last I heard our little one is as big as a fig! FUN!

Hopefully I'll have fun pics to share after tomorrow!

Happy Creating!!

"Trees" original mixed media landscape on 300lb watercolor paper; matted and framed © Saundra Lane Galloway

 "Trees"

mixed media painting is 4 1/2"x4 1/2"

Completed frame size is 8"x8"

Double white matt with gloss black frame under glass

Can sit on a shelf or hang!
$125.00 shipping included in the US

WOW, what a title!  I've been playing again! FUN!  This mixed media painting is created on 300 lb watercolor paper, double matted in white with black gloss frame AND under glass!  WHEW!  WHY you may ask?  Well...I like to experiment (as you KNOW), and I am a member of Colorado Watercolor Society, and there are shows where we must have our work matted and framed...SO, here is a piece that would satisfy some of their show requirements.

You can see here that I've added some words with my stamps...something extra for your senses!

Joy's Aspen a commission in mixed media © Saundra Lane Galloway

This fun mixed media aspen piece is a commission piece, so it is already sold, but I've learned awesome ways to help my patrons out with easy ways to pay while showing you all that I HAVE indeed been working!  A win win!!

Next week is my two day workshop on INNOVATIONS IN COLLAGE at the Aar River Gallery...I think we still have a spot or two open, so if you want to join in the fun and learn step by step how I made my paper casts for Cloth Paper Scissors this month please click over and sign up!  It is Feb 1-2 from 10-4 and is ONLY $80 for both days!  A steal!



HAPPY CREATING!!

"Acorn Trio" original mixed media painting © Saundra Lane Galloway

 "Acorn Trio"

12"x12" mixed media on 1 3/4" poplar cradle (sides left natural)

Sides can be stained to suit at no extra cost!

$300 includes shipping in the US

This has got to be one of my favorite pieces (I say that a lot) mainly due to the fact that there is a HUGE amount of information in this piece.  The challenge was to find the focal area and highlight the stuffing out of it while leaving the outer edges interesting enough to let the eye travel around.

This is the end result of the second piece I started during the demonstration I did for Palateers Art Club a week or so ago.  If you look carefully you can see two different oak leaf stamps that live in the background as well as my streaming papers.  The actual foreground leaves and little acorns were painted in oil.  The blending in oil goes SO much easier...and quite frankly I enjoy working in as many different media as possible.  VARIETY is awesome both in the process and the final piece!

You may click on the title to go to my website to see this, or shop my other work, or you may simply click the buy now button!  CHOICES are heavenly!

HAPPY CREATING!!

"Spring Color" original contemporary mixed media painting © Saundra Lane Galloway

 "Spring Color"

mixed media landscape on panel with 1 3/4" cradled sides left natural

$230 Includes shipping in the US

detail...

Even though we haven't had much snow this year I am SO ready for spring!  I love those beautiful new greens and the pinks in the sky on spring days! 

This is the finished piece that I began in my demo last week.  I have begun to leave my poplar cradled sides natural.  They can either be left that way, or I offer stain for sides at no extra cost to anyone who would want them stained. 

If you like this piece but are looking for a different color scheme I've got em...just pop over to my website and click on Mixed Media to see the choices!
HAPPY CREATING! 

"Forest in Green" original mixed media painting © Saundra Lane Galloway

"Forest in Green"

original mixed media painting © Saundra Lane Galloway

12" x 30"

created on panel and framed in a contrast grey metal frame

$300 includes shipping in the US

International orders please contact me at art4life44@hotmail.com

This is one of my absolute favorite pieces.  So much so in fact that I've had it in my personal collection for a little while.  I love all the papers and colors...I love the abstract contemporary way I've captured my favorite aspen trees!  But, as all things do...it is time to change and make room for more!

HAPPY CREATING!!

"Sunflowers Four" original mixed media painting © Saundra Lane Galloway

 "Sunflowers Four" © Saundra Lane Galloway

ORIGINAL mixed media painting

6"x11" x 1 3/4" natural cradle that I will stain to suit if you wish!

$150 shipping in the US included!  All others please contact me at art4life44@hotmail.com

LOOK FAMILIAR?  Yep, it is...one I posted a few days ago...only this time I've finished it and it is ready to come live with anyone who loves it!  I merely added a little to the sunflowers, so not much change...I call it tweaking!  SO, several ways to pay!  Ain't I just grand! :)  You can simply push the buy now button below, or if you want to paroose my other new work you can click on the link to take you to this piece OR you can go to www.saundralanegalloway.com and look at everything!  Did that make sense??  WOW...the cobwebs are needin a bit of sweeping out!

Another new thing I'm doing for my work is leaving the cradles unstained so the seller has the choice to have it natural, or can choose from several stain colors that I will stain for you at no extra charge!  We all have to love more choices!! 

We are having another DARK day...with about 10 minutes of sunshine...SO, when I have these days I hop over to buy some flowers and have a little photo session to spark creativity and give me a nice sunshiney smile!  It always works...SO, to pass a long a little smile here are a couple pics from my session today!  SMILE and ENJOY!

Happy Creating!!

Aspen Piece in process © Saundra Lane Galloway

The other day in my demo I was moving so fast and furious to try to get the basic information across that I didn't finish one entire piece, but I DID however get two partial pieces completed.  This fun pink/green color scheme aspen piece was one of my beginnings.  I'm having a lot of fun with this piece; finishing it like I promised the girls in the demo...but I'm trying to decide if I want to add the aspen on the left or not...hmmm...once I decide I will paint them and voila it will be completed!  I am TIRED of snow and cold (though we haven't gotten much actual snow this winter...) so I wanted a very springy color scheme.  I imagine my aspen sitting with a sunrise or sunset peeking through the trees...all so surreal as I can make it all up from my mind...but FUN!  So, hopefully tomorrow I can show the finished piece! PS...it's dark and scary out there so my photo is very flawed!...too light on the right and the colors don't pop...sorry :)

"Mt. Evans through Aspen"

8x10" 1 1/2" gallery wrap canvas painted around

$150 includes shipping!

Today's offering for sale is an oil painting of aspen flanking my most beloved Mt. Evans...If you are interested in any of these offerings but missed the exact one you can go to the "Paintings for Sale" on my sidebar and it will take you to the page where they all live.  Just e-mail me at art4life44@hotmail.com and tell me you want it...we'll work it out from there! 

"Acorn" (working title) beginning...and MORE for SALE!

 "Acorn" working title

12x12 collage on 1 3/4" cradled panel

In my demo on Friday I began a new piece that I'm calling "Acorn" for now.  My intent was to show how to begin a collage using my methods.  The background was painted with acrylics.  I made two stamps of oak leaves for background design, and stamped the upper left with a different stamp.  The idea is to bring texture and pattern into the piece with different materials and methods to add to the over all interest.  I added torn paper for the very reason I just addressed and then my stream (of course).  Note how I am bringing in the reddish color here and there which is part of the focus for my whole piece.  NOTE THE PICTURE...The actual subject matter will be most likely be painted in oil, but I reserve the right to change my mind and paint it in acrylics if the mood strikes me.  My decision will be based on how I want the whole to look...more painterly, or blocks of color that is easy in acrylic. NOTE how I try to stay close to where the darks and contrasts are in the photo.  It turned out nicely so I want to duplicate the values in some important places!  Stay tuned for the finished piece!

Reference Photo for "Acorn"

I've pulled another piece off my website and am offering it here for sale.  The link attached to the title is a group of pieces I'm calling "From the Studio" on Facebook and will be a record of all the pieces I'm offering for sale.  You can click on each individual pic for prices and information.  If you like something you see that isn't posted today just contact me at art4life44@hotmail.com!  It's just that easy!

"Cactus Crowd"

Acrylic on panel (this will need to be framed) (OR talk to me about adding a cradle for $8 extra)

$85 (includes shipping in the US)

HAPPY CREATING!!

"Sisters in Yellow" original acrylic on 1 1/2" gallery wrap canvas © Saundra Lane Galloway

 "Sisters in Yellow"

acrylic on 1 1/2" gallery wrap canvas

Ready for hanging

$120 includes shipping in the US

Click on the title to see a larger pic

Another blast from my recent past is this favorite of mine "Sisters in Yellow".  I love this piece because of the strong contrast and the fact I caught these two from their backsides!

The demo for Palateers Art Association went of wonderfully yesterday.  It was a make up day as the first scheduled day we got snow and freezing temps!  I learned that an hour is a challenge to demonstrate what I do...but we all had fun and several signed up for the workshop on Feb 1. -2 ONLY $80! Anyone within shouting distance that wants to play with collage, and paper casting and wax and making stamps hop over to Becky Silver's web site (the gallery owner) and sign up! AAR RIVER GALLERY.

Last night was a blast at the opening reception at the John Madden Museum in Fiddlers Green for his first ever art show!  They only took a limited number of pieces and I was lucky enough to get "Trunks" in the show.  It was a tremendous turnout, and lots of fun running into artists from all over! 

Now the fun part!...Cleaning up after a demo!

HAPPY CREATING!

AND IT BEGINS...ORIGINAL WORK FOR SALE HERE!!

 "Aspen in Batik" © Saundra Lane Galloway

12" x 10 1/2" batik under glass

$225 includes shipping in the US

As I said the other day I will be removing some of my previous work from my website and offering it for sale here on my blog.  It's all part of the big change that has been taking place within me as an artist...STILL loving my other work, but wanting to present a cohesive body of work on my professional website.

SO, having said all of that here is my first offering.  You can buy this by pressing the button, or if you miss today you can always contact me at art4life44@hotmail.com to see if it is still available.  OR, you can just log in the day it was offered and see if the buy button is still there; which will mean it is still available!  SO MANY CHOICES!

This first offering is a one of a kind piece.  "Aspen in Batik" is just that, a batik that I matted and framed in a contrast grey frame (it's like silver only a tad deeper).  It is under glass.  A very nice example of our beautiful Colorado Aspen! 

"Sunflowers Four" working title original mixed media collage © Saundra Lane Galloway

 "Sunflowers Four" working title

6x11" mixed media collage on 1 3/4" cradle

As I have a little time before my next demo I decided to work a piece taking pictures between each step to show the process of painting something a little more involved like flowers.  This is the end result for this little piece that will go on my website in the next day or so when I'm sure I've done all I want. The sunflowers are painted in oil, which is over the collage and acrylic.  In an earlier post I talked about the rules for being able to do this...in short, if the surface isn't too smooth it works well...

In coming days I will be posting things for sale on my blog.  I FINALLY learned how to put a button on the blog thanks to my blogger and artist friend Kimberly Conrad!  YEA!...In coming days you will see many of my earlier style pieces for sale here as I will be taking them off my website in order to give it a more professional and cohesive look.  HERE...is fun...HERE...is more relaxed; so be watching!

Mosiac Monday

As is becoming kinda normal for me I was up at the crack of dawn (like 3 a.m....I think BEFORE dawn) and playing on my computer and found a fun thing...making mosaics out of my pictures...So, I made a few...THEN, I put it on facebook, and got such a fun bit of response; one being a link to a website about Mosiac Mondays...called  Little Read House...where, on MONDAYS we can post our mosaics...SO, I've jumped right in to share and expect to have a great time...I invite any of you out there up at the crack or any time to explore this site and make a mosaic of your own and have fun!!

Oh, and here is one I created!!  FUN DOINS!!

The weather ended up being SOOOO icy we postponed my demo til this Friday at the Aar River Gallery WHERE I have a workshop on the subject of INNOVATIONS IN COLLAGE scheduled for Feb 1 and 2...In the workshop we will be playing with the VERY method I've detailed in the workshop I wrote for this months' (JAN/FEB 2011)  CLOTH PAPER SCISSORS...at least as one segment of the workshop...so I'll be pretty busy in the next days...JUST THE WAY I LIKE IT!!

PS...Mary actually has a tutorial on her July 17, 2009 post on how to make a mosaic!  I THINK I've linked it properly...HERE

PSS...I used my free photo web program Picassa...It is really easy!! It is from google...easy download and then a great program!  SO, MANY CHOICES!

HAPPY CREATING!!

SNOW AND MORE SNOW...but not to detour!

YEP...we couldn't escape it...we finally did get some measurable snow.  About 10".  Not so much compared to years past, but the cold (teens and below zero...brrr) that has come with it makes it seem like those feet of snow we've gotten in the past!  AHHH well...not to detour!

I've been busy the past couple of days preparing for a demo I will be doing for the Palateers Art Club in Northglenn tonight. Let's hope the below zero temps will NOT mean I slide into this venue 35 miles from my cozy little mountain home!

I've been having fun choosing subject matter for this demo...which, of course will be completed pieces when I put all the finishing touches on them.  Of COURSE, I will demo my aspen process in my collage...and I'm toying with a fun little sunflower piece I also want to begin for them.  I always have difficulty paring down...if you knew me in person, you would understand! 

Let's hope this cold January day brings much opportunity for creative expression!  as always...

HAPPY CREATING!!

"Baby Hippo #2" original oil © Saundra Lane Galloway

 "Baby Hippo #2"

6x6" oil on cradled panel

Things are a hoppin in this studio I'll tell you!  WHEW...but good...I've been asked to deliver quite a few paintings to various venues and the shop "Luna's Mandala" up the hill...apparently they love all the color! YEA!

I think baby hippo #2 works best for the baby animal portraits I'm doing for my sweet girl's baby nursery...but she wants both...HA!  So, off they go as soon as they are dry! I'm thanking my friend Carol Nelson for letting me paint with her last year when she was doing her fauvist style portraits...cuz I'm enjoying doing these little guys/girls with lots of fun color!!

Monday evening I am doing a demo for the Palateer's art guild, and hopefully teaching a two day workshop at the Aar River Gallery on February 1 and 2...so it's busy days...but happy days!

HAPPY CREATING!!

WHEW!

 "Baby Hippo #1"

6x6 oil on panel

WOW has it been a busy life these past few weeks!  I know we all have them...and, usually it is around the holidays!  I adored painting and planning for family this year, but I have to admit it was quite a ride with little time to do some serious work in the studio.  I think I have finally ridden the roller coaster and am coasting in to the station and can now focus on my work in a serious fashion.

Baby Hippo #1 is my first attempt at a baby animal for my wonderful daughter's nursery.  I wasn't happy with it, but she loved it, so I told her I'd leave it alone (yes the desire to wipe it clean and do the other thing I decided on was GREAT!) and just paint a second one and let her decide.  She adores hippos, so if she wants them both so be it...HA

All is well on the baby front...and it is now on paper that the baby is due on August 15; which just so happens to be MY birthday!  WOW, what a present!  YEA!

Other news this season wasn't the best, and I admit it threw me for a loop.  My most wonderful; still assistant attorney general in Oklahoma at 77 years old father was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.  He already has Leukemia and has done wonderfully over the years with this diagnosis.  My most fabulous mother has really been a star with how she has taken care of him...changing their diets to eliminate all sorts of nasty things put in it, and things were actually looking fabulously!  His blood counts were actually better...and he was fine...and now this.  I suppose it never occurred to me that a person could have more than one disease...silly I know!  The blessing is this disease progresses so slowly...and it doesn't affect the mind.  And he and my mom have the most awesome attitudes!  They trust in God and know what is truly important, so there is great peace associated...but, they will work at this...my mom stepping up again to work to do all that is required (and knowing her...much, much more) to make this as easy as possible.  I am so proud of them both...and so irritated with myself.  I thought I had taken it in stride, and then found myself having to leave Taco Bell yesterday when I saw a man with the same disease...crying before I knew it and didn't want to offend anyone...WOOPS...gotta get a hold of myself so I can be there for my parents (if my very capable mother ever lets me that is...ha) and so I can be there for my most wonderful daughter as she prepares to have her first baby...WHEW again I say...it is most certainly a life full of LIFE!  Isn't there a word for people like us...parents on one side and children needing us on the other...?  I have to laugh...we as a society name EVERYTHING!  HA...and that is how I choose to take life...with a sense of humor....with perhaps a few well placed cleansing tears thrown in just cuz we're human!  But, I will take the cue from my mother...God is in charge!

Let's hope this new year brings cures for things and laughter and joy to off set the occasional sorrows that come with the whole package!  Life is still awesome, and there is much to learn and discover...So, that being said, I best get busy!

HAPPY CREATING ALL!!