TAKING A BREAK...

No photos today, no paintings...Just taking a break; a vacation if you will....Hopefully soon I will be back going strong, now off to find inspiration of a different sort!

HAPPY CREATING!

BEGINNINGS AND HAPPY NEWS!!

Last night's demo for Wheat Ridge Art Guild went great!  A full house and lots of laughter and examples and very fast painting!  This Aspen in Blue beginning is how far I got in the few minutes I had to demonstrate my process.  I went with several different ideas, and let them pick...and, to my joy they wanted to see aspen! YEA!...They all got my card with my address so they could tune in to see these finished pieces, as even as fast as I paint I wasn't able to fully complete a piece! WHEW...but we had fun!

This is a beginning of what I think I'm going to call Golden Stand...just another way to play with the beautiful colors we are going to be seeing later in the summer!

I had originally thought I'd do some "eastery", type of something...carrot tops...and took some pics...We didn't have time but it is now on my radar...gonna work from this fun pic I took a few months ago!

NOW FOR SOME FUN PERSONAL NEWS!!  YESTERDAY WE FOUND OUT THAT MY BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GRAND BABY TO BE IS A BOY!  YEA!  AND HEALTHY AND ON SCHEDULE WITH HIS DUE DATE TO ARRIVE ON MY BIRTHDAY; AUGUST 15!...ANOTHER YEA!  HIS PHOTO SHOWS A CUTE LITTLE TURNED UP NOSE LIKE HIS MOTHER...I'VE GOT 4 MORE ANIMAL BABIES TO PAINT...I BEST GET ON IT!

I'M DULY INSPIRED!...I HOPE YOU ARE AS WELL!

HAPPY CREATING!

IT'S CLOUDS I REMEMBER...or some such thing!

As I am busy getting ready for a demo tomorrow I thought I'd pass along a bit of inspiration!   What looks like mountains at first are really clouds that are sitting over the city of Denver as viewed from my front deck.  This is a very unusual site however ordinary it may seem.  What happens is these clouds keep billowing up and over these foothills you see and in a space of about 3 minutes they are completely enveloping our house and you can see nothing of what is in this photo.  It is an eery site, but fascinating!

AND, this little chickadee was just sitting in the branches giving himself a bath, so I couldn't resist!

HAPPY CREATING!

"GOLDEN TOPS" COLORFUL CONTEMPORARY MIXED MEDIA ASPEN LANDSCAPE © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Golden Tops"

12" x 6" mixed media on 1 3/4" cradled panel stained English Oak to compliment

$165.00 includes shipping in the US

This is the completed piece that I posted it's beginning the other day. My inspiration on this one was two fold.  First, I have been intrigued by the very strong contrast of the dark purple/blue background against the whitish trunks.  Much like my piece "Aspen in Collage". (which is available also...just hop over to my website at www.saundralanegallowayfineart.com and go to landscapes)  Ever since I created Aspen in Collage I've wanted to do another high contrast piece.  I was also inspired for Golden Tops from all the walks in a lucky find of an aspen stand and standing looking up I get that exciting bugs eye view.  So, this is the end result from the two lights in my soul!  Got a little poetic didn't I? :)  Life is full of moments where we are caught by the beauty of something and it catches in our souls and comes back out through a happy memory, and like most of you out there we are inspired to put it out for others to see! 

I am having fun with a young fox as you've seen in recent posts.  She (and I believe it IS a she) has been coming by to visit every morning.  She stands at the back door and just watches me working in the kitchen, and if I go out back she will run back and forth...I'm almost convinced that IF I threw her a ball she would fetch...so, this is our little lady through the screen...THAT is inspiring!

HAPPY CREATING EVERYONE!  BE INSPIRED TODAY!

"ASPEN IN RED" ORIGINAL CONTEMPORARY COLORFUL ASPEN LANDSCAPE © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

 

"Aspen in Red"

6" x 12" mixed media on panel with 1 3/4" cradled sides

$165.00 includes shipping in the US

for more information on this or for information on international sales please contact me at

art4life44@hotmail.com

This is the final version of the piece from the past two posts.  I was inspired by the occasional season where the aspen go from green to yellow or orange to red.  I don't see the red often down this low, but the years I trek up to higher ground the reds are just incredible!

In this final step you can see that I've added my aspen trunks using my own handmade paper and then painted them.  It's as simple as that!

I've already begun my next aspen piece, but this time I am focusing on the beautiful golden yellow leaves that are always so stunning around about September or October...This is my step one which is simply to lay in color with acrylic.  This one is from my typical view when I'm tromping about in the midst of them...sort of...stay tuned!

HAPPY CREATING!

ASPEN IN RED STEPS 2 and 3 © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

 

Steps 2 and 3 in my aspen in red piece. STEP 2:  I made a simple stylized stamp of an aspen leaf and stamped it in red and a touch of green.  STEP 3: Adding my much loved papers with a stamped in red stream across...LAST but not least will be adding my beloved trees! 

HAPPY CREATING!

RED aspen piece step one

 

Step one of this piece involved putting some strong color on the bottom with softer tones gradated as I went up.

Yes, in case you are wondering, it will be another aspen piece.  I'm enjoying working in different color schemes to bring as many different seasons into what I love as possible.  I'm going to make a new aspen stamp today to put into the background before I begin to add papers that I think will add to the implied texture and movement behind those things I love SO much...the TREE!

I have a demo coming up next week for a local art guild where I only have ONE hour to show my process...so it is good to have things in various stages to give the audience as clear a picture as possible of what I do...FUN DOINS!

HAPPY CREATING!

"The Market" original acrylic on stretched canvas © Saundra Lane Galloway

"The Market"

18" x 14" acrylic on canvas in a grey metal frame

$225.00 includes shipping in the US
This is a piece I've had for awhile.  In has been in my private collection and I have decided to move it along.  I don't have it on my website as I now work so heavily in my mixed media, but I still love it.  The photo could be better as it has been sealed and taking photos of a painting with a sealer on it will catch even the tiniest bit of light...but you get the point!

I am making new cradles and beginning a few new pieces, but since there is nothing NEW to show you I will share MY pic of the big ole moon from last night.  Unfortunately we had a lot of clouds, so this was the best shot I got...still, a fun thing that we won't see again for another 18 years!...I calculated how old I will be on the next go round...and decided this was my last best shot! HA

HAPPY CREATING!

RED BIRD PHOTO and...down but not out!

This was a crazy week for me...not much painting, but lots of attempts to find some way to earn a bit of cash!  Yep, cashola...need some! HA

I went to check out that painting venue, but found out that they were WAY overstocked with teachers who were calling constantly to see if they could have more hours...OK...that was a no, but I'm not to be deterred!  So, if they can do it, why not me...so I'm working up a schedule of paintings to teach and taking it to good ole Hobby Lobby...yep, trying something again!...Aaahhh life!

So, not to leave you hanging, I was outside this morning and saw this little guy for the second time.  I haven't looked him up in my bird book yet...but he is a gutsy little fellow cuz I could almost touch him and he doesn't fly away...so, he posed for me...and now goes in to my bank of photos (and yours now too if you're into painting birds)...for a session one of these days!

The word for today is persistence!  Don't give up on whatever you want...cuz EVENTUALLY something's gotta give! HA Or so goes the theory!

HAPPY CREATING!!

"Aspen Trio" original contemporary aspen painting © Saundra Lane Galloway

"Aspen Trio"

16" x 20" acrylic on stretched canvas

my third teaching painting example

Well, wish me luck...tomorrow I'm going to drop in to the painting company I talked about and take this and the two from my last post...let's hope I've simplified my pieces enough to catch their attention!!

HAPPY CREATING!

Trying something new...

"Cone Flowers"

16" x 20"

acrylic on canvas

Life has been challenging of late.  How many of us couldn't say that one!  As I think I mentioned we've been jobless since the first of February.  Even though things have begun to look promising, it is still scary and tough and scary some more...especially when there is no savings, no vacation pay, no 401K...and we're getting OLDER...yep, scary!  

"Pear"

16" x 20"

acrylic on canvas

BUT, as we know necessity is the mother of invention, so my mind immediately went into what can I do in this economy...just what?  After being turned down at places I've searched I had to figure something!!  The teaching world out there is a mess...just about every state has messed up their budget so badly they would not be hiring from outside for at least another two years...but, that isn't for me anymore, anyway!...I'd do it to survive, but it just about killed me the past years...but, oh well...it isn't out there anyway!...SO...

I've been learning about a new thing out there...(new to me anyway) a few companies that have started up where a teacher can go and create simple paintings that others will sign up to come for a fun two hours and paint that same painting with you...just a fun thing!  It sounds like ME...a lot of FUN...and painting too! YEA!

SOOOO, I sat down yesterday afternoon and produced two simple acrylic paintings and will be doing more so that I can take them down to these places and see if they have room for another teacher who is offering new pieces to do...I don't know if it will work, but a girl's gotta eat!...So wish me luck!  SOON I will be back at my easel doing my mixed media work and my grand-babies safari animals...

HAPPY CREATING!!

. 

"Spirit" original oil on textured canvas © Saundra Lane Galloway

"Spirit"

10" x 10" oil on textured canvas

PRIVATE COLLECTION

to purchase prints please visit my site at

FINE ART AMERICA

The weekend allowed me to sit down and paint a dark horse for my father's den as requested.  I find, when I paint on a textured canvas or panel it adds just that little extra movement and umph....at least for me.  I LOVE all the movement!

I'm starting to itch to do another aspen mixed media...I best get to it! 

HAPPY CREATING TO YOU ALL! 

Life Lessons!

In a way I'm glad at 53 I'm still able to learn life lessons.  Had a big one recently...the end result has changed life a bit...but never changes so much that I loose my love of my art and the work it entails.  Marketing is a HUGE part of our job as artists.  There is NO way around it.  It takes a big chunk of time, but in the end it can be worth it if you don't give up 5 minutes too soon!  Remember that! I've been doing that a lot of late!

My visit with family and my grandbaby to come was wonderful.  I'm still catching up from that and haven't had time to paint...My fingers are ITCHING!...today...a horse head for my father's upcoming birthday!  And, on a panel, not in the bed...ooohhh, what a bad joke that was...and  no one who hasn't seen the Godfather would get it anyway...sheesh...well, it's early, so that is my excuse! HA

BUT, this morning as I got up and began my day I had an interesting dance with not one, but two foxes!  They were playing in my mountain backyard (which is a mountain) and they were kind enough to stop for a second at a time for me to snap these pics...ENJOY! 

HAPPY CREATING!!

Taking time for Family!

 My sweet girl and grandbaby to be at just over 4 months!  CAN HARDLY WAIT!!

My wonderful daughter and son-in-law and his family have been in our neck of the woods the past week.  Thus, no posts like I normally do...It's been taking time for family.  Yesterday I drove to Silverthorne to shop and play with my daughter and her mother in law who is also my friend and co-grandmother to be.  A great day!  It was a beautiful day in the mountains!  Sun and family...aaahhh! 

Peak #1 from Silverthorne

Even the fish were out enjoying the sun!

As always, I will be back at the old easel very soon...next on the list...a horses head for my dad's birthday...a request! YEA!

"Wren" original mixed media wildlife of a wren © Saundra Lane Galloway

"Wren"

11" x 6" mixed media on cradled panel

$175 includes shipping in the US

for photos of the sides and information on International sales please contact me at

art4life44@hotmail.com

to see more of my work please visit my website at

www.saundralanegalloway.com

It has dawned on me that I usually start with "I had fun with this..."...and I started to say something different, but the truth is, I DO have fun painting!  I didn't know I enjoyed painting birds and animals until recently...they always seemed too difficult to think about, but when one DOES think about it...they are just form, shape, value and such...just like anything else.  

Notice the detail from the stamps in the background.  I find they add just a little extra without taking away from the focus of the piece.

Now it's onward to another baby animal for my soon to be grandchild!  Hmmm...will it be an ostrich, a cheetah, a zebra, or an impala...those are ones left on the list...FUN!

HAPPY CREATING!!

A couple of invitations

OPENING RECEPTION tonight at ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF DENVER on

2nd and Grant in Denver, CO

I joined Art Students League last year in hopes of being able to take some classes and be in the Summer Art Market this June.  I'm still waiting on notification about the market show...but I had an opportunity to put a piece in their breakthrough show.  It's about that piece of artwork that defines the moment of a breakthrough in your art.  Since I have had that last year I put in MY breakthrough piece.  It will be hanging around the League until the 20th of April, so if you get a minute and you are in the area I invite you to stop by to see what's up at the League!

Just about around the corner is also an opening reception tonight (March 4, 2011) for a show at the CORE GALLERY on 9th and Santa Fe in Denver.  This venue came to be through the Ken Caryl Art Guild of which I am a member.  I am interested to see what the reaction of a venue downtown will be. 

SO, if you are in our area and need a little something to do...join us!  

HAPPY CREATING

REFOCUSING...AGAIN...and fresh off the easel...

"Calla Lily Cake Top"

6" x 6" oil on canvas panel

$80 includes shipping in the US

OK...so here is a little piece I did in oil just to see which direction I may want to go when I launch my wedding cake top portrait paintings full blast.  Here is what I learned...yep, I like it...it's nice...but I MISS working in collage...SO...the refocus is to lay this aside and experiment a bit more incorporating the way I love working; MY VISION in collage before I go full blast.  It's OK to experiment and decide and experiment again...that is how genius ideas happen (not that I'm a genius, but I play around to hope I stumble upon something genius!)!...so, cake top portraits are on hold...I mean really...I'm painting like mad for my sweet daughter's coming baby, working as much as possible on my mixed media pieces, showing in a ton of places, getting ready to move...etc, etc, etc...You know the drill...how many out there can give a list of your own!  IT'S A CRAZY BUSY WORLD! whew...step back and get a little perspective...Here is how I did it this morning...

• FINISHED CAKE TOP- ckeck
• WENT TO STARBUCKS...looked at the beauty on the way-ckeck
• took a picture of something totally random and get an idea from it - check...note the take out boxes from yesterday's lunch...hmmm...fun, what if I took them apart and made a pattern and used them as gift boxes...it's been done yes, but not by me yet...and it's just the bit of sumpin, sumpin I needed to get out of my rut thinking...FUN!
• and...started a new background for a new mixed media piece - check!

 "Wren beginning"

started with a bit of acrylic and stamping...you might want to click on this to enlarge it to see the stamping that will be the background...

Next will be adding some papers in some way...I MISSED THIS the past few days...and then slap that branch and bird right on there!!  YEA...

Refocus begun...let go of all the stressful "have to's" that I started and felt I jumped too fast...and now to PLAY!

What's next...another baby of course...by the way...I'm LOVING that!!

HAPPY CREATING to all...and remember...it's OK to stop, turn around, take pics of take out boxes and REFOCUS...and then...AAAHHHH...FUN!

"Baby Chimp" original oil portrait of a chimpanzee baby © Saundra Lane Galloway

"Baby Chimp"

6" x 6" oil on cradled textured panel

PRIVATE COLLECTION

PRINTS AVAILABLE ON

FINE ART AMERICA

This little guy was my hardest to paint so far...I think cuz he's so ugly! HA...sorry Michelle...I think it's one of those things that he's so ugly he's cute...and, all the time I was painting him I could have sworn that I smelled monkey!...So...off to create more for my little grandbaby!  Today we heard that the heartbeat was STRONG and he/she was just moving around like crazy...YEA!

HAPPY CREATING!!