"MT. EVANS LAYERS" MODIFIED...AND THAT'S OK!

This may look familiar.  It is...This is Mt. Evans Layers modified from it's original version.  After contemplating and looking at it for a bit, and getting thoughts from some great artists we all decided that the original version of the mountain was SO strong that it didn't push back into the background as it should...so, I took the mountain and pushed it into the background a bit.  How might you ask?...Well, I greyed down a good bit of the snow...As most of you know to make an object receed into space, or go back, you need to add a little grey/blue/opposite of the color wheel from the color...something to make it seem farther away.  This is called Aerial Perspective or Atmospheric Perspective.

We all know Leonardo DaVinci's Mona Lisa...this is the guy that I feel "invented" or discovered Aerial perspective as related to art.  Anyhoo...I did that...below you can see the first version of the top, and then the mountain "greyed" down...or put in the background a bit more...Still a great peak...just not SO dominant that it sort of overshadows the whole piece!

You will note they seem different sizes...it's just because I took their pics on different days...different lighting, different distances from the finished painting...but, the main change was the mountain...and NOW I call this finished. Oh, and the sky is most true on the before version ON MY SCREEN...again, different lighting on different days...but the more blue is most accurate...aaahhh atmosphere!!

Don't be afraid to let things ruminate in your brain with a piece from time to time...sometimes what is obvious to others at first doesn't ring that way to you until you let it sit a bit...I am SO grateful that someone noticed this "flaw" in the original design...and I HOPE I would have caught it later...

HAPPY CREATING!!

SOMETHING SPECIFIC...A WEDDING GIFT

This was something a little unique...a little specific...so, a fun challenge...Painted with Parisian postcards and colors my nephew and his wife requested in mind this is what I came up with...It is painted on a 12"x12" cradle that I will stain the sides, but it will be possible to frame it if they want.  The colors they requested were bright green and lite yellow with white and black...WHEW...quite a challenge for me...but after giving it a lot of thought I decided on a landscape that comes from the surrounding area with stamps and images like are often seen on postcards...more like a layering of objects...The sunflower in front was intended to be more like a rendering thus leaving the black lines...and of course my streaming papers to blend the image of the Eiffel tower into the whole piece.

I have to admit that life has become a little like an out of body experience.  My father is nearing his last days here with us, so there is a lot of planning and emotion attached to my days. We are close to God in my family, so for us it will be a blessing to know that he is free of the trappings that cancer has brought to his body.  We want him to be free...it is just the goodbyes and the waiting that sort of make time stop for me often now.  I'm sure there are so many of you that know exactly what I am talking about.  My job search has sort of stalled, and I move about, often just in order to ease the feelings that overwhelm me at times.  This too shall pass...and things will be fine...but for now...I am just glad for every moment of clarity and creativity that most certainly for me...ease the moments that I feel overwhelmed!  I hope each of you have creative thoughts to fill your day...it is truly a great present for artists isn't it!!

HAPPY CREATING!

"PROUD TO BE ORANGE" ORIGINAL PAPER CAST POPPY PAINTING © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Proud to be Orange"

paper cast under glass; matted and framed

click HERE for more information on my website

This was the demo painting I did for Mountainside Art Guild the other night...I am enjoying SO much finding ways to let my paper casts live...A definite pop of color to brighten any mood!!  And, thanks to everyone suggestions I think I've named my Poppy Triptych...It was a combination of what everyone said...ribbon, dance, party...all went through my head...cuz you all put them there...lol...SO it is thusly named...

BAND OF POPPIES...WHEW...thanks for the suggestions...

I have a wedding gift to paint...something along the lines of a Parisian postcard/landscape...hmmm...??sort of thing for my nephew and his lovely bride...but I'm also working on my first ABSTRACT...it's FUN DOINS in my studio!!

HAPPY CREATING!!

POPPY TRIPTYCH (WORKING NAME) ©SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

Well...FINISHED!!...and without a name as of yet!!  Any thoughts on the matter??  I'm thinking on it...I have to say this was really a fun piece to work on...kind of like a puzzle...The colors are so intense against the white of the background and matt...I've matted and framed the second poppy piece I demo'd two nights ago...I have that one's name...but this one...hmmm...It will be under glass and in a contrast grey metal frame when all is said and done...

window #3 detail

HAPPY CREATING!

POPPIES AND MORE POPPIES...PROCESS 2

The demo last night was tons o FUN!...They were trying out a camera and I was the first...sure does make it easier for everyone to see when working flat!  Kudos to Mountainside!!

Above is the second "window" of the all in one triptych I am working on...Enjoying it all the way around!  I used the same cast to do the poppy from the back...just didn't include texture in the middle...The lighting is a little atrocious, but I'm working on better lighting when I post the three windows together as one piece!!

The first piece is finished...I changed the center ephemera and added highlight lines with my gouda bottle and tip...that is just like sketching with paint...I love that!...Now off to finish "window" number 3!  Stay tuned.

HAPPY CREATING!

DEMO FUN...POPPY PAPER CASTS...

One of three "windows" of a poppy paper cast that I will be demonstrating tomorrow evening at Clements Center in Lakewood for Mountainside Art Guild.  This "pane" of the window is still in process, but you get the point, hopefully!  I have been playing around with different ways to use my paper casts, and have found a fun way...These are on 300lb watercolor paper that has been "texturized" a bit with modeling paste, stamped with a couple of stamps...one of which I made; the poppy leaf (see below), painted and embellished with bits of paint and ephemera...and voila...Poppy Paper Cast matted and under glass!!  It was FUN DOINS in my studio these past few days!

The poppy leaf stamp was made with fun foam...so easy and so convenient to stop and draw what you need, the SIZE and shape you need...make it and stamp it!!  It sits beside a paper cast poppy from the side that hasn't been embellished yet...Stay tuned for the finished product!

I've been planting in pots on my deck...and these little guys broke off...but, as you KNOW we artists never take something beautiful for granted...we photograph them...you NEVER KNOW when we may want to paint something...

HAPPY CREATING!

RECEPTION FUN AND POPPY PLANS

Last night was the one year birthday of Creations Art and Gifts and the opening reception for their new watercolor artists and ME...:)  I wasn't the "star" of the show, but I sure had a great presence in the gallery...thanks to Vickey and Tom Swenson, artists and owners of the gallery! 

and, there was more up and to the left...whew!! 

Creations is a lovely gallery, full of art, pottery, sculpture, jewelry, cards and MORE...Very beautifully laid out in an old house with beautiful wooden floors...

I would invite you to take the time to hop over to Louisville to see the gallery and the town...voted number one place to live in America several times...and I can see why...the whole main street is lined with restaurants, galleries and shops, a cute little town that was FULL of people last night for the First Friday in June!

And, so, NOW I'm working on some paper casts to highlight in my next demo which will be for the Mountainside Art Guild of which I am a member...Wednesday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Clements Community Center; 1580 Yarrow St., Lakewood, CO (apx Wadsworth and Colfax)...If you are in the area and so desire to see what paper cast is all about and what you can DO with it...stop by! I know it looks like a sunflower cast...but NO, these are for the poppy cast piece I will demo! FUN DOINS!!

HAPPY CREATING!