TAKING TIME FOR FAMILY

6 wonderful days with this part of my family did me a world of good! Just look at that face! Who wouldn't smile everytime they saw it! Paxton is 15 months old and a joy to be around! My goal while there was to coax him gently to say Nana...it was a fun process!  I am reminded just how wonderful taking a break and time for family is for the ole creative brain and heart!!

I missed my beautiful Michelle as well, (she couldn't believe I posted this pic to facebook...sorry sweetie, but it filled my heart up to see the soft side that reminded me of days gone by when I got to be with you like you get to be with Paxton) she and I actually got to spend a very rare few hours together...just mom and daughter ;we went to see Breaking Dawn 2.FUN DOINS!....and I always adore getting to spend time with my very wonderful and generous son in law Damon. He is so good to me...never complains when I come...actually encourages it! Now that's a great son in law!!

I got into my daughter's camera one day and found this gem of me and Paxton on his 1st birthday! YEA!

There's never enough photos of Nana and Paxton to suit me...Just look at that little face!!!

I think I spent more time down on the floor with him; face to face than standing!

I always try to get together with my co-grandma, Diana when I'm there...we both love this boy!!

Yep, we tried the generation photo thing, but this little man was hearing nothing of the sort...since he started walking...well, that's all he wants to do!

 

The whole trip was fabulous, right down to the night I left where we waited an hour and a half only to hear our flight had been cancelled!! It was a crazy bit of time where over 100 people were standing in line waiting to see what else was available...My poor girl came back to get me and we tried again the next day...I was LUCKY enough to get out the next morning...as some were delayed for days!

 

So I rushed home to finish a little personal bit of love for my brother who served in the air force...to me he is a hero of epic proportions...both in his years of service to the country and now as he serves his family so beautifully...Saturday is his birthday and so I painted him a medal of honor all his own...shhhh don't tell the air force! :) I got home, prepared this for mailing and "Gathering" as I promised, rushed them to the post office and then came home and fell completely asleep!!! It was awesome!! 

 

Oh, and what happened with my goal of getting Paxton to say "Nana"? Well, he didn't say it while I was there...not very clearly anyway...HOWEVER, I recieved this e-mail from my daughter while I was waiting at the airport...and this is what she shared! GOD BLESS AMERICA AND MY DAUGHTER!! tee hee!!

 



"FIVE ACORNS" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA PAINTING OF ACORNS ON PAPER © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Five Acorns"

13"x10" mixed media on w/c paper

20" x 16" finished size

$275 ON HOLD PENDING SHOW NOTIFICATION

 

This is my entry for the Colorado Watercolor Society state show that will be March 2, 2013 through the end of the month.  It will be held at our own Foothills Art Center in Golden, Colorado. This one is definately large enough...but I will not be notified of acceptance (hopefully) until the end of December. 

 

I don't often paint on paper anymore, so to make me feel a little better I coated the 140 lb paper with custom patch (a less expensive but superior product that mimics Golden flexible molding paste) for some light texture.  The background is painted with acrylic, a little more watery than I usually do...it is much like watercolor only it dries a bit darker and you can't rework it! I included some paper, as I love to do, that I made myself (a requirement of the prospectus for CWS on the state show).  The acorns and leaves are painted in acrylic just like I would have painted them in oil...only blending is a little more challenging. 

 

I matted and framed this under plexiglas (another requirement of the Foothills Art Center) and it is already entered.  I'm not sure why we have to enter this show so early, but I squeaked it in right before the deadline.  Wish me luck!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am happily boarding a plane for a visit with my wonderful daughter, her hubby and my sweet grandson Paxton.  I am SO excited!  He has begun walking all over the place since I last saw him, so I just HAD to go! My goal for the trip is to try to entice him to say NANA...for obvious reasons! HA!  I'm not above holding a banana next to my face if that will help!  Wish me luck on that one too!!

 

I feel quite sure I will be posting a photo or two of this part of my most loved family...so thank you in advance for your indulgence!!

 

HAPPY CREATING!!

STUDIO SALE "ASPEN TRIO" ORIGINAL ACRYLIC BATIK WITH PAPER OF ASPEN © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Aspen Trio"
image 12" x 6"

10"x13" inside matt, acrylic batik on paper, with paper, mounted
16"x 20" with matt and frame

$125 + $15 shipping in the US

This fun little acrylic wax batik was SUPPOSED to be slated to enter the CWS state show, HOWEVER, the actual image was to small to enter, SO I decided to add it to my STUDIO SALE.  I painted it and then made my own paper to add to the sides...in keeping with me always wanting to add a little sumpin, sumpin!  I carefully mounted it on watercolor paper and matted, and framed it under glass.  I haven't even put this in my STUDIO SALE section of my website yet...this is the ONLY place you can purchase it from for the next little bit!!

 

I really enjoy working in all different types of ways, so the day I gathered with some friends to play with this batik method was well worth it! SO, it's back to working on a second entry possibility that IS big enough to enter...wish me LUCK!

 

HAPPY CREATING!

 



STUDIO SALE "THREE LEMONS AND A CHERRY" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA PAINTING OF LEMONS AND CHERRY © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Three Lemons and a Cherry"

8" x 11.5" mixed media on cradled panel

STUDIO SALE

$100 +12 shipping in the US

 

Continuing with my studio sale, today I am offering "Three Lemons and a Cherry". One of my original still life paintings in my new style. Click on the title to go to the purchase page on my website. 

 

I'm happy to report that "Gathering" sold yesterday just about as soon as I posted it...thanks Carrie!!  HAPPY CREATING!!





"GATHERING" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA PAINTING OF CARDINALS IN ASPEN © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Gathering"

12" x 12" mixed media on cradled panel

SOLD, thanks Carrie!

Click on title to go to my website purchase page

 

This is a re-work painting!  I took a previous piece that I liked, but lacked that punch I was looking for.  Originally this was "Green Barn Aspen"...and I had hoped that the shadows against the barn wall would be that punch, but I just found, after looking at it awhile that the shadows merely served to be a black hole that just didn't suit me. 

 

SOOOO I took out the shadow and added a bit of punch in the form of these wonderful little Cardinals who have gathered among my beloved aspen to chat awhile!  I left the sides stained as they were because it still works!  I rather enjoy this little re-work so much I may make it my Christmas card this year...Cardinals are seen as you know as a Christmas bird...so, why not!! 

I enjoy making decorations and things for the holidays...just finished adding some fun touches to a lantern I found...added with this sweet little painting, and FUN DOINS!!

 

 

HAPPY CREATING!!

 

 

 

 



"SACRED JOURNEY OF THE CROW" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA ON STRETCHED CANVAS © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Sacred Journey of the Crow"

4" x 5" oil over mixed media background
gallery wrap stretched canvas with lots o texture!!

$47 + $7 shipping in the US



I have been so excited about crows lately...painting them that is!  We have had an influx of them of late...don't know why, but I'm glad. I also go up the mountain to our local grocery and for some reason they love it up there...so there has been ample opportunity to get crow photos! YEA!

I used to be spooked by crows...I suppose it's all the horror stories I see...in these movies and in recent cultural lore crows have often been seen as a symbol of death and omens of bad things to come, BUT DID YOU KNOW that actually crows have been seen as sacred. Even in the bible crows have been seen as birds that brought bread, in many Indian cultures they are seen as supreme beings, they are seen as messengers.  Some really POSITIVE meanings for the crow. 

I've coupled this crow with a spiral; seems I've done that a good bit of late.  As I've also said before the symbolism of the spiral is a symbol of things like Balance, Progress, Direction, Initiation, Centering, Expanding, Awareness, Connection, Journeying, Development. THUS you can see how I came to the name.

For this little painting I chose to let the very textured background serve as the backdrop of the very purply dark bird who has landed for a moment of reflection before continuing on his journey; which I choose to be of enlightenment!  Don't we all need a bit of enlightenment from time to time!!

On the 24th of November I will be participating in a Christmas shopping event up in Conifer where I will bring this little guy for you to see in person if you like!!  More details will be oming soon!!

HAPPY CREATING!!

"CHIQUITA" ORIGINAL 4"X4" OIL ON PANEL © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Chiquita"

4"x4" oil on panel

FOR MY BROTHER DAVID

 

My incredible, wonderful brother David and I have a great relationship. We LOVE to joke and tease one another with tonz o' love...and that's how this Christmas present to him came about. This is a photo of he and his beautiful wife Terri.  I love Terri too...soooo much!  She has been a part of this family long enough that I think of her as my beloved sister.  David and Terri have this awesome relationship.  Even though they've been married a long time they still refer to each other as bride and groom!  A great example of a married couple for sure!

 

Anyhoo...so, I have been painting for my ETSY shop as you know...at first I did a lot of fruit...and one day on facebook after seeing my latest fruit or veggie he said "Where are the bananas?" or some such phrase...WELL, "be careful what you ask for my bro, cuz you may just get it"...and, that is how this painting came about.

 

At first I played around with photos I had grabbed from the web...even painted one...it was YUCK!...SO, not to be deterred, I went to the store, BOUGHT bananas, had a photo session, and voila'!  And, before you ask...NO, I did NOT paint the sticker...what???...NO WAY!  For an artist who likes to paint quickly and HATES to do lettering I just printed a photo and cut out the "sticker" and stuck it on there!!  WHY do we think we can't do things like that???  I don't...obviously...and, IT WORKS!  It is now officially a collage...and I'm proud to say it!! tee hee!

 

So...shhhh...don't tell him about his present...He is the only one that is banned from seeing this post...

 

OK, now, back to the easel...maybe I'll paint some more nannas!! 

 

HAPPY CREATING!!

 



STUDIO SALE "THREE PEARS" ORIGINAL ACRYLIC ON CANVAS; FRAMED © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Three Pears"

16" x 20" acrylic on framed canvas

$100 +20 shipping in the US

 

Believe it or not this is one of my favorite paintings. Back when I was exploring acrylics I studied under a wonderful oil painter; Kathy Berls (Lakewood Arts Council). Even though I was playing with acrylic I wanted to learn more and she was the best one to do it under!  Painting with acrylics is a wonderful way to work quickly; have them dry quickly, and so I painted like an oil painter only with acrylics. It is HARDER to get good blending, but a great challenge to get better over-all.  I think about this painting the light on the edges of the pears just makes it glow.  I've kept this in my house for awhile because I loved its freshness...BUT, I need to make room, so I'm finally ready to let it go. 

 

"Three Pears" is framed in a contrast grey metal frame...and ready to hang!  Click on the title for purchase page on my website STUDIO SALE category if you need it in your house.

 

I don't know what it is, but lately I'm getting comments merely for the sake of promotion to others' sites...I think it is important to re-state the etiquette rules for bloggers...MOST of us who have been doing it awhile know this already, but it is kind of a no no for blogging...kind of rude, like asking a person their age, or walking into a house without knocking.  Anyway, that's how I see it...I would never do it to anyone else, so it kind of grinds on me to have others do it on this site...so, please pass around those rules for good manners on blogging if you have had this happen...PLUS, I now think I will have to edit my comments before posting again...sigh...

 

HOWEVER, for those who read my bits and pieces from time to time and care to take the time to wade through that awful word/number thingy to comment...I THANK YOU!!  You all rock!!

 

HAPPY CREATING! 



STUDIO SALE: "COLORADO VISIONS" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA ON STRETCHED CANVAS PAINTED AROUND © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Colorado Visions"

24" x 18" mixed media on stretched gallery wrapped canvas

STUDIO SALE!! ONLY $150 + $20 shipping in the US
click on the title to take you to the purchase page!!

 

This is what I'm calling a Shabby Chic painting. I attached canvas to the gallery wrap canvas...I added brads here and there...and then painted right on top...In this work I still work with my subject matter but work accordingly. I encourage you to enlarge this piece so you can see the areas where I'm calling "shabby" or check out the detail photos below...just a new way to play! This work is comprised of bits and pieces of Colorado landscape scenery all put together in one cohesive piece! This mixed media piece has acrylic, modeling paste for added texture, oil (for most of the bottom of the painting), brads, and acid free paper. FOR THE HOLIDAYS I'M PUTTING THIS IN MY STUDIO SALE...SO FOR THIS PERIOD OF TIME IT WILL BE AT A GREATLY REDUCED PRICE!!

 You have to look hard within the rocks to see the added canvas pieces, frayed around...

 NOTE: the FUN texture and the added canvas with little brads at the corners...

 The sides are painted around but kept soft

 just a tad of detail on the sides...in keeping with the shabby chic feel

see the freyed canvas with brads attached...FUN DOINS!

 

Some have asked why I am putting pieces up at such reduced prices. My answer is three fold...Number ONE, I want to be respectful of those, like me who have been hit with the economy and give gift choices that are affordable!  AND TWO, I am becoming dismayed at how our world is sometimes making art that seems only the rich can afford...that BUGS ME...I LOVE the process of my art...I have FUN painting...but I never want to be too big for my britches...:)  and THIRD...well, I need to clear out my studio to make room for MORE PROCESS, MORE PAINTINGS...FUN, FUN, FUN!!

 

SO...that being said...stay inspired, be tickled with what you see in this world, and

HAPPY CREATING!!