"SPRING ASPEN" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA ON CRADLED PANEL © SAUNDRA LANE FINE ART

"Spring Aspen"

18"x18" mixed media on cradled panel

$500

To paint aspen for me is a joy!  I spend so much time in and around the aspen tree, I feel like they are family!  This painting was from a need to feel the spring time at the tips of my fingers!  I love the soft colors that bring spring, and that is what this painting is about.  You will see bits of paper peeking through, and a mark or so here and there from charcoal to define a bit of the abstract feel of the leaves.  I usually paint the subject matter in oil, so the top of it all will be oil.  This 18"x18" cradled painting comes ready to hang.

The sides are stained with a grey stain to compliment and unify what you see in the trees themselves.  This gives the painting a completed, contemporary look.

here in this detail shot you can see the paper peeking through and some of the fun stamping that makes for interest.

more fun implied texture and pattern in this detail

KEEP LOOKING FOR THAT INSPIRATION!

"MAGENTA FIELD" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA LANDSCAPE WITH BUILDING © SAUNDRA LANE FINE ART

"Magenta Field"

24" x 12"

Oil on cradled panel with paper and texture

$460; shipping is free in the US

I have driven from Denver to Omaha so many times I lost count.  One of the things I love to see as I drive is the farmhouses and buildings that dot the horizon.  I have often wanted to paint these scenes, so here it is!  I have used a pallet that is rather rare for me...this magenta color with purple and hints at wheat color.  This is truly an unique piece for me, although you can see my paper stream and a bit of texture riding the top of my paper stream and coming out under a bit...It is hard to see these details in the photo, and also the brightness of the piece in this photo.  No matter how many times of day and places I tried to photograph it I had trouble...so I'm a saying...it is a little brighter in the building and sky, and the bit of texture just pops without being over bearing! 

I've stained the sides a color to compliment.  This painting comes ready to hang with wire on back, but it's 1.75" depth allows for sitting or leaning on a shelf.  The cradle gives this a contemporary look that does not need framing!

FIND INSPIRATION WHEREVER YOU CAN!

"PINE TRIO" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA TRIBUTE TO PINE TREES © SAUNDRA LANE FINE ART

"Pine Trio"

18" x 12.5" 

Mixed media on cradled panel

Available through my website

 "Pine Trio" is a personal tribute I felt a need to complete.  Recently some beautiful pines were lopped off at the top across from our home here in the mountains.  It was for a view I understand.  Being a tree lover, this really made me angry and sad all at once!  I felt there were other options for this person who wanted a view.  It isn't my property, so there was nothing to say after it had been done.  SO, I painted these trees as a reminder that there is always a way...perhaps if the person had just pruned them the view would have been there and the trees might have survived this fate that has left them looking so destroyed!  I've seen these trees with this type of foliage up high, near tree line here in Colorado...beautiful things they are!  "Pine Trio" is painted in oil over an acrylic under painting with my paper stream winding behind and next to them.  I add these papers for interest, a bit of color, pattern and even a bit of texture.  The unique depth of this painting allows it to sit on a shelf or mantle, or can be hung from the wires on back.  The sides have been stained an ebony which compliments the painting!

 BE INSPIRED!!

"SPRING GROVE" 24"X24" MIXED MEDIA OF ASPEN © SAUNDRA LANE FINE ART

"Spring Grove"

24"x24" mixed media on cradled panel

$800

Available through my website

I have a special love for this painting as it went through quite a few birth pangs in it's process.  As I have said before to new artists and as a reminder to seasoned artists that we should never let fear or attachment to a painting stop us from wiping it clean if necessary to get to a desired result.  It is a common issue with beginning artists for sure, and some seasoned ones as well to keep working a painting practically to death because we may not want to start over, or give up on a painting we have gotten attached to.  The best advice I can give is to just wipe off and start again, or sand it down if it is dry, or even paint over it or tear it up!  See the value in lessons learned in a painting that is not going as you would have wanted...I have found that at times when I have completely sanded down a completed painting that wasn't making me happy that there were hidden gems in the bits left behind...which increased my creative thought and the end result from these experiences is often a painting I LOVE!

I began by laying in a base background and paper for this painting as you can see below.

TIP: **If you ever get stumped as to a color scheme a favorite method for me is to look at magazines until I find a photo of anything that has a color scheme that appeals to me...you can also find it in LIFE...but the photos are a fun way to immediately filter out all the middle colors that may make a color scheme a little too much. 

I stamped a bit on this beginning phase to get a little implied texture.  I don't worry at this stage if the stamps are covered over...it is an inspirational tool I use to get my creative juices flowing... Next was to add my aspen.  I use acid free paper to define this step.  It isn't necessary, but a good way for me to visualize before committing to a composition as I can move the papers around until I have a pleasing end result for composition.

It is after this stage that I began to lay in my lines and such on the trees...I was fine there, but when I started with the foliage I changed my mind 3 times which meant I wiped a good bit off and started over!  This is frustrating at times, but the end result is fun as some of the paint stayed behind making a FUN bit of this or that for the final result!  I used more painterly strokes for the trees, I stamped the leaves with my hexagon stencil and then defined them in areas with charcoal.  THIS step is very exciting to me...to play with lots of different media to affect the end result I was looking for.  Below you can see a little detail in my process. I learned in my painful birth pains on this one that less was more in the leaves...BELIEVE me I had much more in a couple different methods and I was not happy with it!

I settled on the soft colors within the leaves that highlights the beginning of spring...and if you look closely you can see the definition I added with line in some areas.  The end result was a fun and soft aspen stand that made me quite happy I wiped this painting until I reached the goal I had in mind! I then stained the sides of my cradle to compliment the piece and it was finished!  A long birthing process for this painting, but well worth it when I can smile at the end result!

 HAPPY CREATING!

"ROCKS AND CLOUDS" MIXED MEDIA LANDSCAPE © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Rocks and Clouds"

12"x36"

Mixed media on 1.5" deep gallery wrap canvas

$650

Available through my website

Rocks and Clouds emerged from my desire to play with a composition I created a few weeks ago in another painting that has since sold.  I wanted to see how I might handle clouds with pattern in the sky.(I also added the honeycomb in the foreground as well to keep a unified effect)..I started out with outlined clouds, but kept working to this conclusion for this painting.  I don't know just how I will change, but I know that I am changing in some ways I am enamored with color and wanted to explore it a bit more.  "Rock Cliffs" sold at Summer Art Market. 

What I know at this point is that I prefer to use bright color than realistic color in many instances.  As I continue to grow and move as an artist I will play with my "new" found interest and see how it fits in to numerous situations with numerous subject matter.  A note to all those who may be in the beginnings of a "growth spurt"...DO NOT FEEL TRAPPED!  Don't feel like you are married to ANYTHING at this point!  Let inspiration lead you to experiment with ideas that come to your mind...NOTE the things you like and any other "growing pains" that happen that give you another idea...go down that road...EVENTUALLY it will find a space that feels happy...and YAY!

What I am working through in my mind is the fact that I love all the paper that I added in my work behind the scenes...I think I miss the volume that shows through...so my next thing to explore is to bring back a bit more in certain places...MAYBE...there is nothing lost if you learn and end up in a place that feels good.  YOU WILL EVENTUALLY end up in a place that feels good if you keep at it.  FOR ME...I have no choice...I am drawn to create, so eventually I will end up in a happy place and settle in until the NEXT growth spurt...REMEMBER, it is all a journey and there is beauty in every stage!

HAPPY CREATING!

"MT. EVANS IN FAUVE" BEFORE AND AFTER © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Mt. Evans in Fauve" REWORKED

30"x24" 1.5" gallery wrap

$900

Available through my WEBSITE

YES..you've seen this before...this was one of my new pieces that went to SAM this summer.  The mountain itself always seemed a little strong for the painting, and as I'm in the middle of growing and changing a little it is always a process.

SINCE it came home with me, I have played a little...I softened the mountain...simplified shapes and the amount of color that existed and I am NOW much happier with it!  There was JUST TOO MUCH going on...and it needed a makeover; at least in my view, and this is the end result.

Here I have the before and after so you can see the change...and you can judge for yourself...I like the after myself!

It really wasn't that complicated, and with just a little care taken to blend the new with the old middle it came out just fine and dandy!

It is a GOOD thing to take stock of work you currently have...and play...it helps in the growing process as an artist.  I will continue to play with a piece or two, cuz that's what happens when stuff is in my house! LOL

HAPPY CREATING!

"ROCK CLIFFS" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA LANDSCAPE © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Rock Cliffs"

12"x36" mixed media on gallery wrap canvas

see in person at SUMMER ART MARKET

June 13-14

200 Grant Street, Denver

Booth #54

Another larger piece that reflects my growth in the direction of color and a bit more abstract.  I'm really enjoying working in this new way.  The background is acrylic in base with a bit of the honeycomb pattern subtly added.  The rest is oil.  Note how you can see a bit of paper and pattern reflected in the rocks...a hail to my earlier work.  Most of this painting was created with palette knife.  FUN DOINS!

detail 1

detail 2

I hope you can join me at SUMMER ART MARKET in a few weeks.  There will be a smathering of my earlier work as well as this new. I am also bringing the pet portraits that I still have...who knows maybe you will find one that looks like your pet kid! 

I will add Rock Cliffs to my website as soon as I finish the photography session.  I have painted around the 1.5" deep edges on this one as well.

HAPPY CREATING!

"BEAR VISIT" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA ON STRETCHED CANVAS © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Bear Visit"

18"x18" mixed media on stretched canvas

$500

Available through my website

Living in the mountains affords me a wonderful opportunity to capture some of the wildlife that comes to visit from time to time.  This young bear is one of our visitors.  "Bear Visit" is painted in mixed media on a stretched canvas.  The background is largely acrylic with the trees painted in acrylic over paper.  The paper is very thin, but it seems to give a bit more depth.  There is acid free paper added to the background as well. The bear and some detail is painted in oil.  Bear Visit will be ready to ship on September 10, 2014 when the oil parts are dry.  "Bear Visit" comes ready to frame in your favorite 18x18" frame.

detail

As I said, this was painted to go in my own house...but, as with most paintings in my life, this one is for sale too...so I will enjoy it while I have it.

Here is the frame that it will live in while it is with me...I'm lovin the turquoise this year!!  HOWEVER, when the painting sells, this frame stays with me...I have an idea for an abstract that may live in it later...BUT, for now..."Bear Visit" lives here!

 I'm enjoying the last of our sunflowers for this year...the deer have chopped off leaves on some of them down low...but that is life on the mountain!

HAPPY CREATING!

"THE LIFE OF PINE" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA PINE PAINTING ON PANEL © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"The Life of Pine"

16"x6" mixed media on cradled panel

$140 + shipping and handling

Available on my WEBSITE

The circle of life is not only a symbol in this painting, but it describes the life of a tree perfectly!  Not only does it go through seasons of life, but it's very trunk, when cut in slices describes the rings that mirror the symbol on the painting!  So, the perfect name for this slice of tree could only be "The Life of Pine".

Painted on MDF panel with texture and paper added, this tree has texture of it's own along with bits of green that give it the color of life!  The color near the top symbolizes the sun; the very thing that helps this beauty to grow strong! The background and trunk are mostly acrylic, with the leaves and a bit of detail here and there are in oil.

"The Life of Pine" is stained green on it's sides to compliment.  Ready to hang or sit on a shelf!

Ready to ship March 31, 2014 when it is totally dry!  Shipping is aproximated for the US.

Last week I went to San Antonio, TX to see my brother and sister in law while my wonderful hubby attended a conference for work.  I absolutely adore my family, and we got to spend some FUN quality time together.  I stayed with them a couple of days in New Braunfels and then we all went up to San Antonio where I remained and played on the river walk and some other things.  My brother is a very elusive creature; it is HARD to get him to agree to sit for a photo...this one wasn't the best quality due to lighting thus the photo shop activity, but I adore him...my brother and I!!

The other important thing I got to do while in San Antonio was to see my father's resting place.  It is the first time I had visited, so it was a little special...a little out of body...but, I had to capture the beauty of our military resting spot for our brave men and women at Ft. Sam Houston...Dad's spot is front and center...just like in my heart!

In life I always hugged my father...he was SO tall,  but you'd often see photos of tall him and very short me...so, it seemed only natural for me to hug my dad again...Love you My Dad!!

 

I'm VERY busy these days painting as much as I can for SUMMER ART MARKET this June 7-8 at Art Student's League on 2nd and Grant...stay tuned for more info...but for now...MY BOOTH SPACE IS # 167!!

HAPPY CREATING!

"FAUVIST PINE" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA PINE ON CRADLE © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Fauvist Pine"

24"x24" mixed media on textured cradle

$675

Available on my WEBSITE

There is a lot of texture behind this very colorful; fauvist reminiscent painting of a pine tree from the ants point of view...Modeling paste, cheesecloth, some of my signature paper streaming. The tree and her foliage are painted in oil.  A fun painting to do for sure!  I will be taking this ole girl to the SUMMER ART MARKET on June 8-9, so if you want to see it in person, head on to booth #38!

 

 detail

The sides are stained a rich brown to compliment the painting.  She's ready to hang! 

 

HAPPY CREATING!



 



NEW OFFERINGS IN MY ETSY SHOP and REVISITING A FAVORITE!

"Little Cone"

4"x4" oil on 1/2" deep panel with slots for hanging

$25 +2.80 shipping in US

I may have posted this little guy before...I just love him...and he is a HE by the way...I read that pinecones that are soft and have not opened up are males...interesting factoid I think!

 

I find this painting intriguing in it's photograph because I have photographed him about 20 times and every time in every kind of light the background looks blue like this which is NOT the case in real life! I can't figure it out!  It is really a pinkish/peachish color like in the side view...GO FIGURE! Anyhoo...I've just gotten around to adding him to my ETSY shop...you can see the sides have been painted black like the others in the shop, only his 1/2" depth allows for hanging, or sitting on a shelf or a little easel...OR, I can include him mounted on a black, lightfast backer board; 5"x5" so he can be framed in a 5"x5" frame as well...Note "Big Red" below and the framing possibilities with these little wonders!

 

"Big Red"

4"x4" oil on heavy textures 1/2" deep panel with slots on back for hanging.

$25 +2.80 shipping in the US

Speaking of "Big Red"...this one has also been posted at one time or another...under it's former name "Cherry"...which didn't really do it...this "little" cherry has a big presence on it's 4"x4" format!...I just had to re-name it and also put it in my ETSY shop...you can click the title to see it in my shop.

 

"Big Red" also has sides painted black, and it is also 1/2" deep which allows for sitting alone if that is what you choose...or, as stated above it can be mounted on a black 5"x5" backer board for framing in a 5"x5" frame shown as an example for framing below.

I was looking through my recent work and found a particular favorite re-work of mine.  You can see the trees here...formerly knowns as "Tree Line" I believe...but, to me it needed a bit of punch, so I added this darling little red bird and now it is lovingly called "Sitting Pretty".  It is painted in my mixed media style on stretched canvas...so, this is just a reminder that it is still here and avialable!

"Sitting Pretty"

12" x 36" mixed media on stretched canvas

framed in contrast grey metal frame

$525 includes shipping anywhere in the US

 

detail

 

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!

 



"AUTUMN ASPEN" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA ASPEN LANDSCAPE © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Autumn Aspen"

4" x 4" mixed media on panel

$25 +$2.80 shipping in the US

Available in my ETSY shop

 

A mixed media painting with all sorts of surprises! Stamping, book pages, layers of paint grace this small bit of aspen wonder...leaves turning as they do in late fall...with some hidden hints of birds and spirals (which, among other things signify balance and growth). 4" x 4" on panel with aspen and leaves painted in oil. Sides painted black. Offered mounted on an optional (at no extra cost) 5" x 5" black acid free/lightfast backer board so it can be framed with all sides showing. NOTE: the photo framed is a suggestion (not included at this price)...frame can be found at Michaels.

 

 

 

Well...I knew it was coming...SNOW has arrived on the mountain a bit early this year...we didn't get much, but you can see that the geraniums were a bit surprised!  and...it begins again...winter on the mountain! The sun has me smiling!!

HAPPY CREATING!!