"SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN" SUMMIT © SAUNDRA LANE FINE ART

"Superstition Mountain" summit

6"x6" oil on panel

$75

Available through my website

"Superstition Mountain" is part of the Superstition Mountains just east of Phoenix.  The mountain range is in the federally designated Superstition Wilderness Area.  The elevation in the more remote, eastern portion of the wilderness is higher than the western portion, which lowers temperatures slightly. Numerous hiking trails cross the mountains from multiple access points, including the Peralta Trailhead, the most popular. The Lost Dutchman State Park, located on the west side of Superstition Mountain, includes several short walking trails.  This is painted in oil on panel and is ready for framing or can sit on an easel or a shelf as is!  In this suggestion for frames I have placed it in a floater frame (not included).  I purchase my floater frames at pictureframes.com in their floater frame section.  The frame shown is CFS3.

LOOK FOR INSPIRATION IN UNEXPECTED PLACES!

"MT. MCKINLEY-DENALI" ORIGINAL OIL ON PANEL © SAUNDRA LANE FINE ART

"Mt. McKinley-Denali"

6"x6" oil on panel

Available through my website

I learned alot when I was researching this mountain.  I always knew it was one of the tallest, but didn't know it was THE tallest in North America!  I also didn't know it had been re-named it's original name of Denali.  It was originally named Denali by the Alaskan natives, and President Obama re-named it in 2015.  Denali means Great One.  And, it certainly is as it rises to 20,320 ft!  I've shown it here in a frame suggestion; a floater frame...one of my favorites.  You can find this frame at pictureframes.com.  

We had an unexpected fun day with our grandson Ethan and his daddy on Monday at the zoo...Love these grand babies! Love my hubby too!!  Ethan loves his "buppa" tons!  A great sunny day in Colorado which turned into snow the very next day!  AAAAHHH...springtime in the rockies! lol

Stay tuned to my blog in the coming days...I'm going to start a series of lists of my favorite things...first up will by my favorite adhesives and what I use them on!

HAPPY CREATING!

"LONGS PEAK" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA COLORADO 14ER © SAUNDRA LANE

"Longs Peak" 

6"x6" mixed media on panel

Available in my WEBSITE

 

"Longs Peak" in Colorado is part of the Rocky Mountain National Park up near Estes Park.  When I painted this my husband said it is important to get the "knob".  He's a climber from way back, so I listened.  The typical view we get here from out east is two peaks...one being Mt. Meeker...BUT, since I was painting the summit of Longs I went with a close up version.  This fun little summit (which isn't so little) is

14, 259' high, so one of Colorado's 14ers.  I included a bit of acid free paper underneath a few areas, which is why I labeled it mixed media, but the majority of the painting is in oil.  "Longs Peak" is 6"x6" oil on panel and comes ready to frame or sit on a shelf or easel.  I like to show an example of framing (not included), in this 6"x6" gold floater frame.  I love floater frames for a lot of my work as it shows all sides.

 

frame suggestion

I am still working on my 2'x2' aspen piece on cradled panel.  You can see I've now added aspen trees that are in various stages of complete.  On this piece, for now, I have added a few trees that do not go to the bottom giving a bit more sense of depth.  I am now working to add the holes and dings and lines that make the tree...then branches...then...?  fun thinking about what it will become!

 2'x2' aspen in process

HAPPY CREATING!!

"MT. OF THE HOLY CROSS" 6X6 OIL ON PANEL © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Mt. of the Holy Cross"

6"x6" oil on panel

Available in my WEBSITE

This is my first "requested " favorite peak/summit from my followers on facebook.  Anyone who wants to send a request to see their favorite peak/summit anywhere in the world is most welcome to do so.  You are not under any obligation to purchase it, I just want to amass a collection!  Of course IF you love it, I won't be sad, but that is not my main motivation!  Here I've shown the example I think would make for a great frame.  I just love these floater frames where you can see it all the way to the edge! 

I have been working HARD to simplify my on line presence...My website address is now saundralane.com.  I'm SaundraLaneOnEtsy in my ETSY shop...speaking of my ETSY shop...I've also made some big changes there as well.  This has needed to be done for a long time...I've taken all my paintings big and small out of ETSY and those still available are all not safely in my WEBSITE.  I've added a new section to my website as I want this series to have it's own location...so these summits will be held in the section aptly called "Mountain Summits".  BUT I DIGRESS...ETSY...now holds all things I do crafty!  Now there are a good little collection of my canvas baskets that were formerly only found at my shop in Conifer; Luna's Mandala...and, I've also included in my ETSY shop my fun new affirmation sticks.  What are they you might ask???  Well, they are dowels that have been wrapped in leather and hemp and other naturalish strings with a phrase or two added and maybe even a stone or two...they are meant to AFFIRM you as a person...UPLIFT you...make you remember how great you are!!  SO, the new ETSY shops are going live on April 5, but here is the link to my new preview page so you can see what it is going to look like!  

IF you have not gone over to my website to sign up for my newsletter and you want to get in on the drawings for free paintings and creative things I encourage you to do so.  I will announce one in my newsletter every month.  I won't newsletter stalk you, but I will send them out every couple of weeks or so to update you on new work and give aways and contests...so, please have fun with it...CLICK HERE to go to my website and just click on newsletter sign up.

HAPPY CREATING!

"MT. EVANS MINI" ORIGINAL OIL and PAPER COLORADO MOUNTAIN PEAK © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Mt. Evans Mini"

6"x6" oil and paper on panel

Available in my ETSY shop

Along with the art give aways and the new project that folks can order a "slice of life" painting, (CLICK HERE to read about the project.) I am starting a fun little series of mountain peaks.  I started it off with Mt. Evans; which is my go to mountain, but have asked folks to write me or comment the name of THEIR favorite peak...I'll add them to the growing list and paint them and then put them in my ETSY shop.  Just a way to stay fresh!  SO, if you have a favorite peak, let me know, I'll add it!

Mt. Evans Mini has some fun papers woven throughout, but is mostly oil with a smidge of modeling paste when needed.  I have included a photo of a frame suggestion so you can see how fun it would be framed!  This is a floater frame.  I enjoy them as you can see all the edges.  Mt. Evans Mini would also look great on a small easel or sitting on a shelf...

HAPPY CREATING!

"MT. EVANS IN FAUVE" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA LANDSCAPE © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Mt. Evans in Fauve"

30" x 24" x 1.5" deep gallery wrap canvas

$900

Available in my WEBSITE

See it in person at SUMMER ART MARKET

June 13-14, 2015

Come visit me at booth #54

I've painted my view of Mt. Evans in every medium I've worked in, every style, so it only seemed fitting to paint it again with my current experimental way of working as I weave my way to artistic growth.  There was a base of acrylic put in that you can see here and there peeking through.  After that I started painting in oil.  I used a palette knife for a good portion of this painting.  I also worked with stamps and stencils to pull in pattern; which you can see most obviously in the sky, but if you look closely you can see the honeycomb pattern repeated; though more subtly in the foreground.  There is also a bit of paper throughout as well.  

 This detail image shows the paper peeking through as well as the honeycomb shape repeated

 The trees are applied almost intuitively...not much emphasis on realism; thus moving ever more close to my need for more abstract in my work.  The rocks are painted more with color as was the fashion of the fauves (wild beasts as they were called in the late 1800's and early 1900's)

This painting comes ready to hang.

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!!





BEGINNINGS...AGAIN!! by SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

I've been looking inside myself lately...figuring what I wanted to do with some of my "long skinnies" as I call them...no...not another aspen SPECIFIC piece...something else...

On those days I look through all  my photos...I look at color...I look for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that inspires me...until I come up with an idea...

Of COURSE I absolutely LOVE my mountains, my trees, my beautiful landscapes...so that is a beginning for me...BUT WHAT ELSE she says...hmmm...

Well...one of my all time favorite artists is Grant Woods...for his landscapes...have you looked at his landscapes lately??  They are FUN...and colorful...so, he was my secondary inspiration for this play I have begun...

How to combine the subject I love with his flair for color and such...so this is my beginning...You may have to click on this to see the pencil drawing in that big ole white space...but if you don't have time...trust me it's there...I have Mt. Evans up top...well, below the sky...and then Mt. Evans...and then I am going to combine different scenes around me to bring all this together...

WHEW...at least that is the plan...as we know it could always turn into something else...but the PLAN is...thinking of Mr. Woods playfulness and his layering of hills and combining it with my mountains around here...I'm curious as to what will come out...FUN!

HAPPY CREATING!!

Purple Mountains

"Purple Mountains" is an 8"x8" 1 3/8" gallery wrap canvas that I painted around in acrylic. I mostly used pallet knife as I wanted to stay loose. I don't think I've used purple for the mountains in a long time...don't have a story to go with it...just wanted to paint them purple. Don't ya love bein an artist and the author of what you do!!

Purple Mountains is available on my website.

I want to welcome my newest follower. And wish you all happy painting today!

A Family of Sorts

Today my husband and I took the day off from our regular duties and responsibilities to drive to Boulder to see my new blogger friend Jane Hunt in the Open Studios Art Fair at the 29th Street Mall. I've spoken about this before, and so have many of you, but we artists are a family of a sort. We are part of a very special community of special unique thinkers that reveal ourselves visually in some way. I believe in family, as those of you who've read about my birth family will understand. I also believe in being a part of a community; helping each other, supporting each other, in general, being a part of a bigger family of sorts. I have had the pleasure of talking to Jane now and then, and I learned, aside from the love of art that we have in common, that we think in similar ways in the way we approach our work. I have a great deal of respect for this woman and her work, as well as how great a mother and just all around person she is. If you have not visited the Jane Hunt Art blog, I encourage you to do so as she talks about life, and gives us beautiful art to see and wonderful poetry to give us pause. She also talks about her journey as a mother of a very special little one. Take a moment and remember we are all part of a community of like minded thinkers, and that is one way we are really all part of a bigger family. We need to support one another, share ideas, (like so many already do) help each other through the difficulties we may face...like wading through this blog thing...sometimes it is HARD to find the widget for this or that, so let's remember we are together in our goal.

I was lucky enough to come home with one of Jane's beautiful paintings! It is called "Mountain Views". It reminds me of why I love it here, I love my mountains, but it also gives me a bit more to remember about my new friend. As we were driving from my mountain home near Morrison down 93 to Boulder the scenery changed a bit...It went from a sea of pines so thick you can hardly see beyond them (which is what I see) to some rolling hills and pinion pines and rounder shapes, not to mention those beautiful flat irons. I saw for a moment what my friend Jane sees and so this wonderful little painting reminds me of her as well as what we have in common! It was an awesome day and I am so inspired! You should see her larger works up close, they are absolutely beautiful! And the colors in her work are so much richer than we can show in a photo. It was a great experience to have started this blog a few months ago, met and got to know a fellow blogger through posts, e-mails, a couple of phone calls to talk about some ideas, and now getting to meet. AWESOME DAY! I am glad for you all! Happy Painting my "family of sorts"!