"PINE CANYON" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA LANDSCAPE © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Pine Canyon"

36" x 12" mixed media on gallery wrap 1.5" deep canvas

$650 + $25 shipping 

Available in my WEBSITE

Pine Canyon is a break out painting for me.  It is STILL playing with paper and texture and pattern, with a bit more abstract and more color!  At first it may be so strange to see something so different from some of my previous work like my Mountain Meadow through Aspen Eyes, but it still holds some of the same elements...just a bit less realistic, and more toward the abstract.  Much of this painting is done with pallet knife, the rocks just demanded it of me!  I still have paper and pattern and texture, I've just ramped up the color and contemporary feel I think.  My 101 Pet Portraits project helped me to feel better about playing with color.

Remember, an artist MUST grow to stay alive and keep the inspiration flowing.  I STILL love working with my aspen like in Mountain Meadow through Aspen Eyes, but I also have a great need to change a bit and grow, and this painting is the beginning of that process.  Either method is valuable, and each will appeal to a different collector, but both hold value in the process of creating art from the soul!

This gives you an idea of the size in relation to furniture and such.  The chest is a nightstand size.

This painting was created on a gallery wrap 1.5" deep canvas.  I enjoy making the cradles, but also love painting on canvas at times.  You can see I've painted the sides, so it can be hung as is, or for the collector that loves frames, that can also happen.  They make frames that work for these deeper canvases...a floater frame would work well for this painting as well.

I still LOVE pattern as much as texture...so I've added it in the sky.  This gives it a contemporary feel. And, I love working like this! 

to me, once I layed in the rocks up higher, it didn't need that full disclosure all the way down.  The abstract feel of this is very exciting!  You can see I've got a bit of paper under the paint...a tiny bit of writing shows through, and you can see I've repeated the hexagon pattern down below in a much more subtle way.

I will have this painting in person at SUMMER ART MARKET this June 13-14 if it does not sell before, so I hope you can find me at booth #54!

HAPPY CREATING!

POPPY BEGINNINGS and NEW CLASSES!

I've begun a largish poppy painting with an abstract feel.  This detail shot shows the background process and a beginning of laying in strong color.  Poppies are such fun to paint...such strong orangy red color against the lighter background. CONTRAST is always a good way to go if you want it to grab attention.

I love layering with paint, paper and texture...then drawing in my poppies on top where I feel they would work into the composition the best.  This little section has a little of everything but the painted poppy...background layer, papers, added texture...FUN DOINS!

It's important to pay attention to detail as you can see I've begun to do in the top left corner...paint, texture...blending, but leaving some of what I've done in the background.  I can't say how it will come out in the end...but I'm liking the process so far!

You can see the whole piece in its beginning stages...papers, paint, sketching, texture...all layering...I've begun to paint the poppies so I can work the whole piece together with what I've done in the background so far...This is by far my favorite way to work.

I've worked with more attention to the abstract qualities of this painting.  Something I've been studying for awhile now.  WHICH BRINGS ME TO...new things that are going to be offered that I will speak more about in coming days.

I am working on series of lessons that I will be offering to small groups of people up HERE IN MY MOUNTAIN SETTING!  The working title will be "LUNCH AND LEARN".  I've revamped my lower level into a classroom and will be offering a morning of learning capped off with lunch up here in our little escape from the city location! FUN DOINS!  I believe I will be focusing on the concept of ABSTRACT in the beginning as that is what I've learned is a strong interest.  HOWEVER, there are many different subjects and projects I will be offering throughout the summer months and on until the snows start flowing again!!  IF you are interested in receiving more information on these classes please e-mail me at art4life44@hotmail.com! SO, be watching for more on my Lunch and Learn offerings in coming days!

HAPPY CREATING!!

"Sunflower Duo" (working title) in PROCESS...© Saundra Lane Galloway

I have to remind myself sometimes that this blog is not JUST about the finished product, but the process I go through.  Process often is more important when sharing our creative vision because it can hopefully inspire, and give others ideas to jump from for their own art.  THAT'S the art teacher in me...so important to inspire and teach an idea.

detail of the texture in the sunflowers...adds depth even before the color is applied!!

This sunflower piece is fun as I've used texture in a few places as well as playing with papers in more than one direction to help the composition...EVERYTHING is about helping the composition...which is such an important element in our finished work.  That and contrast and depth and, and, and...!

I enjoy approaching each new piece with a fresh perspective...even if the end result seems similar.  My thoughts as I began to approach this piece were color; working with the yellows of the sunflowers.  I have to decide before choosing papers how I want the over-all feel of the piece to be.  The purples were a choice so the contrast against the yellow would be strong (hopefully)...the horizontal (predominately) were to off set the strong verticals of a good number of the petals...again, contrast with shape is important...Imagine if I had used vertical streams of paper instead...hmmm...not my first choice (however I reserve the right to try one of these days!)...I added a few simple verticals to help the composition in the area that was vacant...I COULD have left it alone, but the moment called to me...so I did...The final result will tell the story of whether this piece works or not...I'm not afraid to show you process...cuz that's how I learn, and hopefully will help any of you out there in some way!!

Now, off to work some more!!  HAPPY CREATING and welcome to my newest followers!!

Aspen Angle Completed

"Aspen Angle"
12x4"
stretched canvas
$95

"Aspen Angle" side view

"Aspen Angle" is finally completed to my satisfaction. This piece is 12x4" and created on stretched canvas that is 1" in depth and painted around as you can see. I always know I'm serious when I put it on my website...so for purchase info click on the title or name...

I decided to add a hint of aspen leaves in front of the tree and it felt good to say I'm finished with this one. I've learned (once again) my lesson about staying loose, so we shall see if I can approach it loosely from the beginning on the next one like this I approach!

The detail picture shows all the wonderful texture applied to this piece. I get goosebumps when I see texture coming out of me in some way whether it be through papers, paint build up, or my fun paper casts!! I'm even excited with implied texture...Yummm!
I'm tickled with my new followers...hope the journey makes you happy or inspires you in some way!!

I've ordered new canvas for my wax collage pieces, but have one more left to do my next one, so that is waiting in line...but FIRST I finish the small triptych I posted the beginnings of a few days ago, and I've been busting at the seams to paint some maple leaves on my maple paper cast! So, off I go to get to work!!

Bow Down Final

"Bow Down" as it turns out was nearly finished. I decided the texture in the piece was more interesting if you can see it! I finished the flower and tweaked the shadow areas in the leaves. As stated yesterday it is 9"x6" on 3/4" canvas covered board. I took this picture at my last visit to the Botanic Gardens in Denver. They have a great sunflower area. What struck me about this was the relatively small bloom compared to the leaves. I know sunflower leaves are rather large, but this one seemed almost dwarfed. Being short you may notice a lot of my sunflower pics painted are from below, unless it is from a vase I arranged. I get a kick out of my ants eye view sometimes.

I would like to welcome my newest followers. Last time I looked we have 70; which is only 5 away from my next thank you to my followers give-away. For those that have been with me awhile you will know that when we reach 75 I will choose from one of you and give you a choice from the contest choices on my sidebar and will gladly mail it to the winner. So, we aren't far away!

I'm happy to report that my necklace has been found! It had fallen into a bowl of fiber balls that was nearby. I'm not sure how that occurred, but I'm thrilled I found it as well as didn't go crazy and start blaming everyone within ear shot! The handyman, however was released from finishing here due to his unreliability as well as comments. Sorry for him, but I guess we are all responsible for our own behavior.

Cactus Crowd

"Cactus Crowd" is 8x8" canvas on panel. This particular panel is 1/8" wide. I've stained the sides and back so it can sit on an easel or shelf, and is thin enough to frame also. I like working on substrates that are versatile enough to work in different situations. This piece is mostly acrylic with a bit of texture on the cactus for effect. The texture on this one is much more subtle than on the other cactus piece I did, but it is just enough to rough up the surface a bit.

Welcome to my newest follower! It is always so nice to have everyone check in from time to time. Today and tomorrow are the last days of the summer challenge contest, so if you have a minute you might want to try one of the photos I've posted this summer. If you are a follower all you have to do is send it to my e-mail art4life44@hotmail.com and I will do the rest!

Cactus Crowd is available on my website. Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!

Arizona Cactus

I'm playing again! Felt the need to have some texture, so I played with the photo my daughter's mother-in-law and my friend Diana gave me. They have another office in Phoenix so I feel quite sure she took this pic while out there in the desert...thus the name..."Arizona Cactus" done on 9x6"gesso on panel. I always stain these on the sides so they can sit on an easel or shelf alone, or can be framed. I plan to put this on my website, but I want to leave it alone for a few before I am convinced I am finished...I think I am...but, you know how it goes!

"Forest Floor" Completed...Again

NEW VERSION

OLD VERSION

DETAIL on NEW VERSION

Well, I finished "Forest Floor" again. I've included the old version so you can see where it went from it's original state. I like the second version much better. It is STILL 12"x6" cradled 3/4" panel that is stained on the sides. BUT, it no longer has a LOT of what was in there previously as you can see. It was just TOO much and no real place to rest the eye and the little pine baby was lost. I did, however add a thick layer of texture in the sky which I love as it has a depth to it that makes it ok there isn't tons of other stuff! The little pine will have to live in another painting. This is available on my website. I don't know WHY all of a sudden my close-up photos are blurry...sorry, but I wanted you to see the texture in the sky...FUN!

Welcome to my 2 newest followers! If you have not already read about the summer contest I have going please note that there are pictures posted (you can see them all in the June 9 post) the past 3 weeks or so in some of my posts. All you have to do is be a follower, paint from one of the photos and then e-mail it to me at art4life44@hotmail.com and you will be entered. I will draw names from those and you will get to choose from several 4x4" paintings/collages or business card holders.

Sky Trio and Forest Floor revisited

My friend and fellow blogger Jane Hunt loved the simplicity of my Sky Trio from the last post...and what did I do...but add something! I felt it was too simple...so I added clouds...So, this one will have to live as is today...It is one of our contest choices for the summer contest. On a 4x4" fiberboard panel that can be hung or set on its own easel.

The second piece is one I've always been dissatisfied with. It is called "Forest Floor" and used to have just two pine trees and a little pine...HOWEVER, it was WAY to confusing and not enough contrast...so like many of you (I'm betting) if it sits around for very long and I don't like it I grabbed it up and began to play with it...It is still in process, but I decided to take away some of the confusion and add some texture. That was a ton of fun (ooh a rhyme)...so, I'm still playing...and then we will see if it lives or goes into the "I don't like it" pile. Part of the fun of being an artist is we get to choose!!

These days have been full of craziness! I've hardly had any time to paint! But, alas...flooding diswasher and moving miles of cable for my new laptop has been taking my time! I am, however, beginning a new piece using the handmade paper and paper cast leaves I've made in the past days, so new coming up...plus the fate of "Forest Floor" is on the line as well.

Happy painting to you all!!