REWORKING PAINTINGS, STUDIO AND LIFE

Well...as we all know life is full of change and growth and surprises and disappointments etc, etc, etc...We've had those of late!  Our house hunt and pending offer came to a screeching halt as the information came in telling us it was getting WAY to complicated!  HAD we had the correct information from the beginning it would have saved us months of work and time...BUT, as life goes it tends to come in as needed rather than wanted...SO, we are putting the move on hold indefinitely and refocusing on life and work.  I had my 10 minutes of frustration and tears (mainly at all the lost time)...and then  began immediately to turn things around for the better...THUS the studio changes.  My space is SMALL...so I am re-configuring and changing things a bit so it works better for what I do.  New shelves gave me a more open feel and more storage space that works best for me...step number one! (PS...the big Raggedy Ann and Andy are a sentimental addition for me...I made them for my own two children when they were born...)

I am quite thrilled to have more time to get back to my art full time...or as near to it as I want!  I am already back at it with new paper cast molds...trees and my newest favorite subject matter...acorns...getting ready for a couple shows coming up.  I want to do larger paper cast aspen and a fun acorn piece that is mulling around in my head...

AND...since we are NOT moving in the immediate I have decided that Queen Bee that was originally done for my living room just didn't make me all that happy, so I am going to make her into a wonderful big 2'x2' aspen piece...I'm excited about the color scheme...so, with a little bit of work it will be ready for trees! FUN!!...NEVER fear changing a piece that just doesn't strike joy into your heart...it can be VERY freeing!!

I have another tree piece that I will be reworking in the near future...so stay tuned!!

AND, I can't help it...LOVE, LOVE this newest pic of my little 6 week old grandson, Paxton...This seems to be his signature face...it tickles me to death...I miss that boy for sure!!  And his pretty mamma and wonderful dad!!

SO...I am happily creating and dreaming and planning...here's to you all...

HAPPY CREATING!!

"ASPEN IN ORANGE AND BLUE" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA PAINTING OF ASPEN © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY AND...AN UP AND COMING ARTIST!

"Aspen in Orange and Blue"

12" x 25"

Mixed media on MDF panel with English Oak stained sides

$400 includes shipping in the US

I was FINALLY able to sit for a few minutes and finish this aspen mixed media piece.  That has been a feat considering the house hunt and all that goes with it.  I don't think I ever tire of playing with all the combinations that can happen with this way of working...So, YEA!

I want to introduce you to my niece; Kaitlinn Johnson who is an 8th grader in Texas and quite an accomplished artist!  My brother called last week to tell me she won a triple ribbon on her landscape that I was so excited to see and wanted to share it with you all here!

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this painting and just had to tell her just how it was a winner in my humble eyes...Just look at the great composition and contrast she has shown, not to mention the execution is also lovely!!  WAY TO GO KAITLINN!!

It is so important to recognize talent in emerging artists...they need our positive kudos and encouragement...Let's all watch for her name as she continues in her creative endeavors!

SO, the house hunt has been a great bit of time as you have already read...we are now in the financial ho ha as I call it, and I've got to tell you, quite frustrating...If there isn't a new document you need, it is a phone call for info you have to make; and when they don't call you back it stalls the whole process...and then there are all the government rules and hoops to jump through...I've got to tell you there are days I just want to throw my hands up and say ENOUGH...renting is JUST FINE! HA...but, we've come this far...so I feel it would be a colossal waste of time if I stopped now...whew...I need strength!!

Yesterday I had planned to post my sweet niece's painting, but my husband came and asked me to go on a hike up behind our house...a little deeper than we've gone before, so I just stopped and went...and, was glad...it was SO beautiful up there and we had some surprises along the way...But, first to show you some of the color I found up there...

me finding color...ha

a great composition of oak leaves...

I call these pine berries...what in heavens name are they actually called??

And, then...we're waling along and who should we see...but...

I tell ya...you can't go anywhere anymore!! ha...He was just stuck up on a tree and for a second looks REAL...it was a great laugh!

But, as we were walking back I glanced over my shoulder and was greeted with this beautiful view...aaahhh life...for a moment all the stresses of life today went away!  Enjoy!!

HAPPY CREATING!!

"PORTRAIT OF A SUNFLOWER" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA PAINTING OF A SUNFLOWER © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Portrait of a Sunflower"

12" x 12" mixed media on MDF with English Oak cradled sides

$300

AVAILABLE ON MY WEBSITE by clicking on the title so see others like it

OR YOU CAN USE PAY PAL by clicking on the button below!

It has been SO great getting back to work a little bit between house hunting!  I sat down yesterday and created this fun sunflower portrait with whimsical ribbons of the black and white weaving through...if you look closely you can also see it in a spiral in the center of the sunflower.  This piece is what I created on top of the "failed" painting from the other day.  The fun part of this is all the texture!!  To cover the previous work (which someone wanted to buy about 10 minutes too late as I'd covered it already!) I painted it with a layer of gesso...covered that with a layer of molding paste, and another layer of gesso...The English Oak sides fit perfectly with the subject matter (which MAY have been the reason I decided to do one more sunflower before the season ends).

Not to let much moss grow on my easel I'm already at work on a new aspen piece using mainly blue and orange in the background.  As we speak I'm busy with the addition of papers...and having a ball!!  

HAPPY CREATING!

JOYFUL JOYFUL MOMENTS

 

Paxton Mark Grimes - 1 month

Last night I received this photo from my daughter's cell phone.  Again, I am thrilled with our technology that we can see things so quickly...especially things so dear to my heart!  I have been missing this little guy so much, so this was especially heartwarming!  I can assure you it is already printed and in a frame.  He is looking at his beautiful mamma here...and, as an artist, I imagine that he is studying her face as we do our subject matter...just planning how he will paint her...I couldn't NOT share this...my emotions run deep these days!

A few minutes later there was another photo that warmed my heart yet again...a beautiful portrait of father and son...My son in law adores his boy, and you can surely see it here!

Aaahhh life...can be so wonderful!  And, as if that wasn't enough...I got yet another photo, but this time from my most wonderful son in San Diego...sharing yet another sunset...so, that warmed my heart for another one that is far from me that I love so much!  I am surely a lucky woman to have such people to love and miss...

SO, another thank you for letting me use this venue to express my love and adoration for my family...and, I am most happy to report that I finished a painting...the one that took the place of the "failed" mountain scene from a day or so ago...By the time I finished painting it, it was too dark to photograph...so...suffice it to say...tomorrow...until then...

HAPPY CREATING!!

AND SOME PAINTINGS ARE...I AM HONORED TO RECIEVE HONORABLE MENTION!

I am very tickled to have received the HONORABLE MENTION award from Colorado Watercolor Society's New Trend show that is currently hanging in the CoArt Gallery at 846 Santa Fe Drive in Denver, CO.  "Poppy Fields" was the painting.  When my friend Susan (who literally had to nag me to enter!!...thanks Susan) and I walked up to the show I was tickled to see "Poppy Fields" hanging in the window...and then so humbled to have gotten some notice later with the award!...so, the moral of the story is...some work and some don't...and I STILL maintain that each experience is valuable for different reasons!  KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!!  Learn from everything and you will be KING...or...QUEEN some day! HA
So, if you get a minute before Sept. 24th hop on down to the gallery to see this most fun show depicting NEW TRENDS...Thank you to Vicky Tucker to chaired a most successful event...!