"MT. EVANS" COMPLETED...© SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

Mask Project is completed...and soon it will go off to it's destination.  On April 14 they will all be on display at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center closing on May 13, 2012.  There is also an on-line auction where the masks will be on display the same dates at:  www.themaskproject.org.  Again, this benefits the Denver Hospice, so if you are so inclined...save the dates and either hop on line or over to Cherry Creek!  As you can see I added my aspen at the bottom, completing this little version of my long skinny type layer paintings.  FUN DOINS!

It was a crazy day yesterday beginning with a run to the emergency room for hubby and I.  He did some damage to his tendons in his upper chest which mimicked heart attack symptoms to a T!  After a little wifely "encouragement" we headed out about 6 a.m. to have it checked out.  Glad it wasn't "the big one"...but we are both left a little light headed and tired today...aaahhh life!

There is this BIG OLE RED ROBIN that's been hanging around the house lately...I've chased that thing with my camera for days...trying to get a pic.  FINALLY it was still long enough for me to at least grab a little photo...or BIG photo...I just had to share this...biggest robin (at least I believe it is a robin) I've ever seen.  If it wasn't winter I'd be sure it was gonna have a million babies or something!...so, sharing!!

and...still snapping those photos of my beautiful Valentine flowers...the roses are opening fast...but had to share another reference for any of you roses painters out there!!

Tomorrow I'm off to play in a figure drawing and painting workshop...mainly to have some FUN...not that I paint that many figures...but it is ALWAYS a good idea to keep fresh and try things...so, off I will go!

HAPPY CREATING!

MASK PROJECT;MORE PROCESS...and a TREAT OR TWO

Another day of process on the MASK PROJECT for the Denver Hospice...you can see that I've added papers over the under painting and have added a few details to the mountains...Next will be to add my paper stream and the aspen I've decided to put on the bottom.  So, this  will really be a little layer painting over a face...I'm getting a kick out of it!

I have a FUN and AWESOME video to share with those of you who know I adore my family and share their lives and talents from time to time.  I believe art is much more encompassing than just what we put on a surface...it is music, poetry, dance...and in the case of my most wonderful son Jonathan Prather his absolute skill on the skateboard.  Recently he was approached by a director DYLAN AVERY who directed and produced (among other things) a Netflix movie called "Loose Change" which is about 911...well, he saw my son as he was working on his skate tricks and asked to shoot him (in film that is...) and this u-tube video was the end result of that moment in time...I am QUITE PROUD of my son and wanted to share this link as I've yet to figure out how to share a u-tube video directly to this blog...SO, for those of you interested...it's called
SLOWBOARDING in OB. (click on that)... ENJOY! Oh...this is my most talented boy!

Jonathan Prather

My talented son...

AND, because it's Valentines Day, and as I've promised to share reference material for you to paint if you wish, AND because my husband ROCKS and brought me these lovely VALENTINES DAY FLOWERS I'm sharing some of the pretty pics I've gotten so far!!  HAPPY VALENTINES DAY and 

HAPPY CREATING!!

He asked me one day what kind of flowers I wanted for "sometime" and I promptly replied SUNFLOWERS AND RED ROSES...and...bless him if he didn't find a few sunflowers for me in February!!  AWESOME HUBBY!

MASK PROJECT PROCESS, CORE GALLERY, MY PAXTON!

My 3rd day of process on the MASK PROJECT is a sort of ugly stage...(remember...there's almost always an ugly stage).  I've laid in the section of Mt. Evans...and have begun to put color on the bottom for the papers I will add.  Hang in there...I know it will at least look better! HA

Today I deliver GORE RANGE LAYERS to the CORE GALLERY for a show.  CORE is a gallery just off of Santa Fe in Denver.  This show will run for a couple of weeks.  If you are in the area I invite you to stop in! The show begins February 16, and will run for 3rd Friday on the 17th and 1st Friday and the Reception on March 2.  Hope to see you there!!

If you have time to glance at my sidebar you will see I've added a few new things.  I joined a fun new social media called PINTEREST.  It is a place where you can "pin" photos of things that have meaning to you...AND, as soon as I read all the info there is a way to sell from there too...so, I invite you to click on the Pinterest link on my sidebar and take a look!  I've included so far some paintings...of course...and have begun to add some of my favorite reference photos along with some other things.  It is FUN and FREE!

I also decided to add FINE ART AMERICA back into the choices you can have for purchasing prints of my work.  They do quality work.  I've only just begun to add paintings to my store in FIA, so if you've been hankering for one of my pieces in print form but don't see it there yet, just e-mail me at art4life44@hotmail.com and I'll add it for you!

I'm still using ZAZZLE as you can also buy prints, but also mugs, t-shirts, well...all sorts of products with your favorite image, so if you are looking for prints you now have TWO choices.  AND, as life has been so hectic there isn't much there yet either...but the same goes...don't see it...e-mail me and I'll put it in!!

AND, as if that isn't enough I've also JUST joined the DAILY PAINTWORKS on line gallery...but that is SO new I haven't set up my gallery yet...so, stay tuned!!  This was started by Carol Marine and is family run...a great avenue for artists!!

TODAY is my little grandson Paxton's 6th month birthday.  Time has gone so fast!  It seems just like yesterday that I made that wild dash to Omaha in the middle of the night to get there in time to see him come into this world.  He has made great strides...rolling over...eating yummy new foods that his mommy makes from scratch and has had his first day in Sunday School (with mom right there of course)...and we even NOW have the first family photo! YEA!

Paxton LOVES Sunday School (with mommy right there) :)

FUN DOINS in this family!!  HAPPY CREATING!

MASK PROJECT BEGINNING, ZAZZLE, AND MY DAD!

Day one of the mask project was to coat the mask with gesso and to draw a section of Mt. Evans on the face.  Note how I put the highest point of the mountain section off center so as to keep the composition interesting.  I then added some texture with Golden Molding Paste (no, I didn't spell Molding wrong...that's just what they call it) :)  You may have to click on the pic to see the drawing...it is a little fuzzy and hard to see...chalk that up to the fact that I am hurrying to get ready for another dreaded dental appointment and the light in the studio...sorry...dentists make me nervous, so the anti shake thingy on my camera was no help this time! HA

I wanted to remind you that I have re-opened my ZAZZLE store for any of you who may want to purchase prints of my work.  When you click on the link above and go to my "store front" you will note that there are hardly any paintings in there...I KNOW...things have been a little hectic around here, so I've just begun to put items in the store...HOWEVER, if there is a piece you are interested in, contact me at art4life44@hotmail.com and ask me about it and I'll put it in the store for you!!  YEA for prints!!

Another reason I am so scattered and SLOW these days is, as I've said before, my father is going through chemo.  I adore my parents...my dad is quite the trooper...still assistant attorney general in Oklahoma...going to work when he can...and my mom is awesome in that she is with him every step of the way through this process!  Today is chemo day #3...we are about half way there...so, I love you dad and mom...hang in there...we are all praying for you!!

and..well, cuz there was no color to my mask today I thought I'd sneak another pic of my precious grandson Paxton in...His big ole cheeks are happy cuz he just started solids...Sweet Potatoes his mom made from scratch...I think he loves it!! YEA!

SOOOOO whatever gives you inspiration today...jump on it!!  Have an awesome February day!!

HAPPY CREATING!

MASK PROJECT FOR CHARITY

The Mask Project is a fund raiser for the Denver Hospice.  This will be the 14th anniversary of this fundraiser I believe.  The first time I have participated.  On April 14 all the masks painted by artists all around, including celebrities will be on display at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center in Denver.  I wanted to participate in this project to give back to the community...and it will be FUN DOINS!  So, stay tuned to watch the progress of this mask.  To see what others have done in the past click on this link.  THE MASK PROJECT OF 2010

After looking it it for awhile I decided to go the route to paint something from my world in the way I work...so this will be a collage piece.  I decided to take advantage of the surface to do another rendition of our own Mt. Evans.  I actually think I will pull from actual paintings I've done in the past of Mt. Evans...I have quite a few shots of this mountain as it is visible from the top of our mountain...but most of them are covered in snow or shadow like the reference shot below.

This will be good to get the silhouette I want to make my Mt. Evans actually LOOK like Mt. Evans!  I used this before when I did "Mt. Evans Inspiration"

"Mt. Evans Inspiration"

12x12" mixed media on cradled MDF

$220 STILL AVAILABLE...check my website!

This detail shows the silhouette of the mountain cut very carefully from acid free paper.  This is a part of a series I did last year.

I like the colors in the other views of Mt. Evans I have done...so, my palette will be taken from some of these...

the colors in this detail are quite fresh and fun!

This is the end result of that detail...

"MT. EVANS PANORAMA"

SOLD

From this painting I got a commission to do another Mt. Evans...

"MT EVANS PANORAMA 2"

SOLD

"Mt. Evans Panorama 2"  was a requested painting from a collector.  They wanted more orange! FUN!

"MT. EVANS THROUGH ASPEN EYES"

OIL ON CANVAS

$75...CONTACT ME IF YOU ARE INTERESTED :)

This rendition of Mt. Evans was actually a demo for a high school class a few years ago...I don't even have this painting as I was attacked that day when I was subbing long term and decided not to return...Sigh...aaahhh life!

"MT. EVANS IN COLLAGE"

9"X12" MIXED MEDIA ON CRADLED BOARD

SOLD JUST RECENTLY!

This painting was an experiment with mixing papers and oil.  I wanted to depict Mt. Evans almost totally in paper...there is very little paint added, but the trees were painted in oil.

So, you can see I have several things to choose from when putting this majestic painting on the mask...I'm going to have FUN!

HAPPY CREATING!