"SUNFLOWER 5x5 BEGINNING" © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

Sunflower 5x5 beginning

This is painting number 2 of 3 that I'm getting ready for a miniature show in September.  The first was the acorns...this will be a sunflower...I will be using this photo as my reference...

As I do, I usually just use my references as a guide...always making room for my creative expression.  Too many years of faithfully reproducing a subject as near to exact as possible left me bored, so I use the reference and then take off to make it work for my format.

I FINALLY found sunflowers at my favorite flower shop over the weekend...though I had to mix others in with them as the sunflower crop has suffered with our weather and their aren't many...but, as usual I took as many photos as I could for future reference...and, as usual, I am glad to share...any photo you wish to use to paint from you are welcome...All I ask is IF you use one...shoot me a pic of your final product so I can ooh and aah with you!!  ART4LIFE44@HOTMAIL.COM!

HAPPY CREATING!

"ACORNS" ORIGINAL MIXED MEDIA PAINTING OF ACORNS © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

Last night at Market Dayz wasn't profitable in a monetary sense, but a lot of FUN! Up here on the mountain it is like pulling teeth to get people interested in just about anything...it takes awhile to spread the word...but to go an support a group of businesses that are TRYING to bring out the people was a pleasure!  I've long been a proponent of supporting the arts in my own community, so I went.  I sat next to a group of circle drummers and guitarists that were playing their hearts out...I even jumped in their jam session with my voice (since that was the only instrument I had" and even sang a couple songs with them.  THAT was a blast!  

During all of this frivolity I was also able to complete my first in a group of 3 5"x5" mini that will be entered in a mini show that will be held at the famous Foothills Art Center in Golden in September.  ACORNS is number one.  I don't know what it is about these little nuts that brings me such joy to paint...but they do, so I did!  As you saw yesterday the background was begun with acrylic.  I then moved to adding paper and finished with a little molding paste (as Golden products calls their MODELING paste) a minor bit of stamping and then painted the nuts and two leaves with oil. This was completed on a gallery wrap canvas that I pained around...

Next in line will either be a sunflower or a pine cone...I'll just have to see what I'm in the mood for! :)

HAPPY CREATING!

"ACORNS" A BEGINNING...

Tonight I will be going up to Conifer to participate in their MARKET DAYZ at the Conifer Center as a support to the local merchants there.  I did this last month and have this one more left before BABY MONTH begins...August is mostly dedicated to my daughter and coming grandson which involves me jumping in the car at a moments notice to go meet my new grandson when he decides to come!...

Last month I just went and sat with my paintings up at Conifer...tonight I've decided to bring a little piece to work on while the festivities are going on...This is a 5"x5" gallery wrap canvas that will be another acorn piece when it is finished.  Should be FUN!

Last night hubby and I walked up the mountain a bit to enjoy the views and the wild raspberries that are growing rampant about the mountain...I'm not a raspberry person, but I did find this one beautiful orange lily that I brought home to love in my window!

Remember we can find inspiration literally EVERYWHERE!  Here's hoping this pic will give you a little inspiration!!

HAPPY CREATING!

"QUEEN BEE" MIXED MEDIA PAINTING © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

"Queen Bee"

2'x2' mixed media on 13/4" panel 

PRIVATE COLLECTION (me)

FINALLY I had time to sit down and finish my bee painting for over my couch...when we move to a place where wall space is actually above my couch...You can see I added papers, painted the bee with acrylic and played with my stylized wings until I was happy with them.  I wanted them to be transparent like wings are...so I sketched them in with several colors of paint and then applied a light wash of the blue over the area to give them that almost transparent look.

I think it will add just the amount of contemporary to my very traditional couch with not so traditional pillow fabric...I can still work in blues or warm colors for my "new" living room when we move, so I'm happy with that.  I think I'll paint the cradle sides black which will be in keeping with a contemporary look.  

You can see how I've applied stamping to the dark areas of the bee body to give a bit of implied texture and the slight wash over the wings to give them the look I was going for.

You may have to click on this pic to see the word BEE I've added above my queen bee...I started with cut out letters in newspaper and then worked to sand and paint over and other things to bring them back down where they are a mere hint of a word rather than the glaring word that would have competed with the subject matter...I rather like it...and since it is for me...knowing how I like adding words to some of my work it satisfied my taste.

I have to say it is a little harder working to create something that is for me...I played and practiced a lot...probably because I wasn't on a deadline...and I enjoy experimenting so much.

I am happy with the end result, HOWEVER...as we all know (if we are artists)...if something hangs in our home it is always subject to being pulled off the wall to add or take away as we get a whim...that is a joy!

HAPPY CREATING!!

"DAY" 4 with my BEE © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

MY BEE..."DAY" 4 (I say DAY, but really...I get to spend an hour before I have to do something else...so, is it REALLY a day...:))

Detail

This has been an interesting piece to do...First of all to PLAN to sand down areas was fun...second, I am not wanting to do a "realistic" depiction of a bee as they are scary and yucky to me in real life...SO, I played with the honey bee photos I have and came up with a simplified, stylized bee that wouldn't be scary every time I walk past it...and third...I am thinking of colors that would go in MY space...that is a little daunting as I want to stay true to my bee piece, but I need it to serve a purpose as a jumping off point for a new room...(So, that last one isn't that big a deal...as I am REALLY staying true to my bee...while I think about my whole room...tee hee)

 

I have interesting things to consider before I finish this piece...I COULD introduce another color that would change the feel...or, I COULD leave the palette as is...Right now I like the palette...BUT, I've been playing with orange and purple...not together...IF I add purple it will cool the background more and perhaps make the contrast with bee more prominent (I like contrast)...IF I add orange it will tip the scale a bit more to warm...so, I decided that before I added more paper I would paint the bee and then decide about the papers...I like that...SO, here she is today... and when I get back from delivering some things I will be back at it!  FUN DOINS!!

HAPPY CREATING!