Sunday, September 30, 2012

Antiques and Tigers





Had a busy Saturday, in the rain!  Drove down to Baton Rouge, and stopped at
a few antique stores on the way.  I love the "Bayou some Stuff" sign...too
clever.  We watched the Tigers play, and they won...good job. 

I'm at home now on another rainy Sunday afternoon.  I hope to get some
art done, but a nap sounds good too!!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Friday, September 28, 2012

Blue Man Solo


I think I am finally finished with this drawing.  I used some of the
new techniques that I learned at the Colored Pencil convention
this summer.  I used the solvent Gamsol to "melt" the wax in the
pencils to blend together the background.  I also used a colorless blender
for the first time.  Usually when I draw with colored pencils, I do not
burnish them (use a lot of pressure to make a slick surface).  But I wanted the
silk of the costume to look shiny, so I used a white pencil to seal it
over, and the blender to even it out.  Interesting.
And then I used some spray fixative; it is supposed to keep the wax
bloom away.  Wax bloom forms when you do burnish these pencils:
the wax on the paper with come to the surface and cause a white, filmy
look to the drawing.  That is one of the reasons I have never wanted
to burnish the pencils.  Who knew that the fixative would stop that! I
guess you can teach an old dog a new trick!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

(I am sure this is too much technical information for some of you! But you
fellow artists will understand!)

"Blue Man Solo"
Colored Pencil  15 x 22
$800

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Product Display



I am continuing to get in products that I am having
manufactured with my designs. Here is another canvas
scripture photo and the matching note cards.  The canvases
are 11 x 14, gallery wrapped, and sell for $60.00. 
The note cards (4 x 6) come in sets of 4 with envelopes,
and sell for $10.00.   These two products will be available
at the gallery, and after I attend the wholesale gift market
in Dallas in January, hopefully in a
gift store near you! 
I call this line, "Glory Bee Graphics", and I will have
several designs in the line.  You can see many of them in
the gallery now, and several more by
Open House on November 8th. 
Thanks for your support!

sheltongail@hotmail.com
Glory Bee Graphics Canvas prints: $60.00
Note cards  $10 a set

 

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Cats in the Mist






I had always heard that as you age, you sleep less.  Well, anyone who
knows me, knows that I am usually up very late at night, and never up early
in the morning.  But lately, I have been waking up early in the
morning...so early in fact, I have seen the sunrise a few times!
inconceivable! 
This morning was beautiful, and I was able to go outside with
the camera and the cats, and take a few shots.  It is starting to get
foggy in the mornings now, and the Fall is one of my favorite times
of year.  Enjoy!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Cupcake Chalkboard

This is the chalkboard paint...a spray paint
that turns flat surfaces into chalkboards! cool

I cut a piece of masonite to fit the entire window, and sprayed it with the
chalkboard paint.  When it was dry, I nailed it to the back of the
window frame.

Here is the window so far...wtih the chalkboard behind the glass and filling up
the open panes on the end.


And then here is the window with the cupcake art on the glass panes,
with the blackboard at the bottom.  I will attach a hanger, and seal the
whole thing, and it will be ready to go!  fun, fun


sheltongail@hotmail.com
Cupcake Chalkboard  $100 

Monday, September 24, 2012

Cupcakes Re-Visited

I have sent this design off to be printed on the same jute bags,
except for the color.  These bags will be brown, and I think they
will set off the cupcakes well.  I also just printed this out large,
and I am going to collage it to a window with a built in
chalkboard...should be cute.  I don't know whiy I hadn't
thought of using my own art on the windows (duh), so I will
see how it does, and then I can do lots more!
Stay tuned....


sheltongail@hotmail.com

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Peru Blue Man

I am starting to near completion on this colored pencil drawing.  I may
leave the bottom corner unfinished.  It gives the illusion of
movement better than just a solid black surface.  The satin surface of
the costume has been very difficult...I am not sure I have it right
yet.  I may tweak a little more.  Overall, I am pretty pleased.  I loved
this photograph, and knew I wanted to do something with it. I love
the dynamic composition, and great colors.  You will be able to
see the original soon at the gallery. 

I also need a title, if anyone wants to make a suggestion!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Peru Blue Man Dancer
prismacolor on hot pressed watercolor paper
15 x 22
$750

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Coming Together

Monet Garden Window

Gone to the Beach window

Porch Chalkboard

Cypress Chalkboard
I have finished all of these little projects.  Lots of windows and
odds and ends.  I made the chalkboards out of masonite painted
with chalkboard paint.  The beaded board is around 100 years
old, and several of the other pieces are old as well.  I added some
new hooks to a couple of them...may add some more.  I will
hang them with wire or rope. 
Someone told me today that they had 20 windows they were
bringing to me!  woohoo...more work to do!
 

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Arkansas Bound

Crystal Bridges Art Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas

A trail in the museum grounds

Rock Ledge trail

I am planning a little trip this fall, to see some fall foliage, some art,
and hopefully some elk!  All of these objectives are going to be found
up in Arkansas, just one state away.  A friend is going with me, and
we are planning to try to see the elk herd that is around the Buffalo River
near Harrison, in northern Arkansas.  I want to do some photography and some
painting, and some sightseeing.  I'd like to make it to the new Crystal Bridges
Art museum too, over in Bentonville.  It was the dream of one of the
Waltons (of Walmart), and the pics above show what it looks like.
It looks as if the grounds are as impressive as the art collection.
Should be a great place to take some pics and get some inspiration! 

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Putting it All Together

I put these cypress panels together with some beaded
board strips.  I am going to mount a chalkboard
behind it, and add some hooks.

I attached these two posts to some old
drawer sides with dove-tailed ends. 
I will probably add a chalkboard to this too.

I know this looks bad...this is the long narrow window
with one of my photos of a beach scene collaged
onto it.  It is still wet.  I am going to add a chalkboard
in the side opening next to the photo too.


I spent some time at the hardware store today...buying chalkboard paint,
screws, nails, masonite, etc.  I will continue to put all these little
projects together, and post them.  It will all come together!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Monday, September 17, 2012

Pieces of Scrap

These are some of the scrap pieces I have been collecting.  Most of
these I found yesterday down in Sunset, LA.


As you see, I had lots of help today.

More bits and pieces....

These are the windows I bought yesterday.  I washed them off
today, and they were trying to dry, in the rain!

I am working on this one.  That is a photo of Monet's famous bridge in his
water garden in Giverny, France.  I thought it would look nice in the green
window.  I am going to add a chalkboard across the bottom panes.....maybe with
a corkboard in the middle. 

Had some time today to work on some of this "junk art".  It is always fun to
put pieces together, and see what I can come up with.  And there are really
no rules...so there is no pressure!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Junk-tiques




Got a chance to do some junking today...down
in Sunset, Louisiana.  It is a small town along
I-49 north of Lafayette, and south of
Opelousas.  I was on the way back 
home from the LSU game.  I bought a few
wooden windows, some odds and ends, and an
old sweet potato crate label. 
I would like to come back here and go to more of
the shops...there are several here.  They are having one of
those miles long yard sales on Sept 20.  And then Breaux
Bridge is having their city wide garage sale the first
weekend in Oct.  Lots of fun in the future!  You ought to
make some plans to attend.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Progress in Blue

A little more on this drawing...the end is in sight!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Friday, September 14, 2012

Time to Reflect

Louie...with me this afternoon

peaceful....


Wild holly...before the berries turn red       lots of beautiful green and blue

Autumn thunderstorm in the distance

I have been very busy all week, and haven't had a chance
to share.  I am working hard at getting my designs on
the merchandise, and that is taking a lot of my drawing and
painting time.
The shop continues to be busy, but this afternoon, I took the
time to stroll around the pasture.  The fall is a favorite time
of mine, and I really can't wait for the leaves to start
turning colors.  I didn't find any color today, but the
peaceful time spent in God's creation was very
refreshing.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Monday, September 10, 2012

WIP blue man

Work in Progress:    I manage to work a little on this colored pencil
drawing every couple of days.  I can only take it in
small doses!  It is very detailed and tedious.  I have to study
each part of the costume, and then decide how I can capture the
movement, pattern, or combination of the two.  It'll get there...
I want to conquer it!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Time to Design

First sketch of this year's t-shirt

Next bag design

Enjoyed a relaxing weekend...got to work on some design projects.  I do
a Christmas t-shirt every year to sell in the shop.  I have started playing
around with some ideas. 
And the seashell design will be decorating another bag.... a blue one
this time.  I hope to get it done quickly (the first one took a long time because
I didn't know what I was doing!) 

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Black, Red, and Tiger Stripes

Finished framing this today.  It was done by a customer who
painted it at a palette party

This was done by her daughter, and she wanted
it framed as well

A father brought this in, and found it among his son's things.
The son passed away recently, and he wanted to frame it.
bittersweet....

I had to mat this today for the LSU Ag department for an art auctionl.
It is a pencil drawing print of the Texas AM yell leaders

I also received my original tiger drawing back from the CPSA show
in Kentucky.  I have it displayed with the two tiger prints I now have
available at the shop.

This print is titled, "Majesty"...the unmatted ones are $45, the matted ones are
$65, and the large prints are $125

This is the "Rolling in the Deep" print, too.   They are the
same price as the others.


I spent the day framing and matting a lot of work at the gallery.  Saturdays
are great days to get caught up!  There are always stories with each framing
case.  It is always fun to see what customers bring in, and sometimes, it is
sad.  I am happy to get to help them preserve their memories and treasured
artwork.

The tiger prints are now available for sale.  They would make great gifts
for Winnfield or LSU fans.  I can also custom frame them if needed.
Call the gallery or email me if interested.

sheltongail@hotmail.com
Pea Patch Gallery
318-628-3560