Monday, March 31, 2014

Golden Light







Stopped by Lake Martin again yesterday on my
way home...just beautiful.  The birds were
gorgeous in the fading light...golden edges and
illumined feathers.  A spoonbill landed on the tree
not far from me.  And the sunset was stunning. 
A peaceful end to a worship day.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Smile

Spent a few hours around the French Quarter today...such a beautiful
day.  This artist is named Michael Smiroldo, and he does great
watercolors of the musicians in New Orleans.  I own one of his wonderful
paintings, and he and I had a nice conversation today about
art, design, and life!

St. Louis Cathedral...in the sunshine!

This clarinet player gave it her all for the crowd today...
made me smile


This painting was in progress in the window of a gallery
today as well.  Neat

And this really made me smile...a window display
selling these great headbands....cheese!

Friday, March 28, 2014

The End of the Art


Robert Guthrie

I am so sad today to learn of the death of Robert Guthrie, a renowned
watercolor artist from New Orleans.  I have always LOVED his work...so
colorful and playful.  He captured the spirit of New Orleans and anything he
painted with such joy and exuberance.
 I own one of his prints,  of a shotgun house in
the French Quarter. I wish I had bought one of
his originals.  He was found dead at his home earlier this month,
and they believe he died of a heart attack.  He was only 56 (which is my
age as well.)  I think if is hard for me to think about an artist
never being able to create anymore...of their artistic endeavors
ending, way too soon.  There are so many ideas still in my head...
I so want to have the chance to do many more works of art.
I pray I have the opportunity.

His work is being carried by Gallery Rinard in New Orleans on Royal Street.
I am planning to go as soon as possible to buy a couple of prints,
and maybe an original, if there are any left!
Rest in Peace.

sheltongail@hotmail.com





Tuesday, March 25, 2014

A Shout Out

Started on a new project, with a new toy!  I finally ordered the
Icarus Drawing board by Ester Roi.  It is a glass drawing board,
that has an adjustable heated side.  Using the wax based pencils on the
heated surface makes them soft and easy to blend.

This is a small drawing, 8 x 9, but it went really fast.  It is
so easy to draw and get color on the paper.  It also helps my
arthritic fingers as well! I do not have to use very much pressure
to draw, and that is great!

Final stages here....I added the shadows, details, and then the
background.  I cropped it off to tighten in on the blue glove (which I had
to make up), and to lesson the background.  There is still the white area
across the top, and I have to decide whether to leave it white or not.

Ester's invention is quite revolutionary.  She markets them to
colored pencil and oil pastel artists all over the world.  You
can visit her website to view her amazing artwork, and
see her product. 

www.esterroi.com

"Mardi Gras Madness"
colored pencil  8 x 9   $100.00
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Monday, March 24, 2014

"Let it Bee"


"Let it Bee" 
Polychromos and Prismacolors on Arches Hot pressed paper
15 x 22  $900.00

I finished this drawing this weekend.  It was a lot of fun.  I have
never really done a fuzzy, out of focus background before.  It was
a challenge at first, until I figured out what I needed to do. 
The white flowers are a mixture of so many different
colors: purple, grey, blue, gold.  All of those colors will blend
to create a shadow on a white surface.  It is often influenced by the
other colors being reflected by the white surface.  The white
that you do see is plain paper.  I use an electric eraser to clean up
the white areas...they can get kinda smudged as you are working. 

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Sunday Egrets









 Wow! I have always wanted to see these egrets nesting down
at Lake Martin at the rookery there.  I had a chance to drive down
there today, and I was able to see them and take some photos.  They
are absolutely beautiful...their snow white plumage and lime green
eyes among all the grey branches and trunks.  There are hundreds of
them, scattered all through the swampy area around the lake.  They
can be seen from the nearby road that runs by the lake.

The wind was really blowing, and some of their feathers were flowing
in the wind.  They were busy making their nests.  The males were
breaking branches from the trees, and taking them to the females to add
to the nest.  There was a great deal of sqawkiing and chatter going on too.
They are quite vocal, and with so many so close together, it was very
noisy.

Just another great reminder of God's wonderful creation...
hope your Sunday was filled with worship and wonder.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Life is in the Details

Took a nature walk today....to see the signs of spring!

This is my wisteria....poised to bust open any minute with big
beautiful purple blooms


This tree is starting to do something...with these neat little tassels...
very oriental

This is a scary face in a tree!!




This is a fern that was nipped by the very late
freeze we had recently


And this is yellow jasmine...it grows wild in the woods around
my home.  And it is full bloom all over the place.  I love
the color yellow...it is a "happy" color.

Many of these photos are the small things....tiny details
that you have to really look for to be able to notice.
I love doing that.  It is like a treasure hunt, which I used to
do with my parents.  We would go for walks, and try to
find "treasures"...whether we were at the beach, or the
lake, or just out in the country.  It might be a piece of a
shell, or a pretty rock, or a turkey feather (which I found
today).  They taught me to be observant, and to notice the
fascinating details found in nature all around us.  And it can
be a time of gratitude and appreciation for all that God
has blessed us with all around us.

It is also a skill that is useful as an artist.  A lot of my work
involves detailed work just like these photos.  I hope that you
enjoy all of it!  Thanks for your support!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Friday, March 21, 2014

Advent of Spring

I have made a little progress on this drawing.  I just have the last little
right hand corner to do.  It has been fun trying to make the background
look out of focus.  (That is how I see without my glasses on!) 
I will continue to tweak a bit...going back and tightening up details, and
adjusting values.
These are some wild pear trees that are blooming near the house
as well.  They are almost bloomed out...these are the last little petals
hanging on.

Welcome Spring....we have been waiting for you! 
We have had some gorgeous weather this week...
I am so grateful. I am sure we will have
some more cool weather,
but I am enjoying it for now!

You can still leave me a comment to be entered in the
free giveaway of the cardinal drawing.  I will pick a
winner from the comments at the end of the
month.  If you can't get the comment section to work,
just email me, and I will enter your name.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Monday, March 17, 2014

On the Other Side

I did get a chance to do a little drawing this weekend.  This is
progressing slowly...I get lost in the details!

I added a little bit more dark background, and tweaked the
blossoms some...adding some darker values and details. 
This tree is out my front door, and this year the blooms were
stunning.  In fact, all of the pear trees all over town have been prettier
this year than anyone can remember.  They say it is because of the extremely
cold winter we have had.  That is probably true.  Sometimes we get to
experience real beauty only after we have gone through real
adversity.  Amen.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Brand New Baby Sign


Sign of the Times: 

 I finished this little canvas tonight as a gift,
ordered by a customer as a baby gift.  The bedding has lots of pink
checks and gingham.  They are also using some lime green and teal.
So, I hope the sign is a hit!

And if you would like something similar, just let me know.  I can do names,
words, sayings, etc. on canvas or wood.  Prices are reasonable.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

318-628-3560

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Pea Patch Pig






Pigs on Parade

It's time for the Hog Dog trials again!  And I got some GREAT help today
painting my pig.  My students agreed to paint it today, and they had
so much fun.  It is going to be "Pea Patch Pig...with the letter
"P" and a patch of fabric.  So, that's what they painted today....just the
letter and the patch.  I will come back and add the finishing details.

The tutu pig was finished today, and is "Hog Wild".  There will be many
more finished this week...will try to keep posting.

(For those of you not familiar with this tradition:  Our little town hosts the largest
hog dog competition in the world every March.  Hunters with dogs come from
everywhere, and enter their dogs in a hog baying contest, where they must
keep the wild hog pinned in the corner, etc. The businesses paint these concrete
hogs downtown to help celebrate...just for fun)

sheltongail@hotmail,com 

Thursday, March 6, 2014

This Bud's for You

Managed to get out in the yard last weekend...still no sunshine,
but a few flowers peeking out.  These yellow jonquils are always the
first to bloom. This would make a great watercolor.


Tulip magnolia and friend


Paper whites...charming

More jonquils or daffodils, and a free-loader

And this is my Bradford pear tree...always beautiful in the
Spring.  It is just budding out, and the bees are already hard
at work.

I started drawing this one....may take me awhile!  Just getting
started...working on color combinations.  There will be many
more layers, details, and some blending with the solvent. 
More to come....

sheltongail@hotmail.com

If you haven't left me a comment on this blog for the giveaway
this March, it is not too late.  Just leave a comment, and I will put your
name in the hat.  Thanks!