A Little Progress

Making a little progress on this drawing...still lots to go!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Laughing Molly

I started this drawing last night.  I drew her older
sister several (many!) years ago, and I promised to
draw her too.  When I saw this photo of her,
I knew this would be the one to draw.  This little girl is
very lively, and funny, and I think this photo
captures her spirit.  Plus, the lighting is fabulous...
when there are lots of shadows, there is more to draw! 
I hope I can get her likeness just right...I have a long
way yet to go, but it sure is
fun! 

sheltongail@hotmail.com

I am continuing to get things ready to go to the Dallas wholesale market
again soon, so I haven't been doing a lot of art...just marketing stuff.  But I really
needed to just draw....so this portrait will offer some welcome
distraction! 

China on the Horizon

We received our final itineraries today for our upcoming trip to China!
It is time to start getting excited...and making plans.
We don't leave until July 24th, but it will be here soon.
Some of the photos are places and things we will see:
the  Yuyuan Gardens in Shanghai, a Ming dynasty vase,
the Forbidden City in Bejiing, and the gorges along
the Yangtze River.  It will be a great trip, and there should
be lots of inspiration for paintings and drawings.
I also plan to take as many pictures as I can!

sheltongail@hotmail.com
 

The Colors of Autumn

In a small town, you know a lot of people.  As a teacher,
I came into contact with a lot of students.  And sometimes,
 you know the parent, as well as the student.  I happened to know
both in this case.

The parent was the daughter of a fellow
teacher, and I had watched her grow up over the years.
She married, and had 3 beautiful girls.
Then, I had the opportunity to teach art to all 3 of them from
time to time in various workshops and classes.
They were all delightful, and I enjoyed spending time with them.


We all never would have guessed the tragedy
that would soon take one of those young girls....
the middle one, Autumn.  Her mother brought one of
Autumn's stories to me; a story she had written as an
assignment in school.  It was about a life-changing moment
between a grandfather and his grand-daughter,
when he shares with her how his priorities and
attitude changed after a serious accident.  The text
above is the last paragraph of that story.  The mom
wanted me to do something with it...she wasn't sure what,
and I suggested adding the text to a photograph of some
woods, maybe in the fall, with autumn colors.
I have been working on this tonight, and this is my
favorite of the possible ones.  I will let her
see it, and see if this is what she wants.


Those of you who know me, and our situation, will know
that I have shed a tear or two while
doing this.  But I feel honored that she would ask me to
do it...for she knew that I would understand.
May God continue to bless this special family,
and comfort them always.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Bug Off

I have been playing around with these "bugs"...made from bits and
pieces.  This is a chair leg, with some decorative brackets,
a spool off of an old typewriter, and some nails.

This "dragonfly" is made from a porch post, some beaded
 board, a key plate,
a drawer pull, and some wire antennas.
 

This one is also made from the porch post, a hinge,
some beaded board, and an upside down fleur de lis hook.

These have been fun to do.  They will be for sale
at the shop, and I will plan to take them to
Dallas market in June as well. 

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Waving in the Wind

I have been playing around with these little
vertical paintings as possible flag designs.  There is a
flag company that accepts submissions from freelance artists.
Right now they are taking Fall and Holiday designs, so I might
just send these on to them. 

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Duck, Duck, Goose

I was returning from south Louisiana today, and saw these
geese near a pond.  Thought I would stop and take a few
pics.  The baby geese were precious...some were younger than others. 
I thought the parents might be very protective, and threaten me...but
obviously, they were used to people, and they came right up to me. 
I imagine people have been feeding them, and I didn't have a thing with me!
But they let me take their pics anyway...and they sure were cute.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Aprons and Paint

My Wednesday class kids wanted to paint some aprons they
could wear during class. (they are always getting paint
on their clothes!)

Kate is painting a great big hot pink "K"

Anna got into some red paint and hearts

And this Kate was finding it harder than she thought
painting on the fabric.  She was doing a chevron pattern,
with lots of different colors.

I ordered the aprons from Dick Blick.  They make several
kinds of art aprons.  They are using some acrylic paint to paint
their designs onto the fabric aprons.  The girls all
wanted their names on theirs...Samuel is painting an angel fish
design.  The did not finish them today...so they will work on
them again next week.

I will probably be teaching some summer art classes for kids 10 and up.  I will try to
post my schedule on the blog, on Facebook, and at the shop....soon!

Assembly Required

This is one of the windows I put together this weekend. 
It incorporates an old window frame, some beaded
board, a hook, and one of my
scripture prints on canvas.  Some burlap
ribbon holds it up!

This one is a cork board, with some beaded board as a frame.
And burlap ribbon holds this one too.

This window was originally a cabinet door.  I made a
chalkboard to go in the bottom, and a corkboard on
the top.  I also attached a boot scripture photo on this
one.  I am trying to incorporate them into some of the
salvaged pieces in order to sell them along with another
element.

I will take these to Dallas in June, to the wholesale
gift market.  Hopefully, they will be available
in a store near you!

sheltongail@hotmail.com
 

Sunflowers in a Minute

In last week's adult art class, one of my
students wanted to paint some sunflowers.
She is a beginner watercolor student, very
self-motivated and sweet.
I did this small piece as a demonstration for
her. I painted it quickly and with loose strokes,
giving it a spontaneous feeling.  I added the
touches of pastel and colored pencil when the paint
was dry.
She will be working on her's in class tomorrow, and I will
try to post her results.

I have about 7 weeks before I go back to the wholesale market in
Dallas.  I have been busy working on some things to take
to the show...so busy, I haven't been able to blog!  I will try to
post some of those as well.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Sunflowers in Blue Vase  12 x 16  $50

Glory Bee

During my walk last Sunday, I watched all these bees
on the wild blackberry vines...

...they were "busy as a bee!"

I marvel at God's provision, and perfect design.  Without the bees,
the plants do not survive, and the whole is more
than the sum of it's very small parts...praise be!

 

Pencil on Tile

Kate is spraying her finished tile with sealer.



Samuel working on his tile



This is one of my examples for them to see



In class today, just my two, did colored pencil on a piece of tile. 
They found it harder than they thought.  It was hard to get enough
color on the tile.  Then we used the Gamsol to work the pencil into
the tile.  And the last step was to seal it was a clear spray sealer.
They had fun, even though it was hard work!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

"Not so Angry Bird"

Just heard from the CPSA International Exhibition,
 and this drawing made it in!  I am pleased, because it is
 very hard to get into this show.  There are entries from
all over the world, and the talent is amazing. 
You just never know what the judge is looking for.
Last year when I attended the convenion, I remember
 the juror stating that he looks for drawings that will
complete his vision for the show.  He
selected pieces in certain catagories..florals,
landscapes, people, etc...until he felt there were
enough in that catagory?!  Anyway, I feel that all
the best work should be in...no matter what the
subject matter.  But I guess that is why he was the
 juror and I wasn't!!   But I am glad that the juror
this year thought mine was worthy of selection...woohoo!

sheltongail@hotmail.com


This piece will be on display at the Pea Patch Gallery in Winnfield
until I have to ship it to the show, if you would like to see it
up close.  Thanks!

Pecan Festival Poster Design

Here is my finished poster design for the Pecan Festival.
They have a contest every year for their festival poster,
and the winning entry is published and sold during and
after the festival.  The artist signs and numbers the posters, and
the winning artist gets a check!  I will deliver this down to
Colfax, LA soon, and then cross my fingers!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Contrast

This is a pastel drawing that I did awhile back, and
I sold it this week to a collector.  I did this during
a garden tour, where I was painting on location.

These are some geraniums on my patio, and I thought
I would do a little
painting on location at home!



This is my finished pastel drawing that I did while
enjoying the beautiful
weather outside today.

Generally, I work from light to dark...and as
it starts to take shape, it is made up of only the
light values...the paler colors.  It never really looks
complete, until the darks are added.  It is the contrast that
adds the final touches.  It is not a complete design
without the darker parts.

As I thought back over this incredible week, the loss,
the sorrow, and the heartache from so many
tragedies (here and across our nation), I could not
help but take notice also of the heroism, the outpouring
of compassion, and the unity of spirit among so many
as well.  It was like the light and the dark existing
side by side...like in great artwork.  So it is, that life is
not truly experienced except when we face both good and 
bad, highs and lows, true joy and great sorrow.  And it is
our God who never forsakes us or fails us...no matter what the
situation.  I pray that you have been able to find His peace
in some small way this week.
I know I have.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

 

If the Creeks Don't Rise



Near our home is a little woodland creek.  Because of the
recent rains, there is water in it!  Thought I would walk down
late today and take a look.(There is a brown lizard in 
this photo;  if you can find it, and tell me where it is,
you will get a free dessert in the cafe!) 

I saw these on the way.  These are blackberry vines...
there will be lots of juicy berries sometime
in June.  Time to make some blackberry cobbler...yum

And of course, Huey, Dewey, and Louie had to come with me.
(that is not the order they are in!)  Huey is in the back, and Louie is
in the lead.

When it does rain really hard and fast, this little creek
really rises.  The rushing water erodes the banks
away from these roots.  It makes some interesting
patterns.

These ferns grow wild all along the banks in the shade.  I wish
I could get them to grow in my yard!

When we got back, Huey was tired.

Louie was tired too!

I really enjoy being outside, and we have had some beautiful weather this week.  I hope it is nice where you are, and you can get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine and the "re-birth" of the
earth.

"I would have despaired unless I had
believed that I would see the goodness
of the Lord in the land of the living"
Psalm 27:13

                              
                                  sheltongail@hotmail.com