Another Christmas present...

Finished with this portrait...this one is for
the grandparents.
I have a few more to do...

Portrait-early stage

I started on this portrait of this little boy tonight.
Someone asked me once where I start. I almost
always start with the eyes, because if the eyes
are not right, then the whole thing will not work.
I like drawing the eyes; the expression is usually
captured in them. "Windows to the soul"...
This little boy has some beautiful brown eyes. I will
continue on him tomorrow.

You can see my finished poster for the town of
Boerne's Christmas festival on their website:
www.ahillcountrychristmas.com

Pansy's Dog completed

This is the finished drawing for Pansy. She wants
to give it to her husband for Christmas. He was
very attached to this little dog, and it passed away
earlier this year. I hope he will like it.

for info on portraits: www.peapatchgallery.com
or email me: sheltongail@hotmail.com

Pansy's Dog

This is Pansy's dog who also passed away recently.
I will be finished with this drawing sometime
tomorrow.

I've never been much of a dog person. I have
always had cats, though. And I have grown very
attached to some of them. Pets can really become
a part of the family. Right now we have 3 cats
that I got as kittens. They are all brothers and
they are named Huey, Dewey, and Louie. They
are hilarious, and keep me entertained.

For information on portraits: pet, house, or
children...go to the website:
www.peapatchgallery.com
or email me:
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Maddie Finished

I am finished with Maddie, and will start on
another pet tomorrow. Hope you like it,
Terri!

Cocker Spaniel-Maddie

Started drawing Maddie this weekend. She
died recently, and the owner wanted a
portrait of her. I will be finished with this
drawing soon.

for info on pet portraits:
www.peapatchgallery.com
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Final House

This is the last house for this client in
Atlanta, Georgia. They have been
fun to do, and I hope they will make
people really happy this Christmas.

Now I have a couple of pet portraits
to do, so I will change gears, and start
on those. I do them in colored pencil,
so it will be a whole different technique.

For information on either house or pet
portraits, as well as children's portraits,
go to the website: www.peapatchgallery.com
or email me: sheltongail@hotmail.com

A Day of thanks

We have been sending out a photo Christmas
card for years, and it has been our tradition to
take the photo on Thanksgiving day.
We usually have to set up the tripod, and
I have to run and get in the photo.
(this has led to some episodes of
laughter from time to time) This year
however, my daughter's boyfriend was
with us, and he had the honors of taking
our picture.
I am very thankful for these two people.
My husband and I have been married for
29 years, and it just gets better and better.
My daughter is a delight, and the joy of my
life.
I hope you had time today to pause and
be thankful for your blessings. God has
indeed richly blessed us as I hope He has
blessed you. Happy Thanksgiving!

More Houses....

Two more houses...almost done.

Just one more for this client...

I see the light at the end of the

tunnel.

(May not draw tomorrow; may

be too full of turkey and pumpkin

pie).

House Painter

These are a couple of the finished house

portraits. They are coming along; have

four done, and four to go.

I have a couple of pet portraits to do

after I finish these houses. Still have

some time if you are interested in

something for Christmas this year.

Let me know asap!

Info on portraits:

www.peapatchgallery.com

More houses....

Been inking all day...my hand is tired! Two

more houses done, and waiting to be painted.

I will probably paint them tomorrow.

stay tuned...

At home, drawing homes

Still recuperating, still drawing these homes.
This is the second one. Nice house, will be
pretty when painted. I am drawing several
before I paint them.
For information on house portraits:
www.peapatchgallery.com or email me
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Surgery

On Monday, I had surgery (hysterectomy). It was
my first real experience in a hospital in a long time
(my daughter is 24...). I did ok, but it was all a
little bizarre. I learned all about pain meds;
some are good, and some are too much!
I learned all about nurses; some are good,
and some are too much!
I am at home recuperating now,
and glad it is all over. I am feeling stronger
every day, and should be all better before long.

Will be working on houses soon....

No Place like Home....

I am back from the LSU game...what
a rout! It was lots of fun; great food,
good time.
I have started these houses I have to
do for Christmas gifts for people. This
is a modest little house, and I have
finished most of the ink, and now I
will watercolor it. This client has
7 homes she wants done. So there
will be a lot of happy family members
this Christmas!
For info on house portraits, you can
check out the website:
www.peapatchgallery.com

Mission Accomplished

Well, the "Palms to Pines" show is officially

open. We had our annual downtown

Christmas Open House on Thursday nite.

We had huge crowds, and a very successful

evening. I sold 4 of the paintings, and one

print. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

The carolers are a group of men from our

First Baptist choir, (my husband is the one in

the jeans), and they strolled all around town

singing carols. They sounded terrific, and added

such a flair to the event.

Our dessert contest was a hit, too. Martha

Jordan's Cheesecake Delight won the $100,

and now we will prepare it once a month for

the next year in the cafe.

All of the dealers did well, too. We had some

record sales, and we were all very pleased.

I am glad it is over!! It is always so much work!,

but well worth it.

I am off to the LSU game today, and will be

home again tomorrow. I am still working on

house portraits, and will have some finished

soon.

Boerne received the finished poster, and they

are pleased as well.

Life is good. To God be the glory.

sheltongail@hotmail.com www.peapatchgallery.com

Having a ball..

It is neccessary every now and then to

create some art that is not exactly "fine

art". I have been painting these glass

ornaments for the "Palms to Pines" show

opening on Thursday. These are the

flamingo ornaments, and I also did some

with a beach scene, a mountain scene,

some seashells, and some moose!

Anyway, they were lots of fun, and I hope

to sell a bunch on Thursday. Then, I will

start on the house and pet portraits...

flamingo ornaments available at the

Pea Patch gallery: 2 sizes $12, and $15

sheltongail@hotmail.com

www.peapatchgallery.com

"In the Pink"

This is the other demo painting I did for the group

yesterday. It is watercolor on a 9 x 12 canvas.

I added some permanent black pen, and some

colored pencil.

I love flamingos. I like to photograph them at

zoos, and I have taken pictures of them all over

the nation. I watched some at the Audubon zoo

in New Orleans build their tall mud nests, and

sit on their single large egg.

In our little town, there is a group that uses the

tacky plastic pink flamingos to raise money.

They put a whole flock of them in your yard

overnight, and then you have to pay them

money to have them removed. The best part

is that you can specify whose house they go to!

"In the Pink" orig watercolor on canvas 9x12 $50.00

www.peapatchgallery.com sheltongail@hotmail.com

Watercolor on Canvas demo

Today I drove to Shreveport, LA to do a demonstration

of watercolor on canvas for the Shreveport Art Club. It

was so much fun. There were about 30 there, and I

did two paintings in two hours (not fully completed),

but it gave them the inspiration to want to try some

watercolor on this new surface. I painted this parrot,

and then a flamingo which I will post tomorrow.

Watercolor on canvas is a great new thing. I do the pen

and ink drawing first, and then wet the canvas, and do the

wet-into-wet washes first. As it dries, I add a lot more

pigment so it will be intense. I enjoy adding lots of

mixed media on top of the paint; in this case, some

colored pencil, pastel, and tulip slick puffy paint!

The painting will be added to the Key West section

of the "Palms to Pines" art show opening Thursday.

"Polly Who?" original wc on canvas 16 x 20 $200.00

Home Sweet Homes

I do a lot of house portraits, especially
for Christmas gifts. These are just 3
of the 8 I have to do right now. I do
them in pen and ink, and then hand
watercolor them. Most of them are
either 8 x 10, or 11 x 14.
I will start on these tomorrow night.
And I will post the results as I go.

We are getting ready for our big
Christmas Open House this
Thursday night. All the downtown
shops stay open, and serve refreshments,
have specials, etc. We do a dessert
contest every year; the customers
sample and vote for their favorite.
The winner gets $100, and we fix
their dessert in our cafe once a month
for the next year. I can taste the
sugar already!

Info on House Portraits:
www.peapatchgallery.com
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Poster Complete

This is the finished poster for the city of
Boerne. It is drawn in pencil first; then
drawn in pen and ink, and then painted
with watercolor. The snowflakes are
done with acrylic. I will send it off to them
on Monday.

I have 8 house portraits to do for people for
Christmas, and one pet portrait! So I will
be working on them for the next several
weeks. Keep you posted.

sheltongail@hotmail.com
www.peapatchgallery.com