"Field of Grass"

Been taking some photos out in the pasture around

the house in the past few days. There are always

interesting things to see if I just look close.

Haven't been drawing or painting. Just getting

things ready to leave for San Antonio on Thursday

for the River Art Group show.

"The grass withers and fades, but the Word of God

lasts forever."

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Christmas T Shirt design #2

Have been working on another Christmas design.

I like these stars. Now I just have to decide which

color scheme I like, and what color the shirt will

be. If you would like to give me some input, I

would love to hear your comments.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Sunday Stroll

It is beginning to look like Fall around our
house. We went for a stroll in the pasture
today, and I took a few photos of the grasses
and flowers. It was a beautiful, crisp afternoon,
and the 3 cats frollicked in the tall grass,
trying to keep up with us. I really like the Fall
of the year: the colors of the leaves, pumpkins,
mums, cooler temperatures, football games...
hope you are enjoying the changing season
where you are.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Collage Saturday

"Collage" is an art form that involves pasting
or glueing paper and objects to a surface. It
comes from the French word, "coller", to glue.
This past Saturday, I participated in a workshop
by demonstrating the art of collage on canvas.
These are two of the examples that I did for the
workshop. The little girl belongs to a good friend
of mine. I used a photograph of her, and used
some printed papers, paint, and some
beads. The bottom piece, "Time to Fly" has a
painted dragonfly, some magazine photos, and
various scraps of paper. There is a vintage piece
of jewelry up in the corner.

The workshop also covered many types of
scrapbooking, including digital online scrapbooking.
This is very intriguing and I am planning on
investigating further. I am very interested in
publishing some of my art journals along with
some photographs, and that would be an easy
and inexpensive route. If anyone has used one
of these sites, or has some pointers, I would
appreciate them!

Photo collage of Your child: 9 x 12 Canvas $45.00
"Time to Fly" orig collage on canvas 12 x 12 $60.00
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Show on the Horizon

I will be at the River Art Group fall show in
San Antonio on Oct 4 and 5. I have been
getting ready for the Costa Rica art show to
be held in November, but I have also been
getting things together for San Antonio.

I grew up there. I went to Jefferson High
School, and graduated in 1975. And the
summer after graduation, I had a job
downtown at the Alamo. It was a great job,
and I met people from all over the world.
This is a photograph of one of the old
columns on the front of the Alamo. This is
very sacred ground to most Texans. When
you enter through the front doors, there is
a sign that requests that you be reverent
and quiet, for men died there for freedom.

I will be selling some San Antonio photographs,
some watercolors, and some of my new photos
on canvas at the show.

Alamo Column orig photo 5 x 7 matted $15.00
sheltongail@hotmail.com

"Logged On" #2-Iguana style

I finished this pencil drawing tonight of one of
the iguanas I photographed in Costa Rica. He
is made up of so many different textures: scales,
small spikes, glassy eye, long spikes, knobby
skin....lots of fun for someone who loves to see
if I can capture all that. I used only 3 pencils;
a medium hard one, a 4B softer pencil, and a
woodless 8B for all the really dark darks. I used
kleenex and Q-tips to blend some of the soft
areas. It is drawn on hot-pressed watercolor
paper and is 11" x 30".

It will be included in the "It's a Jungle Out There"
art show that will hang at the Pea Patch Gallery
in Winnfield during November and December.

sheltongail@hotmail.com
"Logged On"- iguana style Orig pencil drawing
11 x 30 $350.00

Concrete Jungle

I have been working really hard on work for
my show, "It's a Jungle Out There" with
images from Costa Rica. I also went to New
York City this past year, and I might include
some images from the "concrete jungle".
These are two I have been playing with. I
really like them.
still drawing on the iguana...needed a break!
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Iguana progress

Finally got back to the drawing board...been
distracted by storms, wind, and rain. It has
all quieted down now, and I am back working
on this big lizard. Will continue for awhile.

I'm doing some teaching this week: a Collage
on Canvas class Tuesday, and a demonstration
of the same on Saturday. I have done a couple
of demonstration pieces for the classes, and I
will post them soon.

got the blues...

Just needed a little break tonight, and I played
around with some watercolor. I did the wet
into wet technique by soaking the paper first,
and then letting the paint blur and run. The
blobs are made by dropping in some acrylic
medium called "flow aid". It makes the paint
spread around easier and creates some
interesting effects. I am going to use this as
a background for some Costa Rican flowers
that I will paint in acrylic over this background.

Will let you see the results when I get there...

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Iguana time

While in Costa Rica, we saw dozens of iguanas;
I said they were like our squirrels...everywhere.
We got so excited about the first ones we saw,
and then sooner or later, it was just, "oh, there's
another one." This particular one was sunning
on a log in the river as we floated by in a raft. Our
guide told us it was a male because he had spikes
along his back. He was big, about 3 feet long.

I started drawing him in pencil, and will continue
working on him the next couple of nights.

Dragonflies 4

This is a set of 4 12x12 canvases, done in acrylic,
with some graphic dragonflies, in shades of brown,
blue, aqua, and white. They will be included in the
Costa Rica show this fall, and I will also submit them
to the decorator print company in New York.
Killing two dragonflies with one stone....

sheltongail@hotmail.com
Dragonflies 4 orig acrylic on canvas $300

Paradise Found

I am back at home and was able to finish this
drawing tonight. I spent some time with
my family in Austin celebrating my big brother's
birthday. It was a great time with family and
friends.
I will continue to work on Costa Rica and
Christmas designs for our big Christmas Open
House to be held at the gallery on November 13.
It is a downtown open house with all the businesses
participating. We have huge crowds and really
kick off the Christmas season in style. My show
opening is a big part of the event. I will have the
gallery decorated like a jungle, and will have the
new work inspired by my trip all on display.
Should be fun.

sheltongail@hotmail.com
Bird of Paradise orig colored pencil 15 x 22
$350 unframed $500 framed

Paradise Progress

Worked on a little of the background on
this drawing. Will continue to add the
rest. The finished piece will be in a show
at my gallery titled: "It's a Jungle Out There"
beginning in late October that will feature
work inspired by my trip to Costa Rica this
past summer.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

After the Storm

We survived the storm virtually unscathed...we did
lose power, and just got it back today, as well as
internet connection. We lost 3 trees, but sustained
no damage to property at home or at work. So, I
am feeling very relieved and very blessed. I know
some in our state were not so fortunate, and our
prayers go out for them.

I have been working on more pieces for the Costa
Rica show. This is a colored pencil/watercolor that
I started last night of a bird of paradise bloom. I am
fascinated by these unusual flowers. I saw some in
Hawaii, and thought they were beautiful, so sculptural.
I will fill in the background with more foliage when I
finish the flower itself.

sheltongail@hotmail.com
Gail H. Shelton artist colored pencil watercolor

Christmas T Shirt design

I design and print a Christmas t-shirt every year
that we sell in the shop. This is a tentative design
for this year's shirt. I will keep working on it, and
may have some other ideas.

The storm has not arrived here yet. Just a little
wind.

sheltongail@hotmail.com