Home Sweet Home

I finished painting this home tonight. It has
been a cold and windy winter day here. It
has been good to be inside by the fireplace.

Will continue on some more commissions...
ho, ho, ho!
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Dormers, windows, and railings....

This is part of the house portrait that I am
working on now. I will watercolor it tonight.
I still have a few more commissions to do...
a busy little elf.
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Home for Christmas

I am doing this beautiful home as a gift

for Christmas for a client. I am doing it

in pen and ink, and then will paint it with

watercolor. It is 11 x 14, and will cost

$100.00 If you would like some info on

house portraits, you can email me:

www.sheltongail@hotmail.com

A Christmas Card Photo

Here's our Christmas card photo for this
year. Our daughter's boyfriend was able
to take it for us...maybe that's why she is
smiling so beautifully!!
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Two Dogs Ready

These are the two dogs for Cristi. They are

Christmas gifts. I hope she likes them.

We had a nice Thanksgiving day. We spent

the day with my husband's family. Our

daughter and her boyfriend came home, too.

And we took our annual Christmas card

photo. lots of fun....lots to be thankful for.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

gone to dog #2

Started on this dog #2 for a client. Will work
on him some more.

for info on pet portraits:
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Dog Number 1

I have changed from drawing children to
drawing pets! This is one of two that I have
to do for more Christmas presents. (my
hand is getting tired!)

for info on pet portraits:
sheltongail@hotmail.com

The Little Sister

This is the start of the little sister...she looks
like a real live wire! I will tweak some more
on this drawing. And then I will do the big
sister...big surprise for the Dad!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Jack Finished

This is Jack finished. I have to draw his 2
sisters also. I will start one of them tonight.

I spent the weekend in south Louisiana;
saw my daughter's new apartment, and
attended the LSU game...yuk. Not the
apartment, the game. Anyway, I am back
home and ready to get to some of these
commissions. Christmas is coming!!

Jack in the Box

This cute little boy is named Jack. I have to
draw him and his two sisters as a gift from
their mother to their father (another good
surprise). I will be working on them for the
next couple of days.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Carter Tweaked

I went back and tweaked on this drawing of
Carter. It will go with the one of Chloe to their
grandmother. I am on to the next project...
ho, ho, ho!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

The Final Chloe

This is part of the finished drawing of Chloe. I will
send it on to the grandmother so she can give it to
Chloe's mother and father for Christmas.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Chloe...getting started

Started on Chloe tonight...will keep working on her
sweet face.

For info on children's portraits:
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Downtown Christmas Open House

Here are some shots from the Christmas Open House

that was held tonight. My show, "It's a Jungle Out

There", with art from the Costa Rica trip was a part

of the festivities. There is also a photo of the t-shirts

that I designed. We had a great crowd, and shoppers

not only browsed , but spent money! (We were a little

worried with all the economic gloom and doom). We

also sponsor a dessert contest, and our winner was a

gooey Snicker cake that was delicious. I think everyone

had a great time, and will be back to shop some more!

Chloe-next up

This is Chloe, and she is Carter's sister. She is
next on my portrait schedule....will try to start
her tomorrow.

Ocotillo Completed

Here it is...will ship it off tomorrow. Hope he likes it!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Ocotillo

This is the ocotillo cactus that grows in Big Bend
National Park. I have to do a little watercolor of
this for a gift for someone that loves this cactus?!
Anyway, I believe he has a special affection for
it, and would love a painting of it in the Big Bend
setting. I will try to start it tonight.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Carter-finished

I finished this drawing of Carter tonight. I have
to draw his sister, too. The two drawings are a
gift from the grandparents to the parents of
these two...and it is a surprise! another one...
I love being in the surprise business.

for info on portraits:
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Excuse Me...Carter

I knew his name started with a "C"...anyway,
it's Carter, not Cooper! I started on him today,
and have gotten this far. I will continue with
him tomorrow. funny expression....

for info on children's portraits:
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Mini-Cooper

Going to start on this cute little boy...I think his

name is Cooper. Anyway, I wanted to show you

how I take just a snapshot, and with some

cropping and adjusting, I select just the part that

will make the best drawing. Then I enlarge that

to the drawing paper with a light sketch. Then I

begin with the lightest shading, and add darker

values and details as I go. Most of the time I

start around the eyes, because they have to be

just right, or the likeness will not be correct. That's

what I like about pencil, it is so easy to change.

Will keep you posted.

For info on Children's portraits:

sheltongail@hotmail.com

child portrait pencil portrait

Gail Shelton portrait artist

The Painted House

I finished Sharon's house today. It will be
shipped off, and be put under the Christmas
tree!! I love surprises...

sheltongail@hotmail.com

House-under construction

Got most of the ink done today on this house
portrait. Will try to get it painted later tonight.

I spent the day in Ruston at the Cedar Creek
School Holiday Marketplace peddling my wares
with a couple of the dealers in my business. The
school sponsors a Christmas marketplace each
year as a fund raiser. I promoted my pencil
portraits mostly. My friends were mostly
selling lots of children's toys and clothing, so
my children's portraits fit in well. It is tomorrow
as well, and I will go up after I close the shop.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

A House for Christmas

I am on to the next commission; this house
for a woman to give to her husband. This is the
black and white copy...it helps me see the
values (the lights and darks) of the home.
I have started the ink drawing tonight, and
will continue it, and then watercolor it.

sheltongail@hotmail.com
Gail Shelton artist house portrait pen and ink

The Painted Man

got this man and dog painted tonight...will
tweak a little.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Man's Best Friend

I'm working on this pen and ink drawing of that
same dog I did a few nights ago, along with his
master. The man's wife commissioned this of
them both as a Christmas gift. I will finish
the ink tonight, and then do the watercolor
tomorrow.

The Costa Rica show is up and ready to open.
Today we got the TV/DVD player running with
a DVD of Costa Rica's wildlife and landscapes,
backed with piano music. It all looks great; I am
very pleased with it. It will officially open
next week during the Open House.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Fall Foliage

I wandered around the pasture late this afternoon,

and took a few pics of the fall colors and textures.

We are just starting to get some color here in the

South. I heard on the news that the Northeast

states were already past peak color. I have always

wanted to make it up there, and plan to soon.

There is a bus tour by the Caravan Company that

leaves out of Boston, and makes a loop and comes

down the Maine coast, and back into Boston. It

looks pretty good. If anyone has some experience

traveling up there, I would love some input.

I spent the morning doing a presentation about

portraits at the regional DKG teacher's sorority

conference. There were about 100 women there,

and I enjoyed speaking to them and sharing

about my artwork.

sheltongail@hotmail.com