God of Wonders

These golden aspen trees were in the mountains
near Santa Fe, New Mexico. I have been there
several times, and it is one of my favorite places.
This time was in the fall, and we caught the aspens
at their peak. They are a spectacular sight...
painting the hillsides with golden splendor.
Just one more of God's wonders.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Psalm 24

"The earth is the Lord's, and all that it contains;
The world and those who dwell in it.
For He has founded it upon the seas, and established
it upon the waters." Psalm 24

I took this photograph on the beach in San Diego.
I was there in the summer to attend the Colored
Pencil Society Show in Los Angeles, and when it
was over, I spent a few days in San Diego. What
a great city. I thoroughly enjoyed the zoo, the
Coronado Hotel, and the old town shopping area.
I tried to get in the water at the beach, and it
was freezing...too cold for this gulf coast girl.
I did see some seals swimming along the surf one
morning..it wasn't too cold for them!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

A Series of Psalms...

A good friend of mine was in the shop the other
day, and he asked me what I would be doing
next. I told him I had always wanted to do a
series of Psalm texts paired with some of my
photography. So I was playing around tonight
with the first one...that is the historic church
in Taos, New Mexico. And the scripture is
from Psalm 24.
There will be some others soon. I may be
doing them as prints and some as notecards.
Will keep you posted.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

"Monday...Monday...."

I have been working on this little boy FOREVER,
and I am not sure I will ever get the likeness. I
am going to let the client see this one tomorrow, and
see if she is satisfied. I am still working on the other
one, too. That's the great thing about pencil..."erase,
draw, blend....erase, draw......" You can go on and 0n.

We're getting geared up for our Christmas Eve get
together. All of my husband's family comes to our
house, and we eat (this year it is Cajun food), take
family portraits, watch the kids perform a skit or
play, etc, and then open gifts. My husband always
reads the Christmas story, too. I have been in
charge of the skit for years, and we have done some
really good ones. This year, they are playing
Christmas carols on kazoos, and doing Cajun jokes
in between songs. It'll be a hoot.

I hope you and yours all have a wonderful
Christmas together, and celebrate the birth of
our Savior in a grand way. Merry Christmas!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Little Boy Blue Again

I started over on this little guy..I didn't like
the way the other one was going. Sometimes
a fresh start is better. This one looks more
like him, and I will try to finish it up in time.

Little Boy Blue

This is my last Christmas commission....yea! I have
been working on him the last couple of nights. He is
the grandson of a friend of mine here in Winnfield.
(there is more to the drawing..this is all that would
fit on the scanner). Anyway, I am about finished, and
will get this to her. It is a gift to her husband. This
is their first grandchild.

I am glad to be finished, now I can start some of my
own shopping! It is a good feeling to know I helped
make Christmas special for a few. May you have
a blessed one as well.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Final Homes

I finished this painting of the home in San Antonio,
and the 3 copies. And now I have just one child's
portrait left! whew...I know how Santa's elves
feel.

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

Galveston

Just got back from quick trip to Galveston.

Our church held a clothing drive for FBC in

Galveston, and I delivered 50 boxes of

clothes for their "Grace Mart" held today.

They gave out clothing, household items,

and food to the needy and homeless in

town. This is Ray, the pastor. And some

of the volunteers from Americorps, and

the congregation. And those are some of

the happy people we helped! It was great

getting in the real Christmas spirit!

Now it's back to the drawing desk....

Home Sweet Farm

I have been working on this painting of the
farm for a client for Christmas. Will add a
few more details, and then be finished.

I have one more child's portrait to do, and
I have to finish up the San Antonio house
and copies. I am leaving in the morning to
drive to Galveston to take some clothing to
the First Baptist Church there. We did a
clothing drive at our church for them, and
they are having a distribution day this
Saturday. I am pulling a U Haul with 50
boxes of clothes. I will come back sometime Sat
afternoon. I will try to take some pics of the
events and people....should be neat.
You can go to their website and see a list of
some of their needs for the church if you would
like to help: www.fbcgalveston.org

Home on the Farm

This is my last house portrait that I have to
do for Christmas. I have saved it for last
because I was dreading doing it! It is large,
16 x 20, and the rows of crops are killing me!
I will try to get the ink done by tomorrow night,
and then I can paint it.
I still have to finish the ones of the San Antonio
home, but I have to go out of town to get the
copies made, so it will still be several days
before I get them all done. (yes, we live in a
podunk town...and we do not have a Kinko's...)

I heard the neatest thing today about rewarding
patrons who buy our work. One artist includes
some little gift with each piece purchased. for
example, a beach painting could have a small
shell from that beach, etc....or maybe a map with
directions to the location where the artist stood.
Neat idea...I will think about doing some of that.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Home for the Holidays

Another house for a gift...I am making several
copies for the siblings. Will get the copies of
this ink drawing made, and then will paint and
color all of them. This home is in San Antonio,
and a wonderful couple lives there. The husband
was injured in WWII, and is blind. His wife has
stayed devoted to him, and they have had a
great life together. Great role models....

For info on house portraits:
sheltongail@hotmail.com

On to Audrey...

This is Audrey, the grandchild of a good friend

of mine. She is going to give this portrait to her

son, Audrey's father, for Christmas. She wanted

it in color, so I am doing it in colored pencil and

pastel. I should be finished tonight.

for info on children's portraits:

sheltongail@hotmail.com

All through with Lloyd

I finished drawing Lloyd today. Will deliver
this, and start on the next one. I have two
more children's portraits to do, and one more
house portrait. whew....

sheltongail@hotmail.com

In Loving Memory...

I received this photograph from a client that
wants me to draw it in pencil. I believe it is
her father-in-law that passed away recently.
This is a gift, too. Will try to get started
tonight, and have it ready in time.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Lauren

This is the big sister, Lauren, of the other
two children that I have been working on.
The three portraits are a gift from their
mother to their father. And it is a surprise!
I am sure he will be pleased. I hope so.

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