Saturday, January 31, 2009

A Day at the Lake







There is a lake outside of my little town called
Saline Lake. It is located in the Kisatchie
National Forest about 20 miles west of town.
It was a beautiful day today, and I decided to
drive out there after work today. I was able to
take some rather nice photos late this afternoon
of the trees, water, moss, and sky. Most of the
trees are cypress and the moss is known as
"spanish moss". This is your typical "Louisiana"
scene, and I have lots of people ask me if I ever
paint scenes like this. I really don't...because there
are plenty of people who do. But I really like these
photos...may print up some of them.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

buzzard blues

Still considering subjects for some upcoming shows...I love
this buzzard. I photographed him at the Alexandria zoo
about a year ago. It would make a great drawing.
I did a buzzard in watercolor several years ago, and
entered him in a couple of shows. I titled it "Eye of the
Beholder", meaning that beauty is where you see it.
Anyway, it won "Best in Show" in New Orleans, and
later sold. So, you never know!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Playing Around



These are a couple of photos I took in Charleston, SC a couple of years ago.
I have been playing around with them on the computer, and I like how
they look. I would like to paint or draw them; I have a couple of shows coming
up, and they would make a nice pair of show pieces....will keep
playing with them.


I have been reading a book today by Jean Grastorf called
"Pouring Light: Layering Transparent Watercolor". She has a fascinating
method of pouring the watercolor paint onto her paper. She does very
intricate and complicated subjects, and works the whole composition out
first. And then she masks areas of the painting and pours in layers
of gradual intensity...very different from anything I have ever tried.
I might play around with the technique on these two...keep you posted.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Wings


"Hide me in the shadow of Thy wings."
Let me take refuge in the shelter of
Thy wings."
The writers of Psalms must have been very fond of birds.
I am as well. They are some of my favorite subjects, and I
have photographed them all over the world. Here are two:
a swan, and a flamingo. I thought they were appropriate
for these two scriptures.
I was thinking of wings because of the recent
miraculous plane crash. What an amazing event!
It was such a beautiful metaphor of God's salvation:
all of those people were facing death, and yet they
were saved, and were able to live on the other side of death.
Those of us who are Christians will be able to have
eternal life on the other side of death...I hope this
experience will bring many of those on the flight closer to God.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Gratitude

This is another photo in the Psalm series. I am
planning to hang these in a one-woman show at
Rapides Hospital in Alexandria, LA this May.
The scripture speaks of gratitude: "I will give
thanks to the Lord with all my heart..." This
scripture especially came to mind with the
events of the plane crash in the Hudson River
this week. So many of those survivors were
overcome with the joy of gratitude. I am sure
they will live their lives differently from now on.
I met with my printer today, and we are planning
to print this series soon, so they will be available
for sale in another month or so.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

lots of memories

I am continuing to clean out drawers and closets,
and I came across this photo last night. I am the
little girl, and those are my two older brothers.
I think we are overlooking Lake LBJ, or as it was
called then, Granite Shoals. I know my brothers
could tell me. I don't have any memory of this...
isn't that strange about life? That there is so much
of it that we never remember. Now, I can't even
remember where I put my car keys.
I will start on some artwork soon...kinda taking a
break!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

The Other Painted Building


This is the other watercolored building for the
client who wanted two of the Winnfield landmarks.
This is the original sanctuary of the First Baptist
Church. It was built in the 20's. It has recently
been restored and houses Sunday school space
and Youth areas. It should last long into the new
century.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Collie

I have been working on this drawing of this
collie for a client. A friend paid for the
commission as a Christmas gift, and she
just brought me the photograph of the dog.
Should be finished with it tonight.

for info on pet portraits:
sheltongail@hotmail.cm

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Winnfield Hotel

I had a customer today that wanted some of my
local landmark prints, hand watercolored for
her home. This is a print of the Winnfield Hotel,
that is no longer standing, unfortunately. It was
built around 1922, and was on Main Street in
downtown. I heard tales that it housed many
famous visitors in it's time. It was used in the
filming of the movie, "Blaze" that starred Paul
Newman. I watched them shoot several scenes
in and around this old building. Lots of memories
there for lots of people....
The original drawing is in ink, and this is a hand
watercolored print. I have them for sale in the
shop, where above the front door, hangs the old
clock that was in the Winnfield Hotel's lobby.
cool...

Winnfield Hotel Print $10.00 11 x 14
Watercolored $25.00
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Thursday, January 8, 2009

"The earth is full of the lovingkindness
of the Lord."
Last spring, I was selected to paint in one
of the gardens at the Le Jardin Garden
Tour in Shreveport. At the headquarters
of the tour, there were different dealers
selling various garden related items. One
grower was there with his orchids. They
were beautiful...I am always attracted to
them. I also saw some great ones in Costa
Rica. I do think this flower is full of God's
lovingkindness, and if He cares that much
for a simple flower, how much more must
He care for us.
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Numbering our Days

One of my bible commentaries states that we
should live our lives in such a way that they
will count for eternity, in reference to this verse:

"Teach us to number our days, that we may
present to Thee a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

I have treasured this verse for a long time. I
believe it has a lot to say about appreciating
life and opportunities, about making each day
count, about becoming wise in our relationships.
Making the most of our days, being grateful for
all that God provides and offers us. This would
be a great goal for all of us in this new year.

This photograph was taken in Charleston, South
Carolina when I was there several years ago
with my painting buddies. I loved the houses
there; lots of color, beautiful yards, and lots of
iron work. Such a lovely place.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Lamp and Light

This is a great scripture, and very meaningful
to those of us who study and love the bible.
This is a photograph that I took in Venice on
the main plaza (where you always see all the
pigeons). I've always wanted to do something
with this photo, and I think this works. I like
it in black and white as well. Let me know
what you think.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Monday, January 5, 2009

Scroll Along


Here's another in the Psalm series...but I see

that I left the quotation marks off at the

beginning...I will have to fix that. And list

the Psalm reference. Trying to move too

fast...."be still and know that I am God!"

great words for a new year....

Show Time


The Vet School at LSU sponsors a juried art
show every year: "Animals in Art". I have
entered several times in the past. I had
these two colored pencils on hand, so I am
entering them in this year's show. Maybe
that enchanting monkey will charm the
judge, and the gator is such a "Louisiana"
subject, they will want to include him! I
will keep my fingers crossed.
I took the photograph of the orangutan at
the Memphis zoo. There are only a few
zoos that have them. He had such a noble,
distinguished expression, I just had to draw
him. I photographed the gator at the alligator
farm in Natchitoches, where they keep dozens
of them, and do daily shows for the tourists, etc.
lots of fun....

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Psalm 56

When I was in college, my best friend got the
bright idea that we were all going snow skiing.
We all knew how to water ski, but snow, that
was a whole new game. We saved our money,
and drove to Winter Park, Colorado, and spent
several days learning to ski, and enjoying the
beautiful scenery. One of my friends met this
guy in ski school, who invited us to his condo
for dinner with all his friends. She had to really
twist my arm..and we went. And that is where
I met my future husband! So, this beautiful
photo of the snow in Winter Park means a
great deal to me. I hope it instills peace and
hope in you as well.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Friday, January 2, 2009

Time for Competitions


Happy New Year to all...I hope you are looking
forward to a great year. I have not been doing
any art for the last few days. I have been
cleaning out and getting organized...something
I need to do often, as I tend to get buried under
books, art supplies, photo albums, sketchbooks,
and stuff...I have way too much of it.
And now I am preparing for some competitions
that are on the horizon. I am entering these two
pencil drawings in a juried show nearby in
Alexandria, LA.
I am continuing to work on some scripture
photos...will post soon.

sheltongail@hotmail.com