Break

I am in New Orleans, visiting family and
friends. Will post some interesting photos of
some of the creatures in the French Quarter
for Voodoo Fest and Halloween....oooooh

Happy Halloween!

Just some ghouls and goblins from the Pea Patch (with

spiders on our heads) and Pharmacy Services (my husband

as Billy the Exterminator) If you don't know who Billy is,

go to Vexcon.com and try to watch an episode. You won't

forget him....I promise.

Hope you and yours all had a safe and happy Halloween.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

"Sugar"

This is "Sugar". I believe this drawing is going to be a
Christmas gift, and will be special because "Sugar" is no
longer with the family. My daughter and son in law just
got a boxer puppy, and I have always heard that they are
very good dogs. "Sugar" looks like she was very loved,
and was very sweet. I hope the drawing will be a treasured
keepsake.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

In the Spirit of Fruit

I received my latest copy of "Southwest Art" magazine,

and was delighted to see some colored pencil in the spotlight.

They sponsored an art contest for those over 31 years old,

and Cecile Baird won first place with her drawing: "Anyway

You Slice It". I also posted a photo of one of her other

outstanding pieces, "Juicy Fruit". I have had the pleasure

of seeing her work in person during several Colored Pencil

juried shows across the nation. I saw the banana piece just

recently during the CPSA convention show in California last

August. It was exquisite. As a colored pencil artist myself,

I am thoroughly impressed and appreciative of her skill and

expertise. I am so glad she won this honor, and I wish her

all the best.

www.cecilebairdart.com

I am continuing to work on the dog portrait, and will post

when finished. I thought you would enjoy seeing this other

wonderful work.

sheltongail@hotmail.com
For info on Pet Portraits: email me or call the

gallery: Pea Patch Gallery 318-628-3560

Boxers and Books

I am a Signature Member of the Colored Pencil Society

of America. That doesn't mean anything to most of you,

but I was very proud when I achieved that honor. And

that is the front of the new book just released that features

one work by each of us in that group. My piece, "Girl's Day

Out" is included in the book, and it was so neat to see it

there. I think you can order the book from Amazon. It

contains some really impressive work.

And that is the progress I have made on the boxer tonight.

I haven't worked on it long..I snuck away for a break at the

movies. "Secretariat" is a real treat, very inspirational and

uplifting. It is very well done artistically, too, from the acting

to the cinematography. Go see it, you will enjoy it.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Dog Day Monday

It is time to start on all the commissions I have to do before

Christmas for lots of clients. This one has to be finished by

November 10th, so it is the first one out of the gate. Her

beautiful expression makes me smile as I am studying her

features and trying to capture them on the paper.

I mentioned that I was waiting on some supplies. I get most

of what I use online at Cheap Joe's. I have used them for

years, and they have great service and reasonable prices. If

you are an artist and need something delivered to your door,

they are a great way to go. They also offer many workshops

in all kinds of media at their facility in North Carolina (I think).

Look them up if you are interested. www.cheapjoes.com

A Walk in the Woods

I love to go for a walk on Sunday afternoons, and

my three cats always want to go too. We walked

through lots of leaves today...crunchy and dry. There

were countless shades of brown, and one black cat.

"In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will

direct your path." Proverbs 3:6

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Grin and Bear It

Still working on a few bears for the Royal Sonesta

Teddy Bear Tea. You can go to their website and

find some info on it. It would be a real special thing

to do with a daughter, niece, or granddaughter.

I hope they will like something here...they are

supposed to look at them tomorrow. Will keep

my fingers crossed.

sheltongail@hotmail.com
www.royalsonesta.com

Falling for You

I realized I had not selected anything to give away this month.

So, here is a photograph that I felt was fitting for an autumn

giveaway. I took this while in Costa Rica, and those leaves had

fallen into a small creek. They were huge, at least 12 inches long,

and they were beautifully arranged by nature. The photograph

is double matted to an 11 x 14 standard size. I will draw a name

from the list of followers at the end of the month. Sign up and

you could win!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Barely a Sketch

I got a call today from a client I do some business with in New Orleans. He

needs a bear design to use with a promotion that the Royal Sonesta Hotel is

doing. Every Christmas, they have a "Teddy Bear" Tea at the hotel for little

girls and their moms. They want something they can use for an ornament,

stationary, etc. Anyway, not a problem, except they want it Monday...this

Monday! So, I am not asleep, I am drawing bears! I am thinking all -over

wallpaper type designs with various symbols or themes: teacup, fleur de lis,

and that's as far as I have gotten. Maybe I will sleep on it...

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Stained Glass Class

When I was in college, I took a stained glass class, and made several windows and pieces for myself and my family. I really enjoyed it, and most of those pieces are still around. I also taught this unit to my high school classes over the years. But since I retired 8 (yes, 8) years ago, I haven't picked up a glass cutter at all.

Our high school started a program a couple of years ago called "Senior Project". I believe it is a national program. Basically, the student must decide to learn some skill, or shadow some professional in order to learn something new that they know nothing about. They must complete a project with the mentor's help, and write a paper describing their journey. I have participated the last two years, teaching beginning drawing to two young students; one completing a self portrait, and the other, a portrait of his home. This year I have just been approached by a young lady who would like to learn how to do stained glass. I told her I would love to. She will have to do the majority of the work however! because my arthritic hands are just not what they used to be. I know I can't push down on the glass cutter anymore...but I believe I can show her how. Anyway, we will give it a try in the spring. I will have to dust off my skills, and get prepared.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Dog Days of Autumn

I mentioned that I have some dog portraits to do

for Christmas gifts for some clients. Aren't these

adorable? I have to draw one each of the two, and

then draw one with them together. I am still

waiting on my supplies (oh, the joy of living in a

small town!). But I will start on them soon.

The dog photo postcard I picked up years ago at

a festival. I loved the layout and the unique pics.

The artist did pet photography, and would come to

you. He also donated some of his proceeds to a local

animal welfare organization. Lucky dogs!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Pet Portraits starting at $100

email me for details

Go Green- Olive green

LCI Paper has some really neat paper products: blank

cards, stationary, etc. I ordered these 5 x 5 note cards

and I have been enjoying doing some different card

designs on them. These are some original little watercolor

paintings of some olive trees that I saw in Greece. I

punched out the lacy border with a Martha Stewart

scrap booking tool. I used some pen and ink for details

and lettering.

I had the nicest treat today. One of my favorite students,

John Nichols, came by the gallery today with his 13 yr old

daughter (he graduated in 87).

He wanted to show her some of my work, and

inquire about some art lessons. They made their way around

the whole building, and I could hear him describing and

explaining to her all he still knew about art, techniques,

design, and subject matter. It was so special. John was one

of the most talented artists I ever taught, and he went on

to major in art at LSU. He was also an outstanding athlete,

and still holds state records in the discus throw. But today,

he was a warm and devoted daddy, sharing his love for art

with his only daughter. I look forward to teaching her, and

sharing some of that love I have also with her.

A great day to be an artist...

sheltongail@hotmail.com

www.lcipaper.com

Watercolor Trio

These are three little Greek watercolor greeting

cards. They are drawn with a waterproof pen, and

then painted. They are 5 x 7 and come with the

envelope.

I am going to start working on some commission

pieces that I have to do for Christmas. I have 3

dogs, a grandpa, a toddler girl, and a couple of

teen girls to do. I am waiting on some supplies to come

in, and then I will get started. Should keep me busy

for a couple of weeks. If you are considering a

commission piece, you need to contact me asap!

I am sneaking away to Yellowstone for a couple of

days to take some pics and spend some time with

an old high school friend who is a photographer as well.

I am looking forward to it..it is my first trip to the

park. I do plan to go again sometime, and stay longer.

This trip will give me a chance to learn the ropes, so

when I go back, I will be prepared. I am going early

in November, and will be back in plenty of time for

our downtown Open House!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Greece Watercolor Note cards $5.00 each

Preview

Here are a few pics of what we have done so

far up in the gallery. The top pics are of some

of the jewelry that is for sale..some I bought in

Greece and in Turkey. The beautiful gold, pearl

and turquoise pendant was purchased in the

Turkish bazaar. The cord is braided silk, and

there are some small gold coin earrings that

go with it. The other pieces are assorted glass

beads and silver.

The tote bag with the tree design came from a

company called Handmade Expressions. It is

one of those "free trade" organizations that helps

women in villages all over the world sell their

handmade items. I bought some scarves and

several different kinds of bags from them to

add to the exhibit. They are kind of "boho chic"

and go well with all the other artwork. (and I

like helping those women out)

The artwork is scattered around. I will probably

move some of the pieces some, but at least it is

all up in the gallery area! should be ready by the

end of the week...woohoo!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Variations on a Theme

Two versions of the same column photograph from

the Acropolis in Athens...both are on cards. the

computer and Photoshop make all this a lot of fun.

I am almost through hanging the Greece show.

I still have to set up a few more things, but we are

close. It really looks good, I am pleased. (and I

rarely am!...) We still have to put up Christmas

trees with the Greek ornaments, etc., but we

will wait till after Halloween to do that. too many

holidays clashing...

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Smile, it's Friday!

One of the many things I do during a busy

week is teaching a beginner drawing class to

some young students in town. One of them

is learning to draw with pastels. This week

we just had some fun, and drew some cartoon

animals and colored them with the chalk. These

are two of my examples that I did for her.

I can remember taking a drawing class at the

YMCA when I was about 10, and we learned to

draw some animals. I loved it then, and I still

do! I hope they make you smile.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Declaration

This was one of my favorite photos from the Greece

trip. We were staying in a hotel right on the beach,

and this was the scene right across from us to the

west. We were there two nights and the sunset was

awesome both evenings. I was reminded of the

beautiful sunsets I witnessed in Costa Rica; we also

stayed on the west coast there.

I started hanging some more of the Greece work

today, and the show is taking shape.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Ephesus Presentation

In Sunday school we are studying Ephesians,

and I am doing a presentation this week with

photographs from the ancient city. I spent

tonight getting them together in a Power

Point. It will be fun to share them with the

class, and I enjoyed revisiting them as I selected

ones to use.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Tri-Olives

If you know what a triptych is, then this post is for

you! Here are 2 that I have finished with olive designs

on them. They are on 12 x 12 canvases, gessoed, stained,

and painted with acrylic. The top set has some collaged

Greek relief sculpture print across the bottom. I added

the word "olive" in Italian, English, and Greek. too

much fun.. They will go in the licensing file...maybe you

will see them in a store near you soon! The originals

will be for sale during the Greek art show.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Greek Olive Triptych $150.00