Journey of the Journal

My friend in San Antonio sent this little journal to

me.  It belongs to a 5th grade student, Jacob, who

lives in California.  It is part of a class assignment

to learn about areas of the US.  The journal is sent

around to people to do a page about their area,

state, outstanding or unusual characteristics, etc.

You are supposed to put in some postcards, and send

one to the class.  And then write a little about your

town and state.  Above are some pages from Oregon,

San Antonio, and mine.  Really cute idea.  I am going

to try to share it with our 5th grade class here.  cool

sheltongail@hotmail.com

I am still giving away a Daddy's Hands print..

leave me a comment. 

And, I am up past 20,000 views on the blog...

very exciting!

Renewable

I took the time tonight to add this scripture

to this photo.  I have really been thinking and

praying about the direction of my art in the

new year.  I would really like to market these

scripture images heavily this next year.  I am

going to go to gift market in Dallas in a couple

of weeks, and I plan to talk to some of the temporary

vendors there about booth rental, etc.  I would like

 to find an artist who is doing what I want to do, and

pick their brain!  I am really interested in selling

prints, prints on canvas, and note cards with a series

of the scripture photos on them.  I would have to look

into wholesale manufacturing, and I have some contacts

in that area.  Anyway, we will see where it all leads.

I will definitely need to renew my strength!

I am still giving away a "Daddy's Hands" print;

leave me a comment, and I will pick the winner this

Sunday, the 1st. 

sheltongail@hotmail.com

"Birrrdy, It's Cold Outside"

I love getting cards at Christmas, and I especially

love ones with original art.  This one is from an

old friend that I grew up with in San Antonio.  We

lived a few blocks from each other, but really got

to be friends in junior high school.  We even sang in

a folk singing group together...of course, she was the

star in the front, playing the guitar...I was the slightly

off key back up singer in the back row!  She went on

to have a great career in music, and is now enjoying

creating art.  She is the award winning country music

singer, Holly Dunn.  You can see more of her artwork,

and can purchase her music on her website: 

www.hollydunn.com   

On the website you can see our

collaboration poster for her "Daddy's Hands" song.  I

drew the illustration, and her hand written lyrics are

beside the drawing.  I also have some of the prints for

sale, if anyone is interested.  In fact, I think I will give

one away.  Post a comment, and I will draw a winning

name from the entries, on January 1st.  Happy New Year!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Daddy's Hand Prints  $25.00 

Gotta Start Somewhere...

Started on this tiger drawing tonight...around

the eye.  It's as good a place to start as any, and

if the eye isn't right...ain't nothing right!  So, here

is the "eye of the tiger"...hope it is good luck for

the Baton Rouge ones.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

"Here Kitty, Kitty.."

All of the LSU fans are very excited about

the upcoming BCS championship game, including

me!  And I am all caught up with my commissions

right now (whew), so I thought I would work on

something just for me.  I took this photo last fall

of Mike, the LSU tiger, taking a dip in the water. 

I have wanted to draw it since then.  I am going to

give it a try.  I need some other pieces for some upcoming

competitions.  And this one would be a good one.

I will keep you posted.  GEAUX Tigers! 

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Christmas Memories

Every year on Christmas Eve, the family gathers

down at our home to enjoy good food and good times.

When all the children were small, I started doing some

kind of skit or play with them.  This is one of the

first ones we did together...the Christmas story.

My daughter played Mary, my nephew Matt was

Joseph, his brother Andrew was a shepherd,

niece Katie, the angel, niece Dottie, the sheep,

and little Caroline held the sign for us.

I read the story from the book of Luke, and they

acted out their roles, quite splendidly for the rest

of the family audience. 

I hope you were able to make some great Christmas

memories with you and yours this holiday season.

May God richly bless us all in the new year.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

"In My Little Town"

When I was doing my student teaching (I won't

mention the year!), I had a student named Randy

Fenoli.  He was quite the artist...very creative

and bright.  I taught him to use watercolors that

semester, and we had a lot of fun.

Fast forward to 2011...Randy is the star of "Say

Yes to the Dress" on TLC, and the author of a

new book, "It's All About the Dress".  He has been

an accomplished wedding dress designer for

years, and currently lives in NYC.  He was in

Winnfield today, though, for a book signing

where he graduated from high school.  Many of

his old teachers were there, and lots of family and

friends.  It was a delight to get to see him (we have

seen each other a few other times over the years).

He signed a couple of books for me, and promised to

never forget where he comes from.  amen

sheltongail@hotmail.com

"It's All About the Dress"  Randy Fenoli

Available at most major bookstores and

Amazon.com

Christmas in New Orleans

 My daughter and I down in New Orleans earlier

this month.

 We wanted to be sure and go by the Roosevelt

Hotel downtown to see their decorations in the

lobby.  It is a tradition in the city, and there were

lots of families there taking pictures, etc.

 This is a gingerbread city...with New Orleans

landmarks, and Santa pulled by alligators...too cute

Another view of the lobby of the hotel...

beautiful.

I have been enjoying seeing some of the

"tacky Christmas lights" blogs and reports

on TV, and it made me remember that I

had taken these pics earlier this month.  These

would be in the "classy and elegant" catagory!

If you are near New Orleans in the next few

days, go by and see them yourself....wonderful.

I hope you are enjoying the sights and sounds of

the season where you are.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

On the Down Hill Slide

I am closer to getting these portraits finished,

and I am sure the client will be glad to get

them by Christmas.  I will be glad to!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Next!

This one is on the drawing board tonight...

will post some progress as I go.

(you can tell she is the sister to

the boy from yesterday's drawing...)

sheltongail@hotmail.com

pencil progress

I made some progress tonight on this drawing..
will tweak a little, and finish it up!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Next Portrait

I have three more pencil portraits to do.

The customer did not necessarily want them

by Christmas (whew).  I am starting on this

cute little boy tonight and will post some

progress.

Tigers Times Two

I added this text to these tiger photos, and

they will be for sale at the shop.  Our WSHS

tigers and our LSU tigers have both done

really well this year.  If you want a player's

name or number, or some other custom

lettering, I can do that too.  Go Tigers!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Decorated Invitations

I worked on decorating this wedding invitation

tonight.  It is a gift for the bride from a customer,

and I needed to finish it so I can try to get it

framed before the wedding (Dec 31st).  I used some

pen and ink and some colored pencils to add some

ivy and swirls. 

I heard from the Barnwell Art Center in Shreveport

this week, and they are interested in hanging my

Louisiana show in their gallery in late January and

February.  I told them I would be happy to!  They

have to approve the work and the board has to vote.

I sent some images today, and should hear from them

soon.  I'm excited!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

http://www.barnwellcenter.com/

All Kinds of Art in the Store

 We have been REALLY busy at the gallery...

that is a good problem to have!  Shoppers are

getting serious about putting something under

the tree...here are some more ideas.  This is a

painted metal grouping by Round Top Collections.

It is called "Woodland Santa"...with the adorable

woodland creatures gathered around him.  This

group would look great on a porch or patio, or

inside the front door.

 Here is that finished photo collage on canvas that

I did of the plantation homes and oak trees.  It looks

good with the metal scroll panels on each side...cool

 I do alot of custom framing for customers.  One brought

in this George Rodrigue print of Drew Brees and the Blue

Dog for me to frame, and here is the finished product.

 I still have a few of my Christmas t-shirts left..just

a few, mostly XL.  They are $25, and really cute!

And some of you probably watched as I worked on

this pencil portrait of a little girl named Molly.  Here

it is framed before I delivered to the owner's home

and hung it on the wall...Merry Christmas! 

We have lots of gifts and goodies all through the

store, and we would be more than happy to help

you select something special this year. 

Pea Patch Gallery 

109 S. Abel  Winnfield, LA

71483   318-628-3560

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Streetcars, Homes, and an Ostrich

 The famous St. Charles streetcar decked out for

Christmas...and full of tourists!

 One of the homes on the New Orleans Christmas

Tour was owned by some real animal lovers.  This

young ostrich belonged to them, and it was loose in

the backyard!  She and I got to know each other...

and she gave me a little nibble on my hand...ouch.

These are some of the exteriors of the homes.

We could not take any photos inside.  All of the

homes were at least 100 years old.  They were

amazing, and really put us in the Christmas spirit.

Touring New Orleans at Christmas

I am still down in New Orleans, and today, my daughter

and I went on the Garden District Christmas Tour of Homes.

It was lovely, and each home was very unique.  (I will post

some more pics when I get home tomorrow...).

A Day at the Dome

Our high school football team has made it into the 

State Final, to be played this morning in the Superdome 

in New Orleans!  They are very excited, and I know it is 

a dream come true for most of them.  The last time the 

team was there was 1982, and I was there to cheer that 

team on.  The coolest thing is that there will be members 

and coaches of that team there today to cheer this 2011 

version on!  We are just proud that they made it this far.

Go Winnfield! 

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Girls Times Two

I am going to finish this portrait for this client

before Christmas.  I am continuing to add some

shading and details a little at a time (in between

working fulltime at the gallery, Christmas shopping,

cooking, going to football games out of town!!)

Anyway, enough excuses...I just need to sit down

and draw.  more tomorrow!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

One of a Kind Jewelry

www.dphjewelry.com

I had the pleasure of meeting a gentleman on the plane

to Alexandria the other day.  His wife designs and makes

one of a kind jewelry pieces.  I told him I was very interested,

and he gave me her website (see above).  I really like these...

he said she uses vintage and antique amulets, discs, etc and

strings them with various old and new beads to create some

really unique pieces.  You can check them out on her website,

and you may find a really special gift this Christmas!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Mentor-Final Project

I mentioned that I was participating in the

Senior Project again this semester (I serve

as a mentor to a high school senior to teach

them a subject they know nothing about).

Emily has been learning photography with me

this fall.  It is time to turn in her final project,

and I am printing two of her images for her to

mat and use for her presentation.  I love the horse

and boy image.  She did both of these on her own

time, and then used Photoshop to alter and enhance

them.  I think she did a great job.  Congrats Emily!

I am sure you will get an A (if you don't, let me know...

I may be able to talk to your teacher!!)

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Gameday Animals

 This is the Georgia Dome....where the Tigers played

the Bulldogs....

 There were some monkeys in the audience, too....

 ...and a honey badger doing his thing...

...and a concerned Tiger (just during the first half),

looking on from the sidelines.  Just a bunch of animals

everywhere I looked!!

I was happy to hear that the Winnfield Tigers won

their game as well, and are heading to the SuperDome

to play this Saturday for the State Championship..

congrats to them too!  It must be the "year of the tiger"

...little tigers and big tigers!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

What a Zoo!

Lions, and Tigers and Bears, oh my!

I spent an amazing weekend in

Atlanta, Georgia, cheering on

the LSU Tigers to their victory

over the Georgia Bulldogs...it

was a nerve-wracking ride!

On Sunday, we were able to unwind

a little at the Atlanta zoo,

watching some of the amazing

animals there.  They are one

of the zoos in the nation that

house Panda bears..and these

were more than happy to pose for the

camera.  The lions were majestic

and reminded me of the "Lion King"

movie, perched up on this rock.

And then there were the Siberian

tiger cubs...I had never seen any

young tigers before.  They are

twins, a girl and a boy, and they

are 6 months old.  They played, and

ran, and tackled each other just like

the LSU tigers! It was a joy to

watch them all.

sheltongail@hotmail.com