Artwork, travel, and musings by artist, Gail H. Shelton.
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| This is a new work in progress...a colored pencil drawing of this man working at the Cafe Du Monde down in New Orleans. I took the photo several years ago when I was at the cafe. I had gone inside and saw him washing dishes in the back. I slipped over with my camera, and snapped this shot. I decided to include this in the Lake Charles show. That is if I finish it in time! sheltongail@hotmail.com |
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| Finished this mixed media piece last night, acrylic and watercolor. I photographed the turtles at the zoo, but added the log, etc. I love turtles for some reason. I am not even sure why. Several years ago, I took a swamp tour to take some pics, ant there were a lot of different people on the boat...some Orientals, a few Yankees for NYC, and us. As we rounded a bend in the bayou, there was a log full of turtles. They almost fell out of the boat trying to get a picture and see them.... turtles. I guess we see them all the time, and it is nothing special. funny |
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| And this is one I am just starting...a little heron. Again, I saw him at the zoo. Should finish him up soon. The show in Lake Charles is in September. I'll have to get all these framed and ready....busy, busy!! sheltongail@hotmail.com |
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Two more mixed media pieces finished. These are each from photos that I have taken recently. Both of them are watercolor backgrounds and acrylic paint on the subjects. These have been really fun. I am enjoying working with the acrylic...you can fix the mistakes! With watercolor alone, it has to be right the first time...it is difficult to fix or change without being able to tell. The acrylic is similar to oil..you can fiddle with it till you like it! I am planning to frame these for the Lake Charles show in September. Pelicans Two $250 Logged On $250 |
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| I finished this watercolor of this pelican. I waited for it to dry, and then removed the masking fluid. Then I tweaked the pelican. Sometimes the fluid removes some of the paint off the paper, and it has to be touched up. I will mat and frame it for the Lake Charles exhibit. Blue Pelican 15 x 22 $250 |
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Yesterday, I had to travel to Shreveport, Louisiana. It is a long two hour drive through farmland, bayous, and rivers. Just north of Natchitoches, I spotted a large bird flying toward me across a field. I knew it was too large to be an egret. A heron perhaps? But the white feathers finally made my heart stop! It was a whooping crane...fully grown and magnificent, gliding toward the Bayou Pierre. Wow! That probably doesn't mean much to most people. When I was growing up, these birds were on the brink of extinction. There were only a few left in the wild. There was one at the San Antonio Zoo named Rosie, and I can remember going to see her. We knew it might be the last one we ever saw. Several years ago, I had the privilege of visiting down at White Lake, where Louisiana is trying to re-introduce the breed into the area. It is a complex program, involving importing the chicks from up East where there is an active breeding program, and caring for them in the marsh until they are old enough to be released. The workers dress like whooping cranes to go into their enclosure, so that they do not become familiar with humans. They are kept in a netted area until they can fly, and they continue to monitor them. They have had mixed results. Many have been killed by animals, cars, and a few have even been shot! Ahhh! But they are making a slow comeback. And yesterday proved that! I am sure this bird I saw was one of theirs, and that he was banded and tracked. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to see them often and it be an everyday experience! Good luck beautiful birds! sheltongail@hotmail.com These are photos I took down at White Lake. |
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| Been working on this pelican painting. First step is to paint the pelican in detail on the dry paper. Then I covered him in the masking fluid. That has to dry completely. When dry, I wet the paper, and added the blue washes in a splashy style. When that is all dry, I will peel off the masking fluid. It is a whole lot like rubber cement. Then I will tweak the pelican if needed....stay tuned!! sheltongail@hotmail.com |
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All three of these pieces are going to competitions in Texas next week. The "Not So Angry Bird" and the "Bike Shadows" are going to Clifton to the Bosque Conservatory show. I just heard today that the "Wrinkle in Time" (the rhino) is going to Irving, Texas for the National Animal Art Exhibition. Both of these shows will be during September. I hope to get to the opening reception in Clifton...don't think I can make the other one. Will have to see. This is all very exciting. I have been very frustrated in the last year or so about my art career, etc. I finally just prayed about it, and told God that I was essentially getting out of the way. I was giving it all over the Him, and if I was supposed to succeed, it would happen. I think some of this may be an answer! To God be the Glory! sheltongail@hotmail.com |
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Added the shrimp boat last night...I kinda like it. It will probably be in the show in Lake Charles soon. "Stormy Day" Mixed Media 21 x 14 $250 |
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| As a bonus for doing the inservice in Lake Charles, I was also booked for a solo show in one of the galleries there. It is coming up quickly in September, about 6 weeks away. It is a medium sized space...about 20-25 works. I decided I needed to do several more Louisiana subjects to be included. I have a lot, but need some new ones too. I did these skies last night, and now will add either a bird, or landscape, or a shrimp boat...haven't decided. I am fascinated by the sky. I have always wanted to do a show of just skies, and call it, "The Skies Have It"...!~ Will post these when I am finished. sheltongail@hotmail.com |
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I heard from Go Ahead Tours recently. They wanted me to write a blog post for their blog. I have done this before for them. They like to hear about their trips, get details and descriptions, and lots of photos. I believe it is a great recruiting tool for them. I finished it last night, and sent lots of photos, and pics of my sketchbook too. Any kind of exposure is good exposure!! They said it would run sometime in early September. Will try to post a link. sheltongail@hotmail.com |
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I had to teach a workshop in Lake Charles today, so on the way back, I did a detour through the wetlands area of the state. I drove all the way to Cameron, which is right on the coast. The photos of the shrimp boats are from Cameron. It is a launching port for them. The bird photos are from a nature preserve that is on Highway 27. Fun day...great time getting to know more parts of Louisiana. sheltongail@hotmail.com |
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Ever since I found out that there is an operating vineyard near us, I have been wanting to go and take photos of the grapes. We grow a few grapes on an arbor in our yard, and I mean "a few". But I wanted to get the chance to see lots of them, and have some shots to choose from. So, yesterday after work, I drove up toward West Monroe, and found Landry Vineyards, on the old Natchitoches highway. It is not a large place, but quite nice. They have a gift shop and tasting room inside, and a large gathering area outside under a covered patio. There were only a few people there..it had been raining off and on all day. I got out and asked permission to go out into the vineyard, and they said yes. It was pretty wet, but I wandered among the vines, searching for the areas that had not yet been harvested. I found quite a few of the dark purple, or almost blue grapes. I don't know anything about them (someone will have to comment and tell me what they are). But I finally did a scripture photo using one of the results. I will do a couple more with a few other scriptures I have been waiting to use till I had some grape photos...yay!! sheltongail@hotmail.com I leave in the morning to go to Lake Charles and do a teacher inservice on colored pencil for 60 Art teachers on Tuesday morning. It will be a blast...and I will try to post the event. |