The Eagle has Landed

I have been working on this eagle for awhile.  I stopped to do some
of the artwork for the Lake Charles show.  So, I just now came
back to it and finished it.  The feathers were very tedious, as was
the pine needles.  I decided to blur the background...makes the bird pop
more to the foreground.  This is a commission piece.  The
client gave me the photo of the eagle.  He collects all
kinds of "eagle" things.  I will deliver it to him tomorrow.
Hope he likes it!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

"Birds in Art"...New York Style

I just returned from a trip to New York with a
friend.  Since I love to draw and paint birds, I am always
looking for them.  This eagle is on Grand Central Station.

In the Met, Egyptian carvings of geese

The Egyptian God, Horus, the hawk

In Central Park, at the boathouse, they keep a ledger recording
bird sightings of the day...cool

The Bethesda Fountain in Central Park...with pigeons

"Day"...the rooster on a column in Central Park

"Night"...the owl on the other column

This is my friend and I, reflected in the glass as we
take our own picture!

Seagulls out at the Statue of Liberty

Seagull and the skyline, in the fog

"It's Beginning to look...."

I know it is hard to believe, but Christmas and our
Christmas Open House at the gallery is right around the
corner...  So, here is the first rough sketch of the annual
t-shirt that I design and sell.  I am thinking I want it on
a black shirt this year, with some white lettering to make
it look like chalkboard.  I have run off several copies, and now
I will do some color samples for the printer and see
what I like the best.  Stay tuned....

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Jesus is a Rock

We have an interesting thing going on in our little
town.  A group of people have started painting rocks,
with inspiring sayings or quotes, or just words, and
leaving them on the doorsteps of homes and businesses
all over town.  I heard that it got started by people fed up
with the whole Pokemon craze.  They wanted kids to start
looking for real things instead of virtual things.  Great idea!

While Clara was here last week, we painted a few rocks.  Of
course she loves using paint of any kind!  We painted them
together, and I put the words on.  I put them out tonight at a couple
of businesses in town.  When they are found, you are supposed to
photograph them and post them to a Facebook site, and then
leave them somewhere else, so that they rotate around.
Fun...

sheltongail@hotmail.com

ShowTime in Lake Charles

Had a great time at the Gallery Promenade in Lake Charles
this last Friday night.  The group of ladies traveled with me to
Alaska several years ago, and surprised me!  It was great to see
them.  We had a fairly good crowd, and I made some sales.
Thanks to Bobbi Yancy for this opportunity!

The show will hang until Oct 21

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Looking at Lake Charles

This is the sign at the gallery where my art
is hanging...will share more pics soon.

Downtown Lake Charles is a very "artsy" place.  They have done
a lot of renovation.  Here's one artist's studio.  I will be
visiting this building before I leave!

The famous artist, George Rodrigue, painted his series of
blue dogs.  This is his cafe in downtown.  Haven't had the
chance to go in yet...but I will.

I drove around a little before I left the other day, after hanging the 

show.  The downtown area is really neat.  

The opening on Friday night is part of the Fall Art Promenade...I think 

there are several galleries that will be open at the same time.

Refreshments will be served, and there will be music.  It should be 

a lot of fun.  

I will post some photos from the opening.  

Stay tuned!!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Taking Stock

When I was in Texas recently, I had the chance to go and visit
the Fort Worth Stockyards.  When I left Waco, I drove up to
Ft. Worth, and stopped there for a little while.

It is quite the tourist area now.  I think I remember it as a real
working stockyard when I was growing up.  But some smart people
have obviously capitalized on what a tourist draw this could be, and is
it ever.  I had to circle for about 20 minutes just to find a parking
place.  There was an antique car show going on, there was a live
country western band playing, and lots of dining and shopping to
be done.  You could ride in the old fashioned stagecoach, or get
your photo made on the back of a longhorn.  I missed the
driving of the longhorns down the street...it's at 1 pm,
and again at 4 pm.  Anyway, it's a great place to spend the day,
and I would highly recommend it.

Fort Worth Stockyards
Downtown Ft. Worth


sheltongail@hotmail.com