"Safe Landing"

Just getting started on this egret drawing.  I stalked these birds all last spring,
photographing them at their rookery.  I just love their elegant white feathers
against the dark backgrounds of the swamp.  Still have a long way to go on this
one...will try to post some progress.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

Took a nice Sunday afternoon walk today...enjoying some of
the fall colors around our house.  In this season of thanksgiving,
I am thankful for many things....God and my salvation, family, health,
friends, and home.  I hope you will find time this week to enjoy
where you live...and thank God for His many blessings.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

A Birthday Book

I can show you all of this now...I have been working off and on
on this little book for my grandchild, Clara.  It was a gift for her
first birthday, and it chronicles her whole first year, in sketches, watercolors,
and photos.  I just finished it all up with her party in it, and now
it will go to her house!  She is not really ready to enjoy it just yet, but
someday, hopefully she will like reading and seeing pictures of what she
did her first year.  It was a secret, so I didn't want to post anything my
daughter might see.  She was tickled to see the book, and will
treasure it.  So fun.......

sheltongail@hotmail.com

The Art of the Birthday

Had a great weekend celebrating my little grand daughter's
first birthday.  My daughter did all the decorating, and di a great
job.  Family and friends came by and everyone enjoyed
cupcakes, including Clara!  fun times..

sheltongail@hotmail.com

LAEA Louisiana Art Educators Association-Part Two

More collages from the workshop today.  We were at Menard High School
this afternoon, and got to work in Mrs. Barbara Clover's wonderful art room.

This is the mixed media piece that I donated for the Silent Auction,
and this is the winning bidder! Congrats!

Here I am speaking to the group at the luncheon today.  I talked
about "creativity" and demonstrating it to our students.  

Had a great time at the LAEA Convention.  This is a wonderful organization;
there were art educators from all fields, and from all over the state.  It is
a joy to teach other art teachers...they catch on quickly, and are very motivated.
I enjoyed sharing with them, and I hope they all learned something they can
take back to their schools and colleges.

The Alexandria Museum of Art hosted several of the events, and they did a
lovely job as well.  It is a fine facility, and you should plan to visit
in the near future.  My exhibit of colored pencil drawings will be up
another week, and the work of New Orleans artist Michaelopoulos will be up
till November 22.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Louisiana Artists...Meeting at LAEA Convention

We are having a blast at the LAEA annual convention in Alexandria, LA
this weekend.  Last night was our first workshop with 23 fine
women art teachers signed up!  I am doing mixed media
canvases with them, and as you can see, they ran with it!  They
were so creative with the supplies, and they even inspired me.  They
were able to do so much with just a few supplies, and generate fine
works of art.

Today we have another workshop, and I have to speak at the luncheon.
I am getting ready now for another great day, surrounded by other creative minds
and personalities...too much fun!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Lots to Do!

I have to teach some workshops this weekend.  It will be a
mixed media collage class.  I am doing a couple of examples.
I am trying this gel medium to add some texture.

This is some of the elements I am going to work with.
Will try to post when I am finished.

And this is what I have spending most of my time doing...getting
all the Christmas out at the shop.  I love this look....the Christmas
garden.  Lots of birds, white flowers, and angels...pretty.

And here are some of my painted canvases, and some produced ones. 

And here's some cute Christmas dishes, table runners, some more signs,
and cute burlap trees.

I will have a busy week!  This weekend, I am the guest artist for the LAEA
convention....teaching workshops and giving an address.  Should be lots
of fun.  When I get home on Sunday, we have just a few days left to get
everything done for Thursday night...the downtown Christmas Open House.
The hours are from 5-9, and lots of shops will be participating.  And I hear
the weather it is going to be cold!  And that makes people ready to
shop!!  Hope to see you there.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

House Plans

Amy has been a good customer!  And she moves alot!  I have done
about 5 houses for her in the past, and now I just finished this one.
It is a beautiful home.  She sent me lots of pics to work from.  It is located
in Arkansas.  I included the pen and ink drawing that gets
done before the watercolor goes on.  I really like just the drawing
myself.  Anyway, this will ship out as soon as I receive payment, and
Amy will have another house to hang on her wall!

For info on House Portraits:
sheltongail@hotmail.com