Life is in the Details

Took a nature walk today....to see the signs of spring!

This is my wisteria....poised to bust open any minute with big
beautiful purple blooms

This tree is starting to do something...with these neat little tassels...
very oriental

This is a scary face in a tree!!

This is a fern that was nipped by the very late
freeze we had recently

And this is yellow jasmine...it grows wild in the woods around
my home.  And it is full bloom all over the place.  I love
the color yellow...it is a "happy" color.

Many of these photos are the small things....tiny details
that you have to really look for to be able to notice.
I love doing that.  It is like a treasure hunt, which I used to
do with my parents.  We would go for walks, and try to
find "treasures"...whether we were at the beach, or the
lake, or just out in the country.  It might be a piece of a
shell, or a pretty rock, or a turkey feather (which I found
today).  They taught me to be observant, and to notice the
fascinating details found in nature all around us.  And it can
be a time of gratitude and appreciation for all that God
has blessed us with all around us.

It is also a skill that is useful as an artist.  A lot of my work
involves detailed work just like these photos.  I hope that you
enjoy all of it!  Thanks for your support!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Advent of Spring

I have made a little progress on this drawing.  I just have the last little
right hand corner to do.  It has been fun trying to make the background
look out of focus.  (That is how I see without my glasses on!) 
I will continue to tweak a bit...going back and tightening up details, and
adjusting values.

These are some wild pear trees that are blooming near the house
as well.  They are almost bloomed out...these are the last little petals
hanging on.

Welcome Spring....we have been waiting for you! 
We have had some gorgeous weather this week...
I am so grateful. I am sure we will have
some more cool weather,
but I am enjoying it for now!

You can still leave me a comment to be entered in the
free giveaway of the cardinal drawing.  I will pick a
winner from the comments at the end of the
month.  If you can't get the comment section to work,
just email me, and I will enter your name.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

On the Other Side

I did get a chance to do a little drawing this weekend.  This is
progressing slowly...I get lost in the details!

I added a little bit more dark background, and tweaked the
blossoms some...adding some darker values and details. 
This tree is out my front door, and this year the blooms were
stunning.  In fact, all of the pear trees all over town have been prettier
this year than anyone can remember.  They say it is because of the extremely
cold winter we have had.  That is probably true.  Sometimes we get to
experience real beauty only after we have gone through real
adversity.  Amen.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Brand New Baby Sign

Sign of the Times: 

 I finished this little canvas tonight as a gift,
ordered by a customer as a baby gift.  The bedding has lots of pink
checks and gingham.  They are also using some lime green and teal.
So, I hope the sign is a hit!

And if you would like something similar, just let me know.  I can do names,
words, sayings, etc. on canvas or wood.  Prices are reasonable.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

318-628-3560

Pea Patch Pig

Pigs on Parade

It's time for the Hog Dog trials again!  And I got some GREAT help today
painting my pig.  My students agreed to paint it today, and they had
so much fun.  It is going to be "Pea Patch Pig...with the letter
"P" and a patch of fabric.  So, that's what they painted today....just the
letter and the patch.  I will come back and add the finishing details.

The tutu pig was finished today, and is "Hog Wild".  There will be many
more finished this week...will try to keep posting.

(For those of you not familiar with this tradition:  Our little town hosts the largest
hog dog competition in the world every March.  Hunters with dogs come from
everywhere, and enter their dogs in a hog baying contest, where they must
keep the wild hog pinned in the corner, etc. The businesses paint these concrete
hogs downtown to help celebrate...just for fun)

sheltongail@hotmail,com 

This Bud's for You

Managed to get out in the yard last weekend...still no sunshine,
but a few flowers peeking out.  These yellow jonquils are always the
first to bloom. This would make a great watercolor.



Tulip magnolia and friend

Paper whites...charming

More jonquils or daffodils, and a free-loader

And this is my Bradford pear tree...always beautiful in the
Spring.  It is just budding out, and the bees are already hard
at work.

I started drawing this one....may take me awhile!  Just getting
started...working on color combinations.  There will be many
more layers, details, and some blending with the solvent. 
More to come....

sheltongail@hotmail.com

If you haven't left me a comment on this blog for the giveaway
this March, it is not too late.  Just leave a comment, and I will put your
name in the hat.  Thanks!

Blog Give Away- Original Colored Pencil Drawing

Blog GiveAway

I managed to get these matted and framed this weekend.  The
pelican is framed in a black wooden molding, with a tan mat,
dark green liner, and linen inner liner.  It is 35'' x 18'' and  for sale.

And the cardinal is just matted with a red liner and linen mat.  It is also
narrow...27" by 17".  I think I will give it away!  I just posted it as my
cover photo on Facebook.  I haven't given anything away in a long time.
If you will leave me a comment, I will put everyone's name in a
hat, and draw a winner.  I will draw at the end of March...a whole month.
Go ahead...I usually have only a few leave comments, so you
have a good chance at winning!!

"Pelican Peace"  Original Colored Pencil  Framed $250
"Waiting for Spring"  Original Colored Pencil of Cardinal
FREE!  Leave me a comment!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

A Sign of the Times

I have been working on this sign, and getting the
lettering done.  This is the third one of these I have made! 
It is about 24 x 30, made of recycled weathered barn wood.
I used acrylic paint, and now I am going to "antique"  it with
some thinned wood stain, that will darken it a little
and seal it.  The customer said she wants it for a focal
point in her living area.  Hope she is happy!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Coffee Anyone?

Here I go again...painting one of these Community Coffee signs.
 

The customer saw it on this blog, and ordered one. 

I assembled the weathered boards, which I cut with a jigsaw.
I connected them on the back with brackets, and then added
a Masonite backing.  I started painting it tonight, and
will continue to work on the letters this week.  I should
be finished in a couple of days.

For info of signs, etc:
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Have Wok, Will Travel "A Taste of China"

Saturday night it was time again for great food and a gallery talk.
We hosted our 4th dinner party, "A Taste of China".  My son
in law agreed to come and do the cooking, and prepared
a wonderful Chinese meal for our guests. 
This is Buddha's Delight...a mix of Chinese vegetables in
a delicious sauce.

This was our dessert, prepared by my daughter.  A Ginger Lychee sorbet..
cool and sweet.

This was our beef course...stir fried and yummy.

And here is Pete, explaining his ingredients and techniques
to our diners.

During my gallery talk, I shared the original photo of this
fisherman, as well as this drawing of him.  It was everyone's
favorite.

This is Lemon Shrimp...in the wok...sizzling away.

And the shrimp...all ready to be served.

We had a great time sharing our talents in the kitchen and
the easel with our guests on Saturday.  I am traveling to
the Galapagos Islands this summer, and our event
next year will have an island theme.  Let us know if you
would like to be included.  Can't wait!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

The Faces of YACA

I was asked to come and help judge the art show at the
annual YACA state convention.  YACA stands for "Youth
Art Council of America."  When I was teaching, my students
participated in this organization.  It is a wonderful opportunity for the
art students and teachers.  The convention offers workshops, competitions,
and lots of interaction between the students.

These are some of my favorites from the show today.  It is always
hard to judge...especially when you don't know the origin of the piece,
and how much the teacher helped the student.  I hope that some
of my choices pleased the teachers, as well as the students.  

sheltongail@hotmail.com

A Little of This, A Little of That

This is a watercolor sketch for the Market Fest poster this year.
They will let me know if this is something they would like.

And I finished this drawing of this peaceful pelican.  It is
all colored pencil on watercolor paper.

And this is the ice we got here in the South...not much.
The roads are fairly dry, and we were able to drive into work.

It has been really cold this winter, here in Louisiana.  We are
not used to snow and ice at all.  And this is the third time we have
had some winter precipitation.  Our school children have missed
several days that they will have to make up later! 
It's pretty...but sure does cause a lot of problems!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Red Pop of Color

I think I am finished with this drawing.  I added some
colorful pastel strokes throughout, adding some interest.
Now that I look at it on the screen, it could use even more!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Red Spot

I have been working on this little bird drawing.  I took some
pics of these cardinals in my back yard during the
recent snow and ice.  This is a crepe myrtle tree, with
it's little brown seed pods still on some of the branches.
I am not finished with it..it still needs some "pizazz".  I
may add some other mediums to it...some pastels or some watercolor.

sheltongail@hotmail.com