A Day at the Lake

There is a lake outside of my little town called

Saline Lake. It is located in the Kisatchie

National Forest about 20 miles west of town.

It was a beautiful day today, and I decided to

drive out there after work today. I was able to

take some rather nice photos late this afternoon

of the trees, water, moss, and sky. Most of the

trees are cypress and the moss is known as

"spanish moss". This is your typical "Louisiana"

scene, and I have lots of people ask me if I ever

paint scenes like this. I really don't...because there

are plenty of people who do. But I really like these

photos...may print up some of them.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

buzzard blues

Still considering subjects for some upcoming shows...I love

this buzzard. I photographed him at the Alexandria zoo

about a year ago. It would make a great drawing.

I did a buzzard in watercolor several years ago, and

entered him in a couple of shows. I titled it "Eye of the

Beholder", meaning that beauty is where you see it.

Anyway, it won "Best in Show" in New Orleans, and

later sold. So, you never know!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Playing Around

These are a couple of photos I took in Charleston, SC a couple of years ago.
I have been playing around with them on the computer, and I like how

they look. I would like to paint or draw them; I have a couple of shows coming

up, and they would make a nice pair of show pieces....will keep

playing with them.

I have been reading a book today by Jean Grastorf called

"Pouring Light: Layering Transparent Watercolor". She has a fascinating

method of pouring the watercolor paint onto her paper. She does very

intricate and complicated subjects, and works the whole composition out

first. And then she masks areas of the painting and pours in layers

of gradual intensity...very different from anything I have ever tried.

I might play around with the technique on these two...keep you posted.

Wings

"Hide me in the shadow of Thy wings."

Let me take refuge in the shelter of

Thy wings."

The writers of Psalms must have been very fond of birds.

I am as well. They are some of my favorite subjects, and I

have photographed them all over the world. Here are two:

a swan, and a flamingo. I thought they were appropriate

for these two scriptures.

I was thinking of wings because of the recent

miraculous plane crash. What an amazing event!

It was such a beautiful metaphor of God's salvation:

all of those people were facing death, and yet they

were saved, and were able to live on the other side of death.

Those of us who are Christians will be able to have

eternal life on the other side of death...I hope this

experience will bring many of those on the flight closer to God.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Gratitude

This is another photo in the Psalm series. I am

planning to hang these in a one-woman show at

Rapides Hospital in Alexandria, LA this May.

The scripture speaks of gratitude: "I will give

thanks to the Lord with all my heart..." This

scripture especially came to mind with the

events of the plane crash in the Hudson River

this week. So many of those survivors were

overcome with the joy of gratitude. I am sure

they will live their lives differently from now on.

I met with my printer today, and we are planning

to print this series soon, so they will be available

for sale in another month or so.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

lots of memories

I am continuing to clean out drawers and closets,

and I came across this photo last night. I am the

little girl, and those are my two older brothers.

I think we are overlooking Lake LBJ, or as it was

called then, Granite Shoals. I know my brothers

could tell me. I don't have any memory of this...

isn't that strange about life? That there is so much

of it that we never remember. Now, I can't even

remember where I put my car keys.

I will start on some artwork soon...kinda taking a

break!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

The Other Painted Building

This is the other watercolored building for the

client who wanted two of the Winnfield landmarks.

This is the original sanctuary of the First Baptist

Church. It was built in the 20's. It has recently

been restored and houses Sunday school space

and Youth areas. It should last long into the new

century.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Collie

I have been working on this drawing of this
collie for a client. A friend paid for the
commission as a Christmas gift, and she
just brought me the photograph of the dog.
Should be finished with it tonight.

for info on pet portraits:
sheltongail@hotmail.cm

Winnfield Hotel

I had a customer today that wanted some of my
local landmark prints, hand watercolored for
her home. This is a print of the Winnfield Hotel,
that is no longer standing, unfortunately. It was
built around 1922, and was on Main Street in
downtown. I heard tales that it housed many
famous visitors in it's time. It was used in the
filming of the movie, "Blaze" that starred Paul
Newman. I watched them shoot several scenes
in and around this old building. Lots of memories
there for lots of people....
The original drawing is in ink, and this is a hand
watercolored print. I have them for sale in the
shop, where above the front door, hangs the old
clock that was in the Winnfield Hotel's lobby.
cool...

Winnfield Hotel Print $10.00 11 x 14
Watercolored $25.00
sheltongail@hotmail.com

"The earth is full of the lovingkindness

of the Lord."

Last spring, I was selected to paint in one

of the gardens at the Le Jardin Garden

Tour in Shreveport. At the headquarters

of the tour, there were different dealers

selling various garden related items. One

grower was there with his orchids. They

were beautiful...I am always attracted to

them. I also saw some great ones in Costa

Rica. I do think this flower is full of God's

lovingkindness, and if He cares that much

for a simple flower, how much more must

He care for us.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Numbering our Days

One of my bible commentaries states that we
should live our lives in such a way that they
will count for eternity, in reference to this verse:

"Teach us to number our days, that we may
present to Thee a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

I have treasured this verse for a long time. I
believe it has a lot to say about appreciating
life and opportunities, about making each day
count, about becoming wise in our relationships.
Making the most of our days, being grateful for
all that God provides and offers us. This would
be a great goal for all of us in this new year.

This photograph was taken in Charleston, South
Carolina when I was there several years ago
with my painting buddies. I loved the houses
there; lots of color, beautiful yards, and lots of
iron work. Such a lovely place.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Lamp and Light

This is a great scripture, and very meaningful
to those of us who study and love the bible.
This is a photograph that I took in Venice on
the main plaza (where you always see all the
pigeons). I've always wanted to do something
with this photo, and I think this works. I like
it in black and white as well. Let me know
what you think.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Scroll Along

Here's another in the Psalm series...but I see

that I left the quotation marks off at the

beginning...I will have to fix that. And list

the Psalm reference. Trying to move too

fast...."be still and know that I am God!"

great words for a new year....

Show Time

The Vet School at LSU sponsors a juried art

show every year: "Animals in Art". I have

entered several times in the past. I had

these two colored pencils on hand, so I am

entering them in this year's show. Maybe

that enchanting monkey will charm the

judge, and the gator is such a "Louisiana"

subject, they will want to include him! I

will keep my fingers crossed.

I took the photograph of the orangutan at

the Memphis zoo. There are only a few

zoos that have them. He had such a noble,

distinguished expression, I just had to draw

him. I photographed the gator at the alligator

farm in Natchitoches, where they keep dozens

of them, and do daily shows for the tourists, etc.

lots of fun....

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Psalm 56

When I was in college, my best friend got the
bright idea that we were all going snow skiing.
We all knew how to water ski, but snow, that
was a whole new game. We saved our money,
and drove to Winter Park, Colorado, and spent
several days learning to ski, and enjoying the
beautiful scenery. One of my friends met this
guy in ski school, who invited us to his condo
for dinner with all his friends. She had to really
twist my arm..and we went. And that is where
I met my future husband! So, this beautiful
photo of the snow in Winter Park means a
great deal to me. I hope it instills peace and
hope in you as well.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Time for Competitions

Happy New Year to all...I hope you are looking

forward to a great year. I have not been doing

any art for the last few days. I have been

cleaning out and getting organized...something

I need to do often, as I tend to get buried under

books, art supplies, photo albums, sketchbooks,

and stuff...I have way too much of it.

And now I am preparing for some competitions

that are on the horizon. I am entering these two

pencil drawings in a juried show nearby in

Alexandria, LA.

I am continuing to work on some scripture

photos...will post soon.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

God of Wonders

These golden aspen trees were in the mountains
near Santa Fe, New Mexico. I have been there
several times, and it is one of my favorite places.
This time was in the fall, and we caught the aspens
at their peak. They are a spectacular sight...
painting the hillsides with golden splendor.
Just one more of God's wonders.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Psalm 24

"The earth is the Lord's, and all that it contains;
The world and those who dwell in it.
For He has founded it upon the seas, and established
it upon the waters." Psalm 24

I took this photograph on the beach in San Diego.
I was there in the summer to attend the Colored
Pencil Society Show in Los Angeles, and when it
was over, I spent a few days in San Diego. What
a great city. I thoroughly enjoyed the zoo, the
Coronado Hotel, and the old town shopping area.
I tried to get in the water at the beach, and it
was freezing...too cold for this gulf coast girl.
I did see some seals swimming along the surf one
morning..it wasn't too cold for them!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

A Series of Psalms...

A good friend of mine was in the shop the other
day, and he asked me what I would be doing
next. I told him I had always wanted to do a
series of Psalm texts paired with some of my
photography. So I was playing around tonight
with the first one...that is the historic church
in Taos, New Mexico. And the scripture is
from Psalm 24.
There will be some others soon. I may be
doing them as prints and some as notecards.
Will keep you posted.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

"Monday...Monday...."

I have been working on this little boy FOREVER,
and I am not sure I will ever get the likeness. I
am going to let the client see this one tomorrow, and
see if she is satisfied. I am still working on the other
one, too. That's the great thing about pencil..."erase,
draw, blend....erase, draw......" You can go on and 0n.

We're getting geared up for our Christmas Eve get
together. All of my husband's family comes to our
house, and we eat (this year it is Cajun food), take
family portraits, watch the kids perform a skit or
play, etc, and then open gifts. My husband always
reads the Christmas story, too. I have been in
charge of the skit for years, and we have done some
really good ones. This year, they are playing
Christmas carols on kazoos, and doing Cajun jokes
in between songs. It'll be a hoot.

I hope you and yours all have a wonderful
Christmas together, and celebrate the birth of
our Savior in a grand way. Merry Christmas!

sheltongail@hotmail.com