Characters in NYC

An artist in Central Park....sketching a customer.
(this is very hard to do!)

This man was outside Wall Street, near a statue of George
Washington.  He was playing patriotic music.

And this character was also in Central Park.
In fact, I saw several people dressed like this...must
be a franchise!

I guess there are lots of characters in every
big city (small ones too!).  We came
across several of them during our weekend
trip to NYC.  The painter was in the park, and
was doing a pretty good job of sketching. 
The flutist was very talented as well...he was
playing things like, "Our Country Tis of Thee".
And the "Statue" was on hand to take photos with
you.  I can't imagine spending all day in that
costume, but I bet it was profitable.  So at least all of
these "talented" people were finding a way to use
their talents where they live...bravo!!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

A New York Minute

I just spent a few days in New York City, celebrating our
August birthdays with my daughter and some of our friends.  But
I always have my camera along, and I couldn't help but take a few pics!
The lantern was on a building on 5th Avenue; the bicycles are part of the
cities' effort to get people riding; Grand Central Station; and the last one
is a monument in the American Express building in memory of
the employees they lost in 9/11.  The large crystal hangs from the ceiling,
and perpetual tears fall into the water.  Their names are engraved
along the edge.  It was very moving. 

A couple of our friends had never been to NYC before, so we
enjoyed showing them all the "touristy" sites.  Everyone had a great time.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Long Sleeves

Made a little more progress today.  These dancers had long beautiful
sleeves on their costumes.  You didn't really see their hands...they just
moved, and swirled the scarf-like sleeves that made patterns and shapes
all across the stage.  Awesome.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Work in Progress: Dancer

Making a little progress on this drawing.  The satin fabric
is very challenging.  I am still tweaking it a little.
I started on the background, just layering in some soft color,
just to take a break from the tedious part!  I will start on
her sleeve, and the rest will be easy!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Gratitude

While in China, there was no evidence of God anywhere.
I left my Bible and my cross at home. I was afraid they might be confiscated
at the airport, so I did without them.  As an officially "atheist" country,
I felt a real void there.  While visiting the Buddhist temples,
I was overcome with a deep sadness for the worshippers.  They were
there, burning their incense before the statue, whispering prayers
to a wooden idol, totally powerless to help them.  They were paying
money to the monks to write their prayer requests on the ribbons that they tied
everywhere. And they were folding paper into "heavenly money" that they
burned in order to send it to their ancestors in the afterlife.  And when I
asked our guide what he believed happened to us when we die, he said that
he believed life was just over, or if he was lucky, he would be reincarnated.  But he
wasn't sure, and he wasn't really concerned.  He just said he wasn't very religious.

My heart ached for the people of China.  It still does.  Billions of people that I believe
have no hope for the future, no relationship with a loving and forgiving heavenly
Father, no faith to help them through daily struggles, no Savior to cling to in times
of trouble.  And no hope of eternal life in a place of peace, where there are no more
tears, pain, or sorrow.

I was so moved in church today.  Just to get to sing the name of "Jesus" brought me to
tears. Just to sing the comforting words of the familiar hymns and bow and pray freely.
 I was so overcome with  gratitude for our free nation, for the freedom to worship the God
who loves me; to bring my Bible with me, to study its' words, to wear my
cross.  I know we all take things so for granted, but until you have been
in a place where freedom is non-existent, where religion is essentially
banned, where idol worship and paganism abound, and God is not just
forgotten, but never known, you do not understand how blessed we
truly are. 

sheltongail@hotmail.com

 

Onions shouldn't make you Cry

Today was the workshop in Grand Cane.  We had a
great time!  Some of my students had no art experience
whatsoever!  But they all had a good attitude, and wanted
to learn, so learn they did.  I taught some of the basic
techniques, and we did a cherry on a couple of different
types of paper, and then we did this red onion after
the lunch break.  They all did very well.

I will be posting a fall workshop schedule soon. 
If you are interested in taking some classes, get in touch with
me, and I can put you on the mailing list.

Thanks~!
Gail Shelton
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Colored Pencil in Grand Cane

The Desoto Parish Arts Council building in Grand Cane, Louisiana

The main street historical buildings

Part of the gallery space inside...after the meeting

One of Don Edward's prints

I just got back from a speaking engagement at the Desoto Parish
Arts Council meeting, in Grand Cane.  They were interested in learning
more about colored pencil, and they invited me to bring 10 pieces for a
mini-show there, for the next two weeks. 
There were several people there that I know: Don Edwards, well known wildlife
artist, Ronnie and Mary Kidwell, wildlife artist and his wife from Shreveport,
and several others from the Natchitoches Art Guild, and the Animal Artists
Group in Shreveport.  It was great to see everyone, and share some info on
one of my favorite mediums.

I am also teaching a workshop for them this Saturday, from 10-3, Beginning
Colored Pencil.  It is $55 and all supplies are included.  We will begin with
some of the basic techniques, and I will demonstrate.  We will do a small
piece together, and I will also show some of the latest techniques, using
solvents, etc.  There are still 3or 4 spots left.  If you think you might be
interested, let me know asap.  You can ride with me up there Saturday. 
I would love to have a full class!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Furniture Fun

Painted end table...white with hand rubbed finish

Turquoise table

Turquoise bench

Great school desk...painted charcoal, with distressed finish

We have been fixing up some furniture at the shop.
We have been stripping, painting, distressing, and
antiquing some pieces.  They are all for sale, and they
can be seen at the gallery. 

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Cupcakes and Canvas



We had our "Cupcakes and Canvas" class tonight...what fun!  I had some
cupcake patterns they could trace, and some of them chose to get
really creative.  We snacked on some yummy cupcakes while
painting as well.  Looks like smiles all around!

Our next canvas class will be in mid-September.  Will try to
advertise.  Call the gallery and register...anyone is welcome!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Can I Have this Dance?

These are photos of the Chinese dancers that I saw
during the trip.  They were beautiful, and so graceful. 
I started on this colored pencil drawing last night. 

I have been asked to speak at the Desoto Arts Council meeting
this coming Thursday, and then I am teaching a colored pencil
workshop for them on Saturday, the 24th.  Ten of my
colored pencil drawings will hang in their gallery for the next 
few weeks.  I am very honored, and it should be fun.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

More Sketchbook Pages

This is Kunming Lake, at the Summer Palace in Beijing.  It was very
crowded with all kinds of boats

This is a Dragon Boat.  We rode in one across the lake, back to the
bus. 

Close up of the dragon head on the boat in ink

This is the Peking duck chef at a
restaurant in Beijing.  It was delicious!

This is my watercolor of the Great Wall...what an experience!

And a pen and ink sketch of part of the wall

Here are some more sketches and paintings from
my sketchbook journal.  I am finished now, and I will
start to add these pages to the digital copy.

I also started a colored pencil drawing today of one
of the beautiful Chinese dancers..will post the
work in progress soon.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

 

Sketchbook Pages

Since I have been home, I have been trying to
finish up my sketchbook.  These pages were done while
in China :
Tianemen Square  Forbidden City
Imperial Garden  Vegetarian Lunch
Temple of Heaven

I am doing many more pages, and should be finished
up today.  Then I will scan these pages, upload them,
add some of my photos, and make the digital copy of the sketchbook.
They will available for sale, $100, by the first of October (I hope)
If you would like one, you can let me know.
Thanks!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

The Pagan Pagoda

The Wild Goose Pagoda in Xian (jshee an)

The monks use ink and brush to write on the prayer ribbons
in calligraphy

Some beautiful wood carving on the building



The monk painting on the ribbon


We visited this pagoda in Xian.  I haven't talked too much about
the religion in China.  Officially, the country is atheist.  Those who
are religious are one of the following: Buddhist, Taoist, or the
teachings of Confucious.  I only saw two Christian churches...one
in Beijing, and one in Shanghai.  They do allow Christian missionaries,
but on a very limited basis. 
I spoke to our tour director, Andy, and he said he believed some
of the Buddhist beliefs.  I asked him about the afterlife, and he said
he thought that life is just over.  If you are lucky, you are
reincarnated, if not, you just fade away.  It made me very
sad.  I told him I was a Christian, and he knew about the
religion with the one God, and Jesus.  He said it was a
"good one". 

These monks are writing on prayer ribbons, that the worshippers
buy at the pagoda.  They pray for different things and
situations, and they write the request on it.  Then it is tied
on a tree or bush, or part of the building.  The worshippers
believe then that the prayer will be answered, but they have
no assurance.  There is not a personal relationship with any
of their "gods".  The idol worship and paganism really
bothered me, and my heart was broken for the people there.

I will pray for the people of China...that the saving grace and
love of Jesus could reach at least some of them. 

sheltongail@hotmail.com