The Glassblower's Daughter" by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"The Glassblower's Daughter" ©2018 Leada Wood

I love Dale Chihuly's glass sculptures, so colorful and alive. His exhibitions are usually in a garden setting and the beauty of nature and his enormous glass sculptures are incredible. Glassblowing has always intrigued me, the fiery molten blob turned into an object of beauty is amazing and beyond comprehension and I am mesmerized as I watch them work.

"The Glassblower's Daughter" was inspired from attending a Renaissance Faire near Houston. The lady made stunning glass orbs that sparkled in the dazzling November light and I was a captive audience along with many others. It was a day to remember.

"You Are My Sunshine" by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Good morning from Dragonfly Farm where the birds are singing, the butterflies are floating, the bees are buzzing and life is good! "You Are My Sunshine" was inspired by the cheerful yellow sunflowers that dance in the wind around the farm. I just love to paint them! I see why Van Gogh painted them often. My friend Linda said if there was one artist that she could go back in time and talk to, it would be Van Gogh...wouldn't that be amazing.

 Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by!

"You Are My Sunshine" by Leada Wood ©2018

Happy Easter! By Leada Wood, Texas Artist

©Leada Wood

I know Easter is really not about the Easter bunny but I just couldn't resist using this painting to wish you a happy Easter. The colors remind me of all those colorful eggs that will be found tomorrow. I enjoyed dyeing eggs with my kids and grandkids except that the dye usually had to wear off. We looked so cute in our Easter bonnets and colorful hands! Folks don't get as dressed up as they once did for church on Easter Sunday. When I was a girl I looked forward to getting a new dress, socks, shoes, hat and gloves for the occasion. That was a long time ago and things are different now. In my opinion I think we may be getting a little too casual about lots of things. Maybe it is time for a change. Happy Easter!

"Just Elfin' Around", by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Jingles" ©2017Leada Wood

This is Jingles my last little elf in the series "Just Elfin' Around" at least for 2017.  I had fun creating this series and hope they brought a little happy to your heart.

Wishing you a beautiful new year filled with love,  laughter, new dreams, new experiences and abundant joy. 

Happy Thanksgiving! by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy. Thanksgiving isn't just a day, it is how we should live our lives every day. Gratitude can transform ordinary days into thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy, and change opportunities into blessings. There is always something to be grateful for, all we have to do is open our eyes and heart and look for it.

"In all things give thanks." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Happy May Day! Watercolor by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

The earliest May Day celebrations were held during the Roman Republic and appeared with Floralia, the Godess of flowers. As Europe became Christenized it became known for traditions of dancing around a maypole and crowing the Queen of May. Since the 18th century the Roman Catholics observe it with adorning the Virgin Mary with a crown of flowers and a two day feast. Fast forward to the 20th century and the  giving of small baskets of flowers or a paper cone with a small bouquet hung on a doorknob marked the first day of May.

Isn't it a shame that some traditions fall by the wayside in our fast paced world? I couldn't let the day pass without wishing you a happy May Day and sharing my little hummingbird and May flower with you!

Copyright 2017 Leada Wood

"Air Mail",Watercolor by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Air Mail" ©2017 Leada Wood

"Air Mail" was inspired by a birds's nest in an abandoned rural mail box. I started looking for a grouping of old rusted mailboxes and sketched them. Then I thought about the play on words airmail and how fun that would be.

Crows are a lot like people in that they are intelligent and adapt to their environment. They are sociable and sometimes live in communal roosts.

I combined the two concepts and came up with the painting "Air Mail" which show the crows borrowing from humans a nice nesting place in the country. A condo ready made for them to occupy. Looks like they are moving in!
                                                                   
"Air Mail" is on exhibit at the Buddy Holly Center, Lubbock, Texas with the ALWT spring show "The Borrowers" from April 7th to May 21st. Stop by and see how a group of painters interpret the theme of The Borrowers.                                                                            

Tulip Time, Watercolor by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Happy Spring! It's Tulip Time in Texas. Don't you just love springtime? It's like the earth is bursting forth with blooms and buds everywhere...and the lovely spring green of the trees glistening in the sun absolutely takes your breath away. Not to mention the gorgeous, delicate fushia blooms of the fruit trees and redbuds. Inspiration is all around!

 As an artist it is hard to focus, so much beauty around me. I want to paint it all and share with you, my world as I see it. The baby lambs, calves and llamas in the green pastures...baby chicks, ducks and birds, flowers blooming. Beauty is all around us, we just have to look around and observe it and take the time to be grateful for all that we have.

 I think Claude Monet said it best, "I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers."

"Tulip Time" ©2017 Leada Wood

 

"The Flutist" Watercolor, Figure Painting, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist""

"The Flutist" ©2016 Leada Wood

I couldn't let the year end without sharing my gnome that I painted in December. He is a friend of another musician that I painted a few years ago. 

"The Fiddler" © 2013 Leada Wood

I hope your year has been merry and bright and wishing you an even brighter New Year, full of health, happiness, peace and joy! Thank you for reading my blog!



"Child Of Light" Watercolor by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Child Of Light" ©2016 Leada Wood

Angels live among us. Sometimes they hide their wings, but there is no disguising the peace and hope they bring.

Merry Christmas and God's blessings to all!

"Little Angel", Watercolor, Figure Painting by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Little Angel" by Leada Wood©2016

Tis the season for good cheer, kindness, peace and joy!  Wishing you and yours a warm Christmas season filled with love.

"Paper plain and simple...white as the snow.
A little paint and water and an angel does appear." Leada Wood

Inspired by one of the real, live angels that lives among us.

Value Sketches, Color Studies, Watercolor Graphite, by Leada Wood,Texas Artist

"Lilli" by Leada Wood ©2016

I recently attended a watercolor figure workshop with Peggi Habets. She is an amazing instructor and artist. Peggi says to achieve a likeness in a painting, the values have to be accurate and that is the tricky part. The values are perceived in relationship to the other values surrounding it. Very difficult to take a piece of white paper and sculpt it into a 3D representation of a person. We did thumbnails sketches, value studies and color studies before we ever started our subject. It was interesting and a little addictive.

The top painting was my first attempt, next is my value sketch, and color study. I still haven't captured my subject to my satisifaction but I can see growth along the way. After I got home I wanted to try something new. The bottom value sketch was done with watercolor graphite and was really a learning curve to sketch with a brush. One of the things I learned along the way is that I need to use watercolor paper instead of drawing paper. I think I will try the water soluble graphite on hot pressed paper next time.

The class stirred up memories of why I wanted to paint when I first began. I always loved Mary Cassatt, Norman Rockwell and John Singer Sargent's work. The way they captured a likeness of everyday life and recorded it. I know I have a long way to go but the fun is in the trying.

Artist Of Texas Show, by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Happy Fall Y'all !  I am so excited to have three of my paintings juried into the annual Artist of Texas fall show, "Open Spaces".  Living in the Wild West I enjoy observing all God' s creatures big and small and that inspires me to capture them in my paintings.

"A Good Scratch" ©Leada Wood 2016

Some critters we don't see as much as we use too, like the Jack Rabbit. They use to roam the range everywhere, maybe it's getting too crowded and they have moved on. Whatever the reason I still love to paint them and get really excited when I spot one of the long eared fellows!

 "A Good Scratch" is watercolor on archival paper and won an honorable mention in the Art League of West Texas Foundation's Spring show this year.

"Mama's Lillies" ©Leada Wood 2016

We have Hummers darting around our yard from early spring to October when they make their long journey to warmer climates. They especially love the Red Salvia bushes and the Canna Lillies in the garden. Inspiration is all around when you can "see" and look with "artists eyes".

"Bird On A Wire"  ©Leada Wood 2016

Seeing a Scissored Tailed Flycatcher is a sure sign of spring in West Texas. I try to hold off planting my garden until I see they are back and the mesquites are out. They are quite aggressive and sometimes you will see two of them picking on a hawk or bigger big bird,  maybe their idea of fun. 

They like to spend their winters in Mexico along with the Hummingbirds and a lot of other birds. Who wouldn't love a nice tropical climate while the cold north winds blow.

The "Open Spaces" exhibition will run from September 13th until October 22nd. The Breckenridge Fine Arts Center is a beautiful gallery and the drive is certainly worth doing to see all the exceptional art. The reception is Setember 17th and I plan on being there so stop by and say howdy!

Happy Fourth Of July! Watercolor Painting by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

"Happy Fourth Of July" by Leada Wood©2015

"Judges Choice" Watercolor by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

"Judges Choice" Copyright  Leada Wood 2016

It's showtime in Texas! That wonderful time of year when the young people get to show off their animals and all their hard work they have been doing the past months. Hoping to place, win ribbons, buckles and make money during the sales. A lot of effort goes out pre show exercising the animals to get them in shape and feeding them just right. Then there is all the grooming and keeping them hydrated and happy until showtime. Showing animals is a family affair and lots of good memories are made.

"Judges Choice" is painted in watercolor of my two grandsons for my son's birthday. They were in the ring competing for Grand Champion against each other. Competition is good for you, makes you try harder and aim higher. I think it is a good thing for everyone to do the best job they can and to do it well. 

I am proud of my son and daughter in law for encouraging and supporting our boys and the boys for their hard work and dedication. This is Kyler's senior year and a little bittersweet, but he has made lots of friends and good memories of his show seasons.  These activities build good character in young people and make our world a little nicer. 

"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals"

                                                                                                             ---Henry David Thoreau

Jolly Ole St. Nick, watercolor by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

"Jolly Ole St. Nick" copyright Leada Wood

"Jolly Ole St. Nick" along with other members paintings of the of West Texas Watercolor Society and in conjunction with the Lubbock Art Alliance will be presented at the Legacy Gallery in Lubbock Texas. The "Happy Holidays" exhibition opening is December 4th from 6-7:30 at the Legacy Event Center, 1500 14th Street, Lubbock, Texas. The exhibition will be on display December 2015-January 2016.

Wise Old Bird, Watercolor, Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

"Wise Old Bird"©2015 Leada Wood

Since it is getting toward the end of October and Halloween I thought it would be fun to share this watercolor "Wise Old Bird" in honor of the day. Happy Halloween!

Raven's Roost, Watercolor by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

 

 

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

 

 

"Ravens Roost" by Leada Wood©2015

The background scene came from a photo I made in the Big Bend area of Texas. The high desert is something to see...especially in the spring when the wildflowers and cactus are blooming. The Ravens I depicted roosting on an old dead tree at sundown. I can just hear them chatting about their day as the sun slowly sinks into the horizon.



30 Paintings In 30 Days by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

Calling All Crows by Leada Wood©2015



Day 15 of the 30-30 challenge



Even though it is still hot in Texas I know autumn is going to get here someday. My thoughts have been turning toward cooler weather, pumpkins, autumn leaves and all things fall. I decided to paint a pumpkin and a crow for a taste of autumn for this daily painting. Now off to get ready for the rodeo where my little grand daughter is mutton bustin'

Ok we are back from the fair and rodeo and I had to give everyone a heads up on Averi and her Mutton bustin'. This was her second time to ride a mutton ever, at the West Texas Fair and Rodeo..Averi is 7 and very determined and fearless. That little girl could ride she hung on for all she was worth, a boy beat her by a few feet so she won second,,,which is amazing! And she won her belt buckle...sooo proud of the buckle, that was her mission was to win a belt buckle. I am so proud of you Averi! Love you to the moon and back!



30 Paintings In 30 Days by Leada Wood, Texas Artist

Leada Wood, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Collage

 

 

 

Goat With The Golden Horns by Leada Wood©2015

 

Day 14 of the 30-30 challenge

Nearly half way through with the 30-30 challenge and I am still hanging in there. Had physical therapy this morning so that cut into my painting time a little...but I got it finished this afternoon. Now I am off to  the drawing board to get ready for tomorrow.