Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Blind Artists (Videos)


Sleepy Flamingo
Photo by Carol Reynolds

The flamingo above simply has closed eyes as if taking a nap.   What if an artist is blind?
The human spirit is a remarkable thing, if you have the right attitude.  Never give up!   As these videos below show, truly when one door is closed another one is opened.






Very inspiring !   I will continue to paint with joy, and with gratitude.


Monday, March 30, 2015

"Joyful Song" - Pink Water Lilies Oil Painting

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever."   -  John Keats


"Joyful Song"
12" x 16" oil on gallery wrap canvas
$1575

This oil painting of deep rose-pink water lilies was completed today.   My joy was in experimenting with color in this work.   The flowers themselves are also cheery and joyful to behold.  

Being on gallery wrap canvas, the sides of this painting have also been painted, making it possible to hang it unframed.

To purchase this painting, please contact me at  reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Almost There - 5th Stage - Pink Water Lilies (Work In Progress)


Stage 5 Pink Water Lilies
Work In Progress
12" x 16" oil on gallery wrap canvas

Now I am getting somewhere with this painting!  After working on it again last night, this oil of pink water lilies is finally taking shape and going in the direction I want it to.  I had intended to wait until I finished it to post about it again, but I am so excited I wanted to share it today.  It may take a couple of more days to finish.   

Some of you may not have read my previous posts where I stated that I am a self-taught artist, and have learned to paint over decades of trial and error.   Most paintings nowadays flow easier than this one did, for whatever reason.    I learned most of my painting knowledge from books, dating back to when I was a teenager.    At age 15 the one I poured over most of all was "Carlson' s Guide to Landscape Painting" by John F. Carlson.  It's really an oldie, first published I believe in 1929 and the ninth printing was in 1971.   I believe you can still find it on Amazon.   I highly recommend it for beginning artists; but all artists at all stages in their career would benefit from this book.  

Having said all that, sometimes I still just paint by instinct;   I don't always know why I do what I do or if I could repeat it again.   Does anyone else relate?    

Thank you for viewing my art !



Monday, March 23, 2015

Fourth stage - Oil Painting of Pink Water Lilies (Work In Progress)


4th Stage - Pink Water Lilies
12" x 16" Work In Progress

This stage of my oil pink water lilies painting has reverted back to colors and hues in a previous stage.   I guess it is obvious I am experimenting and feeling my way along with this painting.  Sometimes when I work I know exactly what I want the painting to say and exactly how the finish will be.   With this oil painting,  that is not the case.   However, one plus in working in layers of color and in several stages is that you can discover new colors or, should I say, the colors can be richer and have more depth.    I hope to finish this before I post it again .   


Saturday, March 21, 2015

Spring In The Country (Reworked) - Landscape with Barns and Wildflowers

"Earth laughs in flowers." - Ralph Waldo Emerson


"Spring In The Country"
8" x 10" oil on archival panel
$595

Today I worked some more color and contrast into this oil landscape painting I posted earlier this week; take a peek at the previous post here .    I added more wildflowers as well and I am now satisfied with this country scene.     I should always wait a few days after completing a painting before I post here so I may look at it later with a fresh eye and decide if any changes need to be made.


To purchase this painting contact me at reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

Friday, March 20, 2015

Pink Water Lilies - Oil Painting (Work In Progress)

"I must have flowers, always, and always."  - Claude Monet


Pink Water Lilies
Work In Progress 12" x 16"

The red water lily painting I began the other day has now turned into pink water lilies.   I will not leave them this rather "neon" pink look, but will refine the flowers with lighter and darker tones as I continue to paint.   Also, I am not happy with the color of the lily pads.   Much work needs to be done here.  

It seemed fitting to do a post of flowers today, as it is still the first day of Spring here in Hawaii.  Due to the time difference, it is already Saturday on most of the mainland except the West Coast.

As a child, I lived primarily with my grandparents (on my father's side) and my grandmother loved flowers.  She also had a concrete pond with goldfish and water lilies.   My young mind was more interested in the goldfish than the flowers.   Even as a teenager I was not particularly overly interested in flowers, but when my husband and I bought our home in Massachusetts, I went absolutely wild with flowers in the yard.   I planted various bulbs like tulips and crocus that would bloom in the Spring and I started many flowers from seed under lights in the winter to plant outside come sometime in May in Massachusetts.    My grandfather had always had a vegetable garden when I was a child, and all of a sudden with my new home, I discovered an interest in vegetable gardening as well.    

My point is,  I now feel like Monet in the quote above :  I must have flowers surrounding me.  I do not have any water lilies,  but I visit gardens and other areas here in Honolulu and Waikiki to photograph them and just to take in their beauty.   Beauty, Light, and Color inspire me to paint.  

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Spring In The Country - Landscape with Wildflowers and Barns

"Flowers.....are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out values all the utilities of the world."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson


"Spring In The Country"
8" x 10" oil on archival panel
$595

This oil country landscape is based on an area in Texas I visited several years ago when I lived in that state.    There were more yellow wildflowers, but it seemed too overpowering to include all that yellow in the painting.  To see this new work in its beginning stage, scroll below to the previous post.

To purchase this painting contact reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

Monday, March 16, 2015

What's On The Easel - Oil Paintings In Progress (Water Lilies and Barns)

"I just make stuff that transports me to a happier place where I can hum and whistle.  Art can do that."   - Joel Haas


Blue Water Lily and Bee
Photograph by Carol Reynolds


This is one of many photographs I have taken of the water lilies at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki.   I have meant to paint from this reference photo for a long time and today was the day I finally began a rough lay in with oils on gallery wrapped canvas . The very beginning stage is shown below.  Much work needs to be done and, yes, I intend to include the bee in the painting.



Blue Water Lily
9" x 12" oil  Work in Progress

Below is another photograph, this time of red water lilies; although, I admit, they look more like a dark pink.


Red Water Lilies - photograph by Carol Reynolds

This photograph is a reference for the oil painting in progress shown below:


Stage One of oil water lilies
12" x 16" oil on gallery wrap canvas


I wasn't very satisfied with the colors and the arrangement so I changed things up a bit in the very very rough work in progress below.


I intend to make some lily pads a brownish-pink and also maybe more pink in the water.   I wanted bright red water lilies but may change them to a dark pink for more color harmony.  I have really been experimenting with this painting.

Below is a rough beginning stage of barns in a field of wildflowers.  It has a long way to go.


8" x 10" oil work in progress

I felt the need to work small for a while, but once I finish these 3 paintings I intend to paint some larger works.