Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Work In Progress - Red-Crested Cardinal and Video


Red-Crested Cardinal 
Work In Progress - Stage 4
oil on 11" x 14" panel

There have been obligations to take care of, so I finally got back to working today on this oil painting of the Red-crested or Brazilian Cardinal.  Reality check: there is more to life than painting everyday     :-)     There is much refining work to be done on his feathers, as well as other areas of the painting.   In an earlier post I explained how I photographed this fellow at Bellows Beach on Oahu, as he was busy nibbling on something inside this fallen coconut.  

Below is a video (not mine) of these cardinals on the island of Kauai.   Beautiful and relaxing to watch !



Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Woody At Greenlake


"Woody At Greenlake"
8" x 10" oil on panel
$595

I completed this oil painting tonight (Tuesday) from a photo I took at Greenlake Park in Seattle, Washington.  There were other ducks in the photo, but I opted to paint just one wood duck, using my reference photographs I took somewhere else.  It was difficult to get the colors just right when photographing the painting, but this is very close to the original artwork.   

I began this painting at the same time as I began working on my red-crested cardinal ....(see here ) .... and being a smaller work it was just easier to finish first.   Tomorrow I tackle the cardinal painting.   Stay tuned for the finished result.   


Monday, February 25, 2013

Lilies At Descanso (Landscape With Pond)


"Lilies At Descanso"
8" x 10" Acrylic on panel
Private Collection

This acrylic painting of flowers at a pond at the Descanso Gardens in the suburbs of Los Angeles, California, will be in its new home soon with a private collector.   I used bold color and extreme contrast in this painting on purpose; it was an experiment painted quite some time ago and I might do a larger version one day using oil paints, with some distinct changes.   


Friday, February 22, 2013

Brazilian Cardinal (Work In Progress- Oil Painting)


Brazilian or Red-Crested Cardinal
Photo by Carol Reynolds

Isn't this a charming fellow !   I just wanted to share another photo of the striking Brazilian Cardinal. They were introduced to Hawaii around 1930.  They are abundant on Oahu and I believe I like them better than the mainland's common red cardinal, which is also found in Hawaii and was introduced here in 1929.   Below is my oil painting of the red-crested cardinal in stage 3 of development .... still have a long way to go.


Stage 3  Work In Progress 
Brazilian Cardinal 
oil on panel 

I need to make more adjustments to his body shape and feathers and add a lot more detail everywhere.  Having a blast with this painting!


Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Red-Crested Cardinal (Work In Progress)


Reference Photo of Red-Crested Cardinal
by Carol Reynolds

I took this reference photograph of the Brazilian or Red-Crested Cardinal some time ago at Bellows Beach on Oahu, Hawaii.   He was finding something to nibble on in this fallen, broken open coconut.  I am thinking about the title "Slim Pickings" for the finished painting     :-)      Below are stages of the work in progress.


First Stage WIP   

I almost always begin with a rough color "sketch" in oil on canvas or panel.   


Stage 2 WIP
Red-Crested Cardinal 
11" x 14" oil on gessobord panel

The painting is still in a very rough beginning, and it needs to dry before I go on to the next stage with more detail.   Please return soon to view the completed painting.



Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Guillory's Pond (Louisiana Landscape)


"Guillory's Pond"
9" x 12" oil on panel
Sold

This oil landscape with a tranquil pond brings back fond memories.  The floating log is a gathering place for turtles, and the yellow Louisiana iris in the foreground add to the pleasantness of the scene.   This painting was a recent commission.



Sunday, February 3, 2013

Wildlife Artists And National Museum of Wildlife Art (Video)


"Alert"   (reworked)
(Black-Crowned Night Heron)
12" x 12" oil on canvas
$1200

I reworked the lower right hand corner of this painting adding the tall grasses and now I am much happier with it.   I will continue to paint more wildlife as well as other subject matter as I enjoy lots of variety in my work.    There are several wildlife artists whose work I admire and two of them are Ralph Oberg and Tucker Smith .   For a visual treat, please click the links to visit their websites.

Below is a video about the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.   


I have been to Jackson Hole, but unfortunately did not visit this museum at that time.   I must go back someday !