Did You Say Red? Tulips - Oil Painting Work In Progress

Red Tulips

Work In Progress

8" x 10" oil on canvas

This oil painting of red tulips still has quite a ways to go....this is the 3rd stage; I forgot to photograph the 2nd stage.   I need to blend the various shades of red more, but it is too tacky right now.   So later it will be necessary to go over it all again and try to blend better; the liquin I use to speed up drying was on steroids today !

I have also been working on my daffodil painting as well.   Will post more results maybe tomorrow. 

My Website

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

Name That Tree ! (Photos California Trees)

This fantastic tree is one I hope to paint soon!  I photographed it at a small park in Los Angeles, California, a few years ago .   Does anyone out there know what kind of tree it might be?  I like to know what I am painting...  :-)   I will forget my copyright statement and allow this tree to be used by anyone for their own painting if you would email me  its name.    I will even send you some free postcards with one of my paintings on them as a thank you gift.   It might be an oak ??   Trees inspire me and I think they have a lot of character, but I am not real knowledgeable about a good many of them.

Below is another tree I was going to ask you about,  but I googled "red flowering trees in California" and found out it is a red coral tree, or Erythrina fusca.

Red Coral Tree

They also come with orange/coral shades of flowers.    This is not that great a photo; google "Erythrina fusca" under images for some great pictures of these beautiful flowers.   There is a reason my photography on this post is not the greatest;  after my Nikon camera got stolen (before I went to California)  I used the cheap disposable cameras you can find everywhere during my travels all over the USA.   You would be surprised to see how wonderful some photos turned out from those disposable cameras!    Now I have a good Sony digital camera that is excellent for my work. 

The photo below is of the Silk Floss tree, also taken in Los Angeles.   Somewhere along the way many of the photos of mine of that tree are missing.  

Silk Floss Tree

I painted a couple of watercolors of these blossoms while in Los Angeles, using much better reference photos.   This tree is unique because it has large "thorns" on its trunk and branches which serve to store water for dry times.   Please google images for "silk floss tree" for much better shots of these lovely flowers.  There is also interesting information on the Web about this tree's pods which contain black seeds surrounded by fluffy stuff that reminds one of silk, hence its name.  

Below are a couple of my photos taken at Echo Park in Los Angeles ; I used a disposable camera for them and they turned out better than the shots above.

I hope to finish one or both of my floral still life paintings tomorrow.   Check back with me !

My Website 

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

Daffodils And Red Tulips On The Easel (Works In Progress)

I thought you might like to see my easel setup and the two oil still life paintings I am working on right now.  I went back to the yellow daffodil painting and it is flowing much smoother now than previously.   Those red flowers with the daffodils will become more purple when finished.   The red tulips are practically painting themselves !  Both of these florals are painted in oils.   

As you know, most floor easels like mine shown above have "gaps" with no wood behind where you put your canvas to work on.   When you are painting small works and miniatures, this can be a problem.   I solved it by placing a piece of cardboard between the back of the easel and the artwork; it is also great to put my reference photos on with "Tac" putty, which is the white patches you can see on the cardboard.

My Website

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

Still Kickin' !! Floral Still Life Reference Photographs

The above photograph of pink roses and white anthurium was taken by me about 2 years ago, and so were the following reference photos below.     I love flowers and thought I might begin a new painting tomorrow.  My last post of a work in progress was of yellow daffodils and somehow I just couldn't get up enough enthusiasm to finish it.   I have spent some time away from the easel and pursuing other interests, but just wanted to let you know I'm still kickin'!  Enjoy my reference photographs below.

This arrangement rather excites me!  That Mexican style egg cup is one of my favorites.   

The reflections in the vase and silver teapot came out nice in this shot above.

By the way, all of these reference photographs I shot on the counter top in my kitchen.   The light is excellent there!  Besides what fun it is to photograph these still lifes, there is enjoyment in arranging the cut flowers as well.   

A little birdie told me to get busy blogging again, so please stay tuned for new paintings !

My Website

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com