"Peace In The Valley" - Oil Landscape Painting of Pinnacle Buttes, Wyoming

"An artist's job is to surprise himself.  Use all means possible."  -  Robert Henri

"Peace In The Valley"

16" x 20" oil on archival panel 

This oil landscape painting is of Pinnacle Buttes in the Absaroka mountain range of Wyoming, which is in the Shoshone National Forest.  The mountain range is about 24 miles Northwest of Dubois, Wyoming.    After taking in all the beauty of Jackson Hole, WY, I spent a few days in the charming cowboy town of Dubois, WY.   This scene was before I reached Dubois.   

I considered adding elk or bison to this scene, but since I decided on "Peace in the Valley" as the title of the painting, I thought it more "peaceful" to leave out the wildlife. The Pinnacle Buttes area is known as grizzly bear country, by the way.   

If you are interested in acquiring this painting, please contact me at reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

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Took a Break, Took Photos at Foster Botanical Gardens Oahu

"I have not tried to reproduce nature: I have represented it."  Paul Cezanne

Cannonball Tree Flowers

Photography by Carol Reynolds

Since it is May, it is time for the Magnolia Trees on Oahu to bloom.  They are rare introductions on this island, and I only know of two spots where there are magnolia trees.   One is at Foster Botanical Gardens, so I went there this morning to see if I could photograph it.  There were no blooms on the tree there and no buds whatsoever.   I went later to the other tree in a Makiki suburb of Honolulu and that magnolia tree had several buds on it so I will return there again in 4 or 5 days.    

The photograph above was taken at Foster Botanical Gardens this morning, and I have several photos of  the cannonball trees there.  For more information, visit my photography blog  here and once there in the box saying "search this blog" type in cannonball tree.   I am sorry, but I could not get the link to work on the exact post there.   

Below are more photographs showing the cannonball shaped fruit on this tree, which when it falls to the ground it makes a loud cannon-like sound and also gives off a foul odor. 

Foster Botanical Gardens has a nice gazebo, and today when I first arrived there a wedding was being held at the gazebo.   I have several other photos of this gazebo taken previously, but the one below I took today.    I fully intend to paint this gazebo soon.

Below is a shot of an ornamental pineapple plant at the gardens today.

It felt good to get out and take photographs today, but now I need to finish some paintings I have started .   Please stay tuned !

Thank you for visiting today!

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

My Website

What's On The Easel - Pinnacle Buttes WY (Oil Landscape Painting - Work In Progress)

"If one really loves nature, one can find beauty everywhere."  -  Vincent van Gogh

Pinnacle Buttes Wyoming

Photograph by Carol Reynolds

Remember this photo from a previous post ?   I am currently working on an oil painting of this Wyoming landscape.    Below is the stage as I finished today.   Much work still needs to be done before this painting is finished.

Pinnacle Buttes Wyoming

Work In Progress

16" x 20" oil on gessobord panel 

The treeline needs to be a bit higher, thereby making the mountains not quite so tall; compare with the photograph above.  This painting shows promise and I am getting excited about it now.  

Thank you for viewing my art.

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

My Website

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.

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

My Website

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.    

My Website

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com