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.    


Thursday, February 26, 2015

The Clouds Speak (Oil Sunset Seascape by Seascape Artist Carol Reynolds)

"The artist must say it without saying it."  - Duke Ellington


"The Clouds Speak" - Psalm 69:34

6" x 12" oil on gallery wrap canvas 
$595

This small oil sunset seascape, though based on a reference photograph, was created  mostly from my imagination, especially the dramatic clouds.   The reference photo has a dull grey sky.  

I went back to painting a smaller canvas for now.  I have been ill with bronchitis with other side effects and have not felt like painting.   I tire easily and need to rest more, so the going has been slow lately.    I will resume painting larger canvases when I am feeling better.     

To purchase this painting please contact reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com


Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Happy Day at Santa Monica Beach and Pier (Acrylic Seascape by Carol Reynolds)


"Happy Day at Santa Monica Beach and Pier"
16" x 20" acrylic on canvas 

This acrylic beach scene of Santa Monica Beach and Pier was painted about 15 years ago.  I  just thought I would share it with you as I ran across it while doing some changes to my living room and studio this week with the help of my son.    There has been no painting for me all week as I have been very busy with this other work.    Hopefully by Saturday I can begin working in oils again.

When I lived in the area I used to visit Santa Monica frequently, and the other beaches along the famous "Strand".   


Saturday, February 14, 2015

"Brokenness Amid Beauty" (Wyoming Landscape - Wind River) by Landscape Artist Carol Reynolds


"Brokenness Amid Beauty"
8" x 10" oil on museum quality gessobord 
$575

The broken wood in the foreground seems to attract all the attention in this oil landscape of Wind River in Dubois, Wyoming.   Life can be like that for us as well;  we can be all broken when all around us is grandeur and beauty.    This painting depicts twilight time, although I livened up the color a bit.  

To inquire or purchase please contact me at reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Wyoming Oil Landscapes - Next Stages of Works in Progress

"Art and I have an agreement..... I won't ask where we are going and art won't ask, "Why me?"
-Bob Brendle


Pinnacle Buttes Wyoming
Reference photo by Carol Reynolds

Shown below is stage 2 of my oil painting of Pinnacle Buttes in Wyoming.


WIP  Stage 2 oil painting of Pinnacle Buttes
16" x 20" on gessobord

I wish now I had chosen an 18 x 24 canvas or preferably a 15" x 30" size for this work.   The mountains are way too large here and much work needs to be done. 

Below is stages 2 and 3 of the WIP of Wind River #2 oil painting.


Stage 2


Stage 3
Wind River WY
8" x 10" oil on gessobord 

The orange hills need quite a bit of toning down.   I am rather excited about this work.  

"Bring something new, something beautiful and something filled with light into the world."   This art quote by Ross Bleckner could also very well apply in a spiritual sense as well.   When you think about it, art can be rather a type of a spiritual experience. I feel extremely spiritual and/or I am reminded of the Creator especially when I paint clouds.  Just a note,  I have been considering doing a series of sky paintings, or perhaps with some landscape or ocean showing in the work but with the sky predominating.    

I am reminded here of another quotation, this time by Martin Kippenberger: "A good artist has less time  than ideas."    I have so many ideas for new works, but there will never be enough time to complete or begin most of them.  Time is short and I am getting older.   

Thank you for visiting !