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

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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

"Blue Drama" - Oil Water Lily Painting With Bee

"Blue Drama"

9" x 12" oil on gallery wrap canvas

$650

This oil painting of a blue water lily and a black bee was a challenge to paint with the various shades of blue involved.   The photograph of it doesn't show all the color variations.    

I read somewhere earlier today that the worker bee only produces about 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.    That is something to ponder where our own life and our own accomplishments are concerned; are we making a difference at all?

Please contact me to purchase or inquire about this painting,  Since the sides of this work are also painted, there is no need to frame it.

Thank you for viewing my art !

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

My Website

Blue Water Lily and Bee - Oil Painting Work In Progress

"One day's happiness often predicts the next day's creativity."  -  Teresa Amabile

Blue Water Lily and Bee

Photograph by Carol Reynolds

I posted this photograph of a blue water lily previously, but wanted to show it again to give you a better idea where I am going with the oil painting in progress from this reference photo.  Below is the painting as it stands now.

Work in Progress

9" x 12" oil on gallery wrap canvas

I made some changes, not going by the reference photograph exactly.   Please keep in mind this is a beginning stage and that much work needs to be done.   

Would you like to see what happiness looks like?   Look below !

This is my grandson, Dash, right after turning 9 months old the end of March; the photo was taken the beginning of  April.  What a happy fellow !  This is my only grandchild that is living in Hawaii; my others are all on the mainland USA.

Many of you have probably read this quote or heard it spoken:  "Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for."  - Joseph Addison.

That certainly holds true where children and grandchildren are concerned, but it can involve many things: first and foremost of spiritual things and the hope of eternity.   "Happiness is the highest good, being a realization and perfect practice of virtue, which some can attain, while others have little or none of it."    -  Aristotle

Would you like to see a happy cat?  Below is my calico cat, Lika.

This photograph was taken 3 days ago.   Did you notice the heart shape coloration on Lika?  She has another "heart" on her left shoulder which obviously is not showing in this photo.   Guess that means she is double-hearted.    She is truly full of mischief  but she can be very lovey dovey as well.

The cactus in the photo only blooms once a year, as a rule, and it bloomed first in January this year and again in April.   That was a nice unexpected  treat. !!

  

This is a close-up shot of the salmon and white cactus blossoms. I hope to paint from this photo or from another close-up shot of it as I have never painted a Christmas cactus.  I have had this plant about 3 years.

Thank you for visiting my blog !

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

My Website

South Padre Island Splendor - Oil Seascape (at FAA)

"South Padre Island Splendor"

16" x 20" oil on canvas

I have posted this oil seascape of South Padre Island previously, but I wanted to share with you how this image has sold more as a print on Fine Art America than any of my other paintings or photographs available there.    It has sold as a framed print on watercolor paper, an unframed print, an acrylic print, and as a note card.   Fine Art America also provides metal prints as an option.  Check out this painting on FAA here       You may also visit my website there  http://carol-reynolds.artistwebsites.com 

Below is an oil seascape "Sunflowers At North Padre Island" another 16" x 20" on canvas painted around the same time as the work above.  I had never seen sunflowers at the beach before and I was granted that pleasure on my visit there...... the right place at the right time.

The above oil painting is also available as a print or a note card at Fine Art America.

I will be posting recent works in progress soon.   Stay tuned !

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

"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

My Website