Slide Rock Sedona And Works In Progress

Slide Rock Sedona 

6" x 8" oil on linen

Work In Progress

Today I worked on this oil painting of a scene at Slide Rock Park in Sedona, Arizona.  It still has a ways to go to bring to completion.    I positively love everything about Sedona.  Well, except maybe that it has built up too much , but there is still plenty of beautiful red rock scenery to gawk at.  

Below is another rough beginning on canvas today:

It is a 12" x 12" oil of a Black-Crowned Night Heron .  I just felt like doing a wildlife painting as a change of pace from the landscapes I have been doing lately.     Thought some of you new visitors might like to see how I put a piece of cardboard on the easel behind each painting; it helps keep paint from flying against the wall behind.   Also I use some tac putty and stick my reference photographs on the cardboard to have as a handy reference as I paint.  In the upper right hand corner you can see part of the reference photo for the above painting of Slide Rock.   

Check back soon to view the completed paintings.  

My Website

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

Peaceful Path - New Mexico landscape

"Peaceful Path"  - Proverbs 3:17

8" x 16" oil on panel

$1275

This is the second painting in my "path" series, depicting symbolically the various paths in life or the choices people make as to what path to follow.   It is an oil landscape of Bandelier National Park or, more correctly, near Bandelier National Monument where there are ancient and unusual remains of ancestral pueblo people.  Actually, part of this footpath is on the main loop in the park and takes you to some of the ruins, which are over eight centuries old.    This area is high mesa country and is about 12 miles from Los Alamos, New Mexico.  There is another footpath which I did not take, but will do so if I ever return to the area, which has two fabulous waterfalls.  Time was the limiting factor in my visit there and there was no way to walk both footpaths on that day.  

The meaning and symbolism in this painting is open to individual interpretation; what I feel about it is similar to what the proverb says about Wisdom.

My Website

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

Scare Yourself - Aim High, Think Big (Goals)

"Set a goal to achieve something that is so big, so exhilarating that it excites you and scares you at the same time. "   - Bob Proctor

Slide Rock, Sedona Arizona

Photo by Carol Reynolds

This reference photo I took a while back at Slide Rock in Sedona, Arizona, is what I am currently working on right now as a 6" x 8" oil study for a larger painting in the future.   I took a break for lunch and while eating I got on the internet and read an excellent post by Carolyn Henderson on the subject of New Years Resolutions.... go here to read it.    

What has been on my mind lately is definite goal setting where my art is concerned, as well as my spiritual growth as a Christian.  Since this is an art blog, I will concentrate right now on artistic goals.    First of all, I want to strive to be the best artist I can be, which has always been my goal since I was a teenager.   That will require many hours of painting and more painting.   "If you know what to do to reach your goal, it's not a big enough goal", so says Bob Proctor.   So I do have more definite goals than just painting and more painting.   My main objective in 2013 is to aim high, think big, and paint big.    When I first started this blog, I intended it to be mainly for my miniature paintings.   I was thinking small, believing the downturn in the economy would only allow for primarily sales of miniatures.   Sigh !   Lo and behold, many artists are doing quite well with sales of their larger works; that is a new goal of mine, to paint more larger pieces, which I would rather do anyway.    I am becoming more clear and focused where my goals are concerned and, as Brian Tracy says:  "Goals that are not written down and developed into plans are like bullets without powder in their cartridge.  People with unwritten goals go through life shooting blanks."

That brings to mind another quote: Artie Shaw once said, "Shoot for the moon - if you miss you'll end up in the stars."  I am keeping my specific goals secret for now, but I am aiming higher than ever before.   Also, John C. Maxwell said, "Don't ever be impressed with goal setting; be impressed with goal getting."  Watch this blog to see what goals I reach in 2013.

By the way, the quotes in this post I borrowed from Robert Genn's "The Painters' Keys" --check here to read more of them under the heading "Art Quotes".   

Bandelier National Park, New Mexico

photo by Carol Reynolds

I am also working on a  8" x 16" oil painting based on this photo of mine.   Check back soon to view the completed painting.   

In conclusion, I would like to close with this quote by Dr. Benjamin Mays:  "It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal.  The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach."

Have a wonderful new year everyone and thank you for your support and interest in my work!  

My Website

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

Autumn Of Our Life

"Autumn Of  Our Life - Ecclesiastes 9:9"

12" x 16" Oil on panel 

$1575

This oil landscape is the first painting in my series concerning the paths people take in life and the good or bad consequences thereof.    I promise I will, for the most part, concentrate on the good.   :-)       I try to capture beauty in my work; there is enough bad in the world without portraying it on canvas.   The obvious beauty here is the Fall foliage ; the other beautiful thing is a married couple still in love and together in the autumn of their years.   

My reference photo for this painting was taken at the Washington Arboretum and Botanical Gardens in Seattle a few years ago.  There really was an older couple in my photograph, but I changed them up a bit with their clothing in the painting.   

"Stand by the roads and look; and ask for the eternal paths, where the good, old way is; then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."  Jeremiah 6:16

My Website

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

They Board Horses Don't They

"They Board Horses Don't They"

8" x 16" oil on panel

$ 1275

This oil landscape was inspired by a visit to Kawailoa Ranch on the North Shore of Oahu.  It is just outside the quaint artsy town of Haleiwa and near "Turtle Beach" (Laniakea) .   One of the trees on this property was featured on the TV show Lost.  

It is great to be painting again after back pain kept me from the easel for a few days.  I will go back to working on a Fall landscape next; check back soon.   

My Website

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

Outta Whack

Lesser Flamingo

Photo by Carol Reynolds  

This lesser flamingo photo rather shows how I have been feeling lately; I was going strong with my painting and then my back went outta whack!   Stay tuned for more paintings soon.   I will attempt to paint tomorrow; I am almost finished with one landscape and have another one off to a good start.   

Speaking of landscape paintings, on Matthew Innis' blog he has an informative article about  an excellent young artist, Dan Schultz, which shows a step-by-step procedure of a painting in progress to its completion, as well as other works by this artist now residing in Ojai , California.   I am always curious about what colors  other artists use, and the article gives Schultz's palette as well.  I personally should use a more limited palette, but I positively love color and enjoy trying various new colors from time to time so I have a wide assortment to chose from.   Check out www.danschultzfineart.com

My Website

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

December Art Sale - "Seeing Red" (Still Life)

"Seeing Red"

6" x 8" oil on panel

$200

I had a grand time with this oil painting of a red tulip and red striped material.   Looking at it again makes me want to paint another still life, but currently I am working on two landscapes that I hope to complete soon.

This is the last painting offered in the December Art Sale.   All paintings will remain the same sale price through the month of December, and those not sold will revert back to their original higher price beginning January 1. 

Please contact me at reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com  to purchase this or any other painting on this blog.  There is more contact information on the "Contact and Purchase" link above.

My Website