Utah Oil Landscape - Stage 3 (Work In Progress)

Utah Landscape - Stage 3

16" x 20" Work In Progress

This oil landscape of a scene in Utah is progressing well; but it still is not where it needs to be as yet.

There is more green grass in the background, which is good, but to the natural eye under natural light there is not that much yellow in the foreground..... I believe my camera has a tendency to exaggerate the yellow.  There will be more orange in the foreground and I am still considering adding the fence as well as a woman and her dog.   The next post will be of the completed painting.

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Utah Oil Landscape - Stage Two Work In Progress

Utah Oil Landscape - Stage Two

Work In Progress  16" x 20"

This oil landscape of a scene in Utah with the Wasatch Mountains in the background still has a ways to go to be completed.   I will tone down and mute the yellow grass more and define the trees and shrubs in more detail.   I intend for that shrub in the left foreground to be a Rose of Sharon, if I leave it in place.   If you scroll down to the previous post, you will see that there will be a fence in the foreground with a woman and her dog at the fence.   That is, unless I change my mind.   That is the fun of creating, rather going with the flow and sometimes letting the painting (and not my mind) dictate which direction to follow.   I do plan things out when I begin a new work; or I at least have a general idea or concept in mind.   I may do a series of Utah pioneer scenes and interiors.  

Please return soon to see the completed painting .

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New on the Easel - Utah Oil Landscape - Work In Progress

Work In Progress

16" x 20" Oil Landscape

This is the beginning stage of a Utah oil landscape.   It is based on a photograph I took while visiting that state.   That is a woman and her dog at the fence which will have hollyhocks and other flowers around them and the fence.    Please check back soon to view more stages of this work in progress.

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"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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Wyoming Oil Landscape (Work In Progress - Third Stage)

Pinnacle Buttes Wyoming

Work In Progress - Third Stage

This Wyoming oil landscape painting was photographed indoors and the lighting makes it look a bit different in color than the previous post  (scroll down).   Sometimes the lighting outdoors gives a "pasty" look to paint that is not quite dry.    I believe that photographing a painting can be more difficult at times than the actual painting of it.  At any rate, this photo image is more accurate than the previous one in the post directly below this.   Much more detail needs to be added to complete this work.   

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On The Easel - Wyoming Oil Landscape (Second Stage - Work In Progress)

Pinnacle Buttes Wyoming

2nd Stage - Work in Progress

16" x 20" oil on panel

This oil landscape of Pinnacle Buttes in Wyoming is coming along and this is the second stage of its progress.   I intend to finish this painting this week.   I have also been working on other projects.  The evergreens need more work and, as you can see, so does the foreground.   

To view the reference photograph I took and the painting in its first stage go here . 

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Photographs of Kualoa Ranch - Oahu, Hawaii

Entrance to Kualoa Ranch

The center building has a nice gift shop as well as tasty food at their cafe.   In the not shown foreground is the beach across the road at Kaneohe Bay.

See the ATV's in the middle ground?   I was not adventurous enough to try them, but I have taken their jeep tours (which go more in the jungle) and also their bus tours.   The tour guides keep you informed and entertained as you travel along, and they are generous about stopping to let you take photographs.    Some shots I took from the windows as well.   

From the two photographs above you can see they have horseback riding at the ranch as well.   By the way, you can find out more information about the ranch and their tours at www.kualoa.com .   At more than one tour listed, they have short videos of beautiful scenery on their site. 

You can also have a wedding ceremony in different areas of the ranch.   This is a sixth generation working ranch complete with cattle and it was first established in 1850.

Above is yours truly when I took the Kualoa Ranch's catamaran boat tour.   Behind me is Chinaman's Hat Island, or Mokoli'i;, and behind that is the Koolau Mountain Range.   

Desert rose plant on the property

Above is what is left of the movie set "Mighty Joe Young".    Many movies have been filmed here; like 50 First Dates, Pearl Harbor, Jurassic Park, and Godzilla.  And of course most of the TV show  "Lost" scenes were filmed at Kualoa Ranch.   The ranch has a special "Movie Tour" you can choose if you wish. 

For more photographs and information on Kualoa Ranch, please visit my photography blog .

I am still painting so check back again soon.   

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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!

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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.

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"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 !

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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 !

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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 !

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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.

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"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

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Almost There - 5th Stage - Pink Water Lilies (Work In Progress)

Stage 5 Pink Water Lilies

Work In Progress

12" x 16" oil on gallery wrap canvas

Now I am getting somewhere with this painting!  After working on it again last night, this oil of pink water lilies is finally taking shape and going in the direction I want it to.  I had intended to wait until I finished it to post about it again, but I am so excited I wanted to share it today.  It may take a couple of more days to finish.   

Some of you may not have read my previous posts where I stated that I am a self-taught artist, and have learned to paint over decades of trial and error.   Most paintings nowadays flow easier than this one did, for whatever reason.    I learned most of my painting knowledge from books, dating back to when I was a teenager.    At age 15 the one I poured over most of all was "Carlson' s Guide to Landscape Painting" by John F. Carlson.  It's really an oldie, first published I believe in 1929 and the ninth printing was in 1971.   I believe you can still find it on Amazon.   I highly recommend it for beginning artists; but all artists at all stages in their career would benefit from this book.  

Having said all that, sometimes I still just paint by instinct;   I don't always know why I do what I do or if I could repeat it again.   Does anyone else relate?    

Thank you for viewing my art !

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Fourth stage - Oil Painting of Pink Water Lilies (Work In Progress)

4th Stage - Pink Water Lilies

12" x 16" Work In Progress

This stage of my oil pink water lilies painting has reverted back to colors and hues in a previous stage.   I guess it is obvious I am experimenting and feeling my way along with this painting.  Sometimes when I work I know exactly what I want the painting to say and exactly how the finish will be.   With this oil painting,  that is not the case.   However, one plus in working in layers of color and in several stages is that you can discover new colors or, should I say, the colors can be richer and have more depth.    I hope to finish this before I post it again .   

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