Thursday, March 29, 2012

Beauty And Age - Descanso Gardens


"Beauty And Age" - Descanso Gardens
16" x 20" oil on canvas

The ancient Wisteria vine almost takes center stage in this completed oil painting of a scene at Descanso Gardens, which is about a twenty minute drive from Los Angeles, California.   I spent many hours at these beautiful gardens.   

For purchase information please contact me at  reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Hanalei Valley, Kauai - Photos

After posting my painting earlier today of "Spring In Hanalei Valley", I thought perhaps I should have included some of my reference photographs of the scene.    Here they are :



The above photos were both taken from the overlook just before you enter the charming town of Hanalei on Kauai.   The top photo area is in reality to the right of the bottom photo. Those are taro fields in various stages of growth and wetness; makes delightful patterns to try to capture on canvas.    Below is yours truly at the overlook.

Tomorrow it is back at the easel  to work on two larger oils I need to finish.   I don't believe I have introduced you to my studio assistant; here is a photo of her on my patio outside the studio door. Her name is Callie.


Thank you for stopping by to visit today!

Spring In Hanalei Valley


"Spring In Hanalei Valley"
12" x 24" Oil on canvas
$3200

This painting won an "Honorable Mention" award in the 2010 Paint America Top 100 competition.  I thought I would post it here because my niche is primarily painting scenes of Hawaii.   The above landscape is a scenic overlook on the island of Kauai right before entering the quaint town of Hanalei.   Those are taro fields in the painting.   
Prints are available of this painting through Fine Art America and may be found at my site there by clicking here or checking out the link above on this blog under "Prints" below the painting of horses in my header.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Getting There !

Work In Progress
Descanso Gardens Third Stage
16" x 20" oil on canvas

I was in oil  painter's heaven today working on this painting I posted previously (go here) .  This photograph does not pick up all the color properly, but hopefully next time I show this painting it will be finished and I can photograph it outside.   It was late at night when I took this photo.   I still have a lot of work to do on this piece.      

Thank you for stopping by and visiting !

Thursday, March 22, 2012

The Oil Is Flowing

"Hawaiian Sunset"
4" x 6" oil on panel
$225

The oil is flowing again - at the easel that is.   I switched back to using oils today and it felt wonderful.  This miniature seascape is a "warm up" for the larger oil (of a different subject) that I will work on tomorrow.   I may tweak this seascape a little more, but I rather like its simplicity and slightly impressionistic look.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

White Rooster

"White Rooster"
5" x 7" acrylic on canvas


This work is on 3/4 inch stretched canvas and has its sides painted as well.
This is the last rooster painting for awhile, unless someone commissions me to paint another.   I am anxious to work on some larger oils that I have started and that are in various stages of development.   

Saturday, March 17, 2012

All Puffed Up (Rooster)


"All Puffed Up"  
5" x 7" Acrylic on canvas

This rooster is rather full of himself !  He puffed up his head feathers just as I snapped a photo of him; perfect timing.   This painting is on 3/4 inch stretched canvas and painted on the sides.  If you are interested in purchasing this painting please send me an email.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Beauty And Age - Descanso Gardens Second Stage

Work In Progress - Second Stage
"Beauty And Age" Descanso Gardens
16" x 20"

I worked on this again in the wee hours this morning, using acrylic paints.   It is time to begin going over it and finishing it in oils.   To view the reference photograph and the first stage of this painting go here   .  I used Open Golden Acrylics while working on this, so I may give it more time to dry before beginning in oils and start work on another miniature in the meantime.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Dinard Blue Heaven Cattleya Orchid (Photos)

Photos of the Dinard Blue Heaven cattleya orchid have attracted a lot of attention on my photography blog...... (go here) ... and I thought I would share a few reference photos of that beautiful orchid with you here as I intend to paint it very soon.  I did make a post with one photo of "Blue Heaven" some time back on this blog, but thought I would share it again with more photographs.

Dinard Blue Heaven Cattleya Orchid

This orchid only had two blooms on it when I bought it and two very tiny buds.  Below is a photo taken of the buds as they were opening.  I took several shots of the buds and the flowers.   

I am pretty sure I will paint this orchid large, like on a 18" x 24" canvas or 24" x 24".   Below is a photo of all four flowers open in all their glory.

To me, Dinard's Blue Heaven is more of a lavender color than pale blue.   Alas, the plant died shortly after blooming because I have trouble growing orchids; African Violets and most other flowers thrive under my care, but not orchids.    

Monday, March 12, 2012

Beauty And Age - Descanso Gardens (work in progress)

Work in progress
"Beauty And Age"
16" x 20" on canvas

I laid this out very quickly a few minutes ago in acrylics.  My intention is to finish it in oils.   This is a scene at Descanso Gardens a few years ago. These gardens are in a suburb of Los Angeles, California.  I have always meant to paint it, and it feels good to finally begin work on it and also to do a larger canvas for a change.   I can see I need to work on the angle of the bench; like I said, this is a very rough quick lay-in of color and shapes.   Below is my reference photograph.


I believe that twisting vine is a wisteria plant not yet in bloom.   Please correct me if I am wrong.  

Now back to the easel !

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Peach Elegance (Orchid)


"Peach Elegance" 
4" x 6" Acrylic on canvas on panel
$195.00

This orchid had many subtle shades of pink, peach, and orange but I believe I captured it pretty close.

Thank you for visiting !

Everything's Peachy (Waterlilies)


"Everything's Peachy"
4" x 6" acrylic on canvas on panel
$195

Waterlilies are a favorite subject of mine to paint.   This is a study for a larger painting in the future.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Orchids and Waterlilies - Works In Progress

I have been painting, but other obligations are making the going slow.   I am working on 3 miniatures right now; here are two of them.


Both of these 4" x 6" acrylic miniatures on canvas on Raymar panel are still very rough, especially the orchids.    I still have much more work to do on them, but wanted to make a post today to let you know I am still busy painting.   Thank you for visiting !

Monday, March 5, 2012

Hamakua Marsh - Kailua, Oahu (photos)

A few minutes ago I made a new post on my photography blog with photos of Hamakua Marsh and some of the birds found there.  For you bird lovers, go here to check it out.  Below are a couple of photos I did not post at that site.




The top photograph is of the Black-Necked Stilt or Ae'o and the bottom shot is of the Common Moorhen or 'Alae'ula which are both endemic to the Hawaiian islands.   I recently made another trip to Hamakua Marsh and got some great reference photos for future paintings.   All this makes me want to paint wildlife right now(!!), but I need to finish some other work I have started first.  

Hope to have completed some new work to post by tonight so check back soon.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Taking It All In - Makapu'u Lighthouse (completed)


"Taking It All In"
(completed work)
6" x 4" acrylic on canvas on panel
$225

I finished this today and the color in this image is much truer than my first post the other day.  There are no seagulls in Hawaii but we do have, among other seabirds, the White Fairy Tern and I added the terns in the painting for more interest.  The white fairy tern , or  Manu-o-ku in Hawaiian, are very lovely and when I am able to finally get some good close-up photos of them I will paint "portraits" of them.

Below is my reference photograph for this painting.

 Other paintings are in the works, so please return often.  Thank you for your visit today!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Taking It All In - Makapu'u Lighthouse Oahu

"Taking It All In"
6" x 4" Acrylic on canvas on panel
$225

This painting needs some more work- after I go tomorrow and buy some new smaller brushes !  It is almost there, however.   Makapu'u Lighthouse is on the Windward side or East side of Oahu.  It was built in 1909 and automated in 1974.  There is a 2 mile path to the lighthouse and in the winter months it is an excellent spot to watch Humpback whales. 

The man was really sitting there in a chair when I took the reference photo for this painting.  There needs to be some slight color correction in this work; I will post the image again after tweaking it a bit.