Another Flash Back Friday

Bang 15x20  Mixed Media on Illustration Board

This piece was created back in the college days.  It was actually a pivotal piece art for me. I was perfecting my "style" of my work.  The use of subtle colors, the dry brushing, the color pallet, etc.  It was all coming together and I was really enjoying the creation my work.

There were a couple of images before this one that got some mixed reviews from the college staff.  After creating one of these pieces I was told my art was too decorative and pretty and that I needed to include a little bit more about me and my personality in my work.  I needed to make my art more real and gritty.  My first response was that no one wants to see what's in my head, but the teacher taunted or encouraged me (depends on how you saw it) to create something more.

In another piece before this painting a different teacher asked me what the texture means in my work. I responded that it was just texture and I put it in there just because, it was to satisfy me and meant nothing to the image.  He thought that was lame and went on to explain me that everything I do in a painting will be judged differently by different people so I should really think before I do something.  Doing this, would take my art to the next level and become "deeper".

So with new thoughts in my head, I created this piece.  It was a break through, believe it or not. Along with thinking about what the teachers had recommended, this was the first painting I signed with my LR instead of my name.  This was the first time I included text within the art.  I mixed in a bit of my personality to the art.  I even got in my skivvy's and modeled for it.  It was fun.

The Latin words translates into :But it looks so impressive".

The art itself related to an article about toy gun control and how toy manufacturers needed to take realistic guns off the market so innocent people wouldn't get fooled or hurt.  Now we have bright orange colored gun toys and they all have bright orange caps at the end.  Progress for the human race.  I definitely feel safer now, do you?

Larry

Progress of Bev's Humming Bird

Progression of a painting.  

Have you ever wondered what goes on in an artists head?

Day1, hiding the white and laying in the first color

Day 1

     For this painting, the first step was to get some color down and do with style.  I toned my board with a earthen reddish color - I like to get rid of the white right away.  For the completed painting, I knew I wanted yellow as my strongest color so from this first thought my pallet of colors are all chosen, yellow - orange- reds with a bit of blues and purples. I see these colors in my mind.  It probably sounds like I'm choosing all the colors in the rainbow but green but there's more to it than that.  The purple is key.  Purple is an opposite to yellow so the more soft purple I have the more vibrant and beautiful my yellow will seem.  This is color theory 101.  The blues compliment the purple, the reds compliment the yellows.  Now to put the colors on with style.  Well, there wasn't really much style going on, It was just me and my pallet knife.

Da1, getting the color nailed down on the background.

     Here you can see me start to bring in the yellow.  At this stage it is actually a very dirty yellow, it just "looks" like nice yellow because of the colors around it.  If I would put a blob of this yellow color on a white back ground though you would think I was painting with the fancy kind of mustard -the kind with little bits of whatever floating in it.  Yep, not very pretty on the pallet.  To help me judge this yellow I drop in the beginning of the flower in with blues and purples.  This image is actually at the end of the first sitting, maybe 2 hours into the painting - if that.  But I see where it's going and I'm happy with it so I let it set up over night.  I do use an alkyd white and alkyd yellow to help the painting set up faster than normal oils.  The alkyds and the earth tones are key to getting oils done quickly.  Do you see the spot of bright yellow near the top right of the flower?  It looks bright Huh? Keep your eye on this spot.

Day 2

Day 2 blocking in humming bird

     Back at it.  Now I start to bring in hints of the humming bird, I add more to the flower and am constantly adjusting the background.  In the background adjustments, I am balancing richer color with what I expect the hummingbird to look like - as seen in my mind.  Do you still see that bit of yellow next to the flower? it is beginning to look less bright, right?  The cool pinkish color added next to it did this along with the lighter colors on the flower.  These additions make the yellow less intense.  Other things to see - the shadows from the flower pedals, the color on the birds belly.  I'm almost an hour and a half into this days work now.

Day 2, almost done.

     Here we are at the end my painting session for day two.  For the day, I'm little over 3 hours in, not long at all.  I still have lots of tie to work on other things.  But this painting is complete, except for the final highlights and last minute adjustments.  I just want to let it rest and get my mind off of it for a couple of days.  Do you still see that spot of yellow near the top right of the flower?  It used to be the brightest spot on the painting.  I haven't touched it.  It's still the same color as when I first touched paint brush to canvas. The brightest yellow now, up and to the left of the hummingbirds head, is a spot of pure yellow.  To tie everything together, I have put a lot of little color bits all over.  The orange from the hummingbirds neck is also to the left of the flower, in the background.  The red on the hummingbirds neck mimics the red in the flowers center and appears in the background as well.  Controlling this type of color is fun.  It's what keeps me coming back for more.

Day 3

Beverly's Hummingbird, 11x14, Oil on Wood Panel

Final shot of Bev's Hummingbird taken with my camera (not my phone) just before it was wrapped up for shipment.  This little guys home is in Oregon now.  He brightens up the room on all the cold, overcast, rainy days up there.

Larry

A little Friday Flash Back

3 little mice find a tasty treat.    Mixed media on illustration board

Here's an old one.  Originally I painted this and one other image for a counting book for HarcourtBrace.  The job was given to another artist since the art director thought my mice didn't look like mice and they weren't cute enough...  Can't win them all.  

I did use this image for years afterwords and got a lot of additional work because of it.  I guess it paid off in the long run.  It's also one of my favorite pieces from the past.

Hope ya'll had a good Friday.

Larry

The Time is Coming, What does this painting mean?

The Time is Coming 36x48 Oil on Canvas

I recently found out that my painting The Time is Coming won the Galleries Choice Award at Contemporary Art Gallery in Annapolis, Maryland.  I feel extremely blessed to be able to paint as I do and share my art with everyone.  At first glance, a lot of people may not notice that a lot of my art is Christian based.  I like to keep my Christian thoughts subtle in my work but this particular image is one of the more direct paintings.  Study the image a bit and come up with what you think it means then read on to learn what I was trying to convey:

Ready?  Here we go...

Revelations 16:16 calls out a place with the Hebrew name of Armageddon.  It is said that this is the place where all nations will come together and battle Christ.  Armageddon is translated from the Hebrew word Har Megiddo which means Hill of Megiddo.  This was an ancient city in Northwestern Palestine, Southeast of Haifa in present day Israel.  This name is depicted above the front door to this building.

The building I chose to depict here is completely made up but in my design I wanted a building that felt solid, like a bank, older government building or something along this line.  Surrounding the building I have added a few symbolic items to help tell my story.  Here's what I included:  Above the door you can see a United Nations symbol to push the idea of one government to rule all nations.  The gold statue bust above the central portico is my depiction of a false idol, it is ambiguous on purpose.  The gold front doors have tarnished to green to symbolize the decay of the building has started from within and is working it's way outside.  The entry stairs and the column bases have not tarnished yet but when they do will it effect the buildings strength?  The time of the clock is 3:06, or three sixes, the number of the beast.  These numbers have been lifted up, but not in a Righteous way, but rather in a man made way with ropes. The clock is big and looms over the people below in a dangerous way.  The ropes holding it up don't seem too strong or placed just right.  Will it come toppling down on the people below?  From the rear of the building, the destruction of the war has started and is depicted by the first plumes of smoke.  The smoke is dark and thick to show it is man made synthetic items that are burning, natural items tend to burn with a white or grey smoke plumage.  We see that  people have begun to arrive at this place, possibly for help and protection, but the doors to this building are closed and must be locked.  Overall, this painting is about a beginning of a very turbulent end of days where it may seem that all hope is lost.

But hope is not lost.  To the right of the painting there is a statue of angels with the inscription of IXOYE near the base.  These markings depict the Greek word for fish.  It was this marking that was once used by a group of people to mark secret entrances to safe houses and places of worship.  Within these places is where groups of people first came together to worship.  They were the first Christians.  The Greek word for fish was eventually replaced by a symbol in the shape of a fish that is still seen today, often on the back of people’s cars.  I wanted to express that even in the direst circumstances there is always hope and maybe if you just open you heart, lift your eyes and look around the corner you just might find it waiting for you there.
Matthew 7:13-14  "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

That's a lot to think about and to put into a painting.  I would love to here what you all think.  Did your first instincts about the painting express a note of destruction or a tinge of hope?

On  a more personal note:  I like to hide a "7" in a lot of my work.  Can you find the seven in this painting?

Prints of this painting are available here: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-time-is-coming-larry-reinhart.html  Many sizes are available and the prices start at only $17.

The Original painting can be seen in Riverside, CA.  Here is the link to the current show:  http://www.artscaperiverside.com/

Take care,

Larry

Flashback Friday - Steamed

Steamed.  Mixed Media on Illustration Board

03/11/2016

Here's my first flash back Friday for ya'll.  Here's a few things I remember out this piece:

    I used pictures of myself for reference on this image.  In a strange way, thats my face.

    The date of 2003 must have been a period when I was using this image for advertising.  I know it was painted before 2000.

    I painted this one while living in a single bedroom apartment with Raveen and Seven in Pasadena, CA.  I was attending Art Center College of Design at the time.

    I used mixed media to paint it.  I started with Acrylics, added water color, then a wash of purple oil that was rubbed off, followed by more acrylics, the steam was painted with Gouache and then finally detailed with colored pencils.  I was using each medium to its advantage so I could paint quickly.     

    This is a picture I would have / could have painted in a single day.  I was busy working two jobs, going to school and learning to be a dad, I had to use my time wisely.  - Maybe this was the inspiration for the image??

Check out the stuff flying out of the briefcase.  The old cell phone, the floppy disk, little calculator. Back in the day I didn't even own a cell phone.  I think I owned the calculator though and this was painted around the time I got my first computer with an external dial up modem for very early web access.  This image was before any knowledge of "Steam Punk."  Did I invent Steam Punk!!!

Ohhhhh, the memories.  Hope you all enjoy the art and have a good weekend.

Larry

The Carrot

The Carrot            36x48    Oil on Canvas        Sold

               

      I am fascinated by all types of animals, wild and tame. Every one of them is a creation assembled with extreme care and genius. I can see in their eyes that they all have a history or story to tell and I often think about what they would say if speech between us was possible.  I find it fascinating that different species of animals can outnumber us and yet they do not try to control us.  I am amazed how some of these animals could tear us limb by limb and yet attacks by these wild beasts are rare.  In Genesis 9:2 God tells us that He has put the fear and terror of us in all beasts and explains to us that He has placed them into our care. In general, this is why most animals, big or small, run from us when we call out to them.  So why then do we kill them, leave their meat to rot and take only the trophy?  Why do we push them out of their homes and into strange lands?  Why are we so eager to conquer these animals?  In my own strange way I find these intentions similar to someone dangling a carrot in front of a grizzly's face.  Doing something like this ignoring the grizzly's personal space, showing them we do not care for them.  Do we really expect the grizzly to run from us? What do you think you would see if you looked into his eyes at this moment?  If we are so rebellious that we do not do what is asked of us, care for these animals, then should we really expect the animals to fear us?  

     This painting is a result from my fascination with animals and is actually a self portrait of me and my family.  I do not intentionally harm the animals nor do I badger them, but I do adventure out into their homes and lands.  I sketch them and photograph them while they are out doing their private family things together.  I often wonder if this is morally wrong and if it upsets the animals.  I pray I never get that question answered when I'm out sketching a bear or a moose.  I dont bring carrots with me, but if I ever did they can have em!

Does anyone recognize the statue in the painting?  Let me know who you think it is and why I chose to depict it.  The painting got it's name from the central figure in front of the bear.  This depicts me as I dangle a carrot from a fishing pole in front of the bear.  The bear is so big because when you come across them, alone, in their land this is how big they feel to me.  In most of my big paintings I place a number 7.  This paintings number is on the base of the statue.  And one last note, be careful around the animals.  Try picking a fight with a raccoon and see who wins.  Raccoons are small and bears, cats, things with horns are a lot bigger.  Buy a zoom lens, it's cheaper!

I'm an artist, a hiker, a search and rescue professional, and a lover of animals.    

-Larry

Day 31, Remember These?

30 Paintings in 30 Days      All 6x6 Oil on Panels

So my big question to myself is, What did I get out of the last thirty days of painting?

Well besides selling five of them, hating four of them, loving six of them and learning something useful from 21 of them...

1) Landscapes have long mystified me and bored me. I have a better understanding of them now and may actually enjoy them.  It has certainly made me more aware of my surroundings.

2) I got some practice painting with lighter backgrounds.  I practiced "blocking in," and I think I am beginning to see shapes and values better.  -Nerdy art stuff.

3) I can now paint small, quickly, and confidently.  I know what brushes to use, I know what color to bring.  Kind of liberating.

4) I tried a few colors that I haven't tried in years.  I have a better understanding what I like and don't like now.  I brought a new color into my pallet - black.  I was mixing my darks before with Ultra Blue and Raw Umber, or similar variations.  I like black better.

5) I built a field easel a few years ago but have only used it a few times.  I used it for about 25 or so paintings this month.  Definitely feel more comfortable with it now.  I can't wait to take it camping or on other excursions.

6) For the last 20 paintings, I used three brushes.  Half inch flat, quarter inch flat, and a pointed one.  The larger flat on a six inch painting is like using a three inch brush on my larger paintings.  That's a big brush.  I can't wait to try it.

7) I definitely got some practice posting blogs, sharing on Facebook, and photographing art.  I'll have to keep this practice up.

8) I tried painting with a pallet knife.  This is new to me. I'll need to keep trying to incorporate this tool into my paintings.  I am just beginning to see the pros of it.

9) I have wanted to get back to figure painting but have been a bit nervous about it.  The few I did has helped me overcome the nervousness.

That's a fair trade for a weeks worth of time invested (40-ish hours).   I definitely have some new ideas to work on and I am excited to continue.  I think this exercise has a similar post feeling  as driving from California to New York and back again.  After you complete a drive like that, a couple hours drive to the beach is nothing.

Hope everyone has enjoyed this months worth of work.  To make sure you don't miss out on future blogs, you should enter your email address up top - to the right.  Then you don't need to worry about missing a Facebook post.

Take care,

Larry

Day 30, The End

Mill Creek Buddies  6x6  Oil on Panel

The goal I set for the first of this year was to paint 30 paintings in 30 days.     I made it.

Now what? ...

I think I'll have a celebratory beer, take a half hour break, then get back to painting.

Have a good night!

Completed January 30th

Larry

Day 29, The Artist's Muse

The Artist's Muse  6x6  Oil on Panel

She is my wife,
She is the mother of my children,
She is my best friend,
She is my sister (Sit Down! Not the Redneck type but rather my sister in Christ - just need to make sure y'all got that crystal clear. - I mean it.)
She is my muse,
She is my life.

I swear to God this girl could be picking her nose and I would still want to paint her.

Completed January 29th

Larry

Day 28, Thinking About You

Thinking About You  6x6  Oil on Panel

Day 28.  In my last few paintings, I have been exploring other colors a bit and the end results have not been so good in my eyes.  I like my earth tones and muted pallet of colors.  I really don't like bright greens, purples, pinks, and yellows.  All day today I have been thinking about how I need to pull myself out of this self imposed slump I was feeling.  My conclusion, it would be this painting that I would get back to my normal pallet and I would reconnect with my art again.

Ahhhh!  It feels good to be back.

I know to some this painting may look unfinished.  I was in fact planning to put her in a white shirt. But upon further speculation though, I think it looks wonderful as is.  Knowing when to stop is a huge battle.

Have a wonderful night.

Completed January 28th.

Larry

Day 27 Building Blocks of Life

Building Blocks 6x6 Oil on Panel

I had a required fine art class in College and in this class we were to paint a self portrait.  This was no ordinary self portrait though.  This had to be a portrait of our lives, a glimpse into our souls, something truly special, an expression of our inner beings.  Yep, not my favorite class.  To make it worse, we, meaning the students, graded one another right then and there.  And let me tell you, I was not the most popular kid in this class of Twinkies.

Today's painting is kind of like what I painted for this "self Portrait."  When I presented it I really poured out my soul to the class. You have to understand, the oral presentation or the paper write up is the true art here, not the works that are produced.  Anyways, I explained how I played with Lego's my entire life and how I built my way through happiness and sadness.  I explained how I was like the bricks in how they are simple but can make complex things.  I explained how in my life things don't always go as planned and we often get the opposite effect of what we where trying for (hence the purple and yellow bricks - opposites on the color wheel.)  An on and on I went for 10 minutes.

When I was done, the class judged and I was given an A minus.  This was crazy good because all my prior grades for this class were D's and F's.  But this time I nailed it.  The teacher praised me for finally letting out my soul and exposing myself.  I smiled and thanked them all then I told them the news.  This was a performance art.  The painting of the bricks is just a painting and means nothing to me.  I made up the story and performed my dance to just tug at your heart strings.  I explained that my self portrait was standing right in front of them.  If they wanted to know me on such a personal level all they need to do is say HI.  The class was absolutely pissed.  The teacher decided that since I changed my presentation that the class should re vote.  I got an F.

Looking back on this I laugh.  But I also wonder if I could have possibly got anything out of this class if I was not such a closed minded ass.  Probably not.  This is the same class that I had to sit for an hour and meditate for a grade - I feel asleep and got a D.

At the end of the semester, I went to the Dean and discussed my lousy grade.  We brought in the teacher and I quoted her as saying that art was to move people, to touch them deep down and really bring out thoughts or ideas that would change them.  And these feeling could be good or bad, fun or scary.  Then I proceeded to point out that I did exactly that on every assignment.  I had the majority of the class infuriated with me and my ideas.  I had the class arguing about different aesthetics and directions.  I explained how my  actions in the class exposed how like minded and intertwined the rest of the students were and how I was one who stood out and demanded every ones attention, criticism and praise.  Everyone else's art did not move the class in any way as much as mine did.

I got an A.

Stand up for what you believe!  I graduated with Honors of Distinction.

Completed January 27th.

Larry

Day 26. Old Days

Old Days  6x6 Oil on Panel

I remember the old days when I didn't have to paint a picture everyday.  I remember the old days when my paintings weren't small and square.  Ahhh, the good ol' days.

Day 26, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

It's hard to paint a finished painting in a day.  Many of these little guys would be even better if I went back and touched them up the next day.  But, that was part of my goal.  I paint these in a day then they are done.  I'm okay with that.

I'm going to show you all the best part of being an artist.  Look below.

Yep, this is my reference shot for this painting.  I took it while driving about 60 MPH.  Doesn't look much like the painting huh?  This is one of the hardest things for an artist to understand.  Don't be a slave to what you are painting.  What I shoot with a camera is only for reference.  If  I wanted my painting to look just like this image, I would have kept the photo.  Make the painting your own. Does this make sense?

Completed January 26th.

Larry