An A for Aspen

A-Frame in the Fields 5x7 Oil on Paper $90

An Oregon view.  Wouldn't this make an awesome studio location?  My daughter and I could work in here for years, get the floors all covered in paint, play music constantly and dance.  I would name the studio after her because of the A-frame design.

Back to reality -

I don't think I'm going to make it till the end of the month with this painting challenge.  I realize I have just a few days left but my mind is going a bit nuts.  I got sick too.  Being sick is bad because I just lay around and think about all the things I could have painted in the day, but I don't get actually paint them.  I've got a few things I am itching to get back to and complete.  I've got a commission I need to focus more on. I've got a dog that is full of energy.  And I don't have enough time for them all.  Oh what to do?

I'm going to do what feels right.  

I learned a lot in this past month and I'm ready to take this new stuff to use in bigger, grander works. This is definitely a good decision.

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see what's happening on a regular schedule.  I'll be posting here at the blog as often as I can, definitely more than last year.

I do have a special request from one of my followers.  Her name is Sheila.  Sheila has left messages on the majority of my posts here on the blog.  Sheila's profile is not available though, so I have no way of replying to all the kind words she has given me this last month.  Sheila, would you be willing to privately email me at ldreinhartstudio@yahoo.com ?  I would greatly like to ask you a question.

So, what's next?  I'm not sure.  It feels like a just lifted a weight off my shoulders though.  Let's keep in touch.

Life is good - always.

-Larry

Where'd the cows go? Abducted?

Valley With No Cows  5x7 oil on paper  $90

I named this the Valley With No Cows because there where actually cows there, I just chose not to paint them.   Nope, they weren't abducted for their T-Bones.

With this scene from Peeple's Valley, Arizona I wanted to paint a higher key paining - meaning everything is lighter in value, closer to the white side then the dark side.  Closer to the Rebellion than the Empire - for you Star Wars fans.  I also played around with the pinks and purples again but kept them soft and not so in your face.  And, I did this using a pallet knife.  Yep another pallet knife painting. Even though this painting is kind of simple, I am slowly getting more control of the pallet knife.  I'm happy to say I didn't have a single "oh crap" situation.  I think thats a first in using this tool.

I still want to paint more cows, I just thought they would turn out as little dark grey spots at this size, using the pallet knife as I did.

Here's a Reinhart folk tale, might be true or it might be a bit tall:  My dad, in his younger years, ran out one morning to tend to things on his parents homestead.  He did this in his bare feet so he could keep his shoes clean for school.  I think my mom was there, leaning on the fence, waiting for him. By the time he got done his feet had gotten so wet and cold that they went numb and he had trouble walking.  To make sure he didn't fall and get his school clothes dirty he thawed his feet by standing in a big pile of steamy cow poop.  And my mom still married him!

I've been known to do odd stuff too, but have yet to attempt this one.  Maybe one day, when I have my own cows, I'll have the necessity of this.

Have a good warm day!

-Larry

Beauty in all the mundane things we do.

Stator Bros Sunset  5x7 oil on paper  $90

I try to find the beauty in all the mundane things I do.  This helps keep the mundane things not so mundane.  I was at the grocery store the other day, Stator Brothers, and when I walked out I was greeted by this beautiful sunset.  Lucy, my new dog, gave me a yelp from the back of the truck and I felt so thankful for all I have.  Life can be so good.

My mom made a comment the other day that about my recent work not being so "perfect."  She's right, I have been exploring a looser painting style.  Working looser helps me explore a bit without the worries of goofing up a nice painting.  The things I am exploring are the block in of the painting, the colors, how the paint is applied, what scene I like best and some other things like painting with the Thalo Blue the other day.

I have noticed that it is the paintings that have more primary, saturated colors get the most remarks. Also the sunset types seem to be a favorite.  For me thats not so good.  I don't really like the iconic sunsets and I don't care for blaze oranges or overly saturated yellows or any other color.  What a dilemma.  What should I do?

Anyways, this painting is for all of you, and of course my mom.  I spent a bit more time on it and finished it a bit nicer, it's a sunset, and it has some bright colors.  Please don't get me wrong, I did enjoy this one.  But I'd rather not paint these allllll the time.  Is that bad?

Have a good day and keep an eye open during any mundane things you do, you can get some sweet surprises!

Blessings,

-Larry

Blue sky's

Old Yeller  5x7 oil on paper  $90

I think this is my first vertical format painting this month.

In this scene from Peeple's Valley, I used a Thalo Blue for the sky.  Unlike the purple from a couple of days ago, I never really got into using Thalo Blue.  I think I still have the original tube I bought back in art school.  I had fun with it and it made some really pretty grays on the ground but I sure did have a hard time photographing it.  It kept coming out REALY intense.  I also lost some of my gradations in the photo shoot.  Lots of digital adjustments to try and wiggle it back into reality.  I sacrificed a bit of the yellow to get the blue some-what right.

Other blues I use include: (listed in order of favoritism)
Cerulean
Ultramarine
Prussian
Cobalt
Indanthrene
Thalo

I know them all and they all serve a particular purpose.

Usually, when I paint, I'll choose one of these to be my primary blue (Cerulean) and then choose another to be a secondary (Ultramarine or Prussian).  When painting sky's with Cerulean Blue I'll mix in a bit of Yellow Ochre (a muddy yellow) and Alizarine Crimson (like a wine red).  This mixture creates a grey-ish purple blue that just works beautifully.  To lighten this mixture I'll use a Naples Yellow Light (a very light, washed out yellow) and Titanium White (pure white).  For foul weather I introduce a bit of Ivory Black (just black).  When painting, depending on the size of painting, I'll change the mix of paint a bit with every 3-6 brush strokes.  On large studio painting the sky usually gets two coats of color, allowing the paint to set up or nearly dry in between coats.  Doing this ensures the sky is not a flat blue which make the painting look dead.

Did you know a simple sky blue could be so difficult?

Good times.

-Larry

Moo, again

Steak 5x7 oil on paper $90

Peeple's Valley, Arizona.

Someday I want to raise my own beef.  It's a bucket list / life style thing.  I'd like to get two of them so they're not alone.  I would also like to get a horse so I can ride off in the evening and bring in the cows - that just sounds like fun.  When it would be time to make meat, I would keep one for myself and give the other to the church - except for the T-Bones, I'd keep those, maybe cook one for my mom.   Wishful thinking - huh?

But really, I have always wanted to paint cows.  I actually have painted a cow, one other time, but it had a crown on its head and the aliens were coming down to abduct it.  Check it out-

Moo    oil on panel

This painting is in someones private collection.  There are other cow lovers out there!

I got the idea for this painting after seeing a report about a community who was fearful for their livestock because they claimed aliens were abducting them.  I remember thinking - Well of course, they want a T-Bone for dinner and a glass of milk with their Oreo's for desert.  Right?  Wouldn't that be great if that is what brought us all together?  I think we would need more cows though.

I think I'll paint more of them.  I'll have to dwell on this a bit.

Have a good Saturday.

-Larry

Purple Majesty

Purple Majesty  5x7 oil on paper $90

Hello Purple.  I haven't painted with purple in a long time.  In fact, I haven't painted with Dioxazine Purple in years.  I used to use this color a lot in my illustration days.  It can be a bear to control but it sure is pretty.

This is another local scene, from Oak Glen, California.  I need to get out more.

Below is a camera shot I took of the scene that inspired me.  I cropped it to make it as similar to the painting as possible.  What attracted me was the reddish purple plant growing near the trees.  I don't know the name but its a native brush that grows around here.  Up close it can be a beautiful rust color.

I just almost posted this without adding the reference picture.  Whoops.

Cheers,

Larry

Play'in in the rain today.

Fence Line 5x7 Oil on Paper $90

What drew me to this scene was the fence.  It's a modest and simple fence.  I know it marks someones property but when viewed at this angle it seems to be a barrier to block one from the great mountains.  Or maybe it is a barrier to block the great mountains and it inhabitants from us.  In such a wide open space why does there need to be barriers?  Just a thought.

Fence Line is a scene from Oak Glen California.  It is probably the quickest painting I have completed this month.  It only took me a half hour.  I was play'in with brush work, colors and speed. It worked, I'm happy with it.

I should point out that the half hour to paint starts at the first brush mark of sky color to the last color of the foreground.  The half an hour doesn't include prepping and toning the paper for oils, nor does it include the photographing, archiving and blog posting portion.  On average I would guess I am spending 2.5 - 3 hours on each image taking everything into account.  In the pricing I am thinking of my time, materials and shipping.  Shipping is included anywhere in the US if you choose to purchase one.  

Have I mentioned these are painted on a 8x10 inch paper, image size is 5x7.  This means you can pick out a frame of your choice and easily have it hanging on your wall the same day you get it in the mail.  On further thought, in a way, a frame is a barrier to contain the painting - How ironic.

It's supposed to rain all day here.  I think I'll go play in the rain.

Take care,

-Larry

A Dark Morning

Yucaipa Ridge Warming Up  5x7 Oil on Paper  $90

A start of a new day happens best with a new painting!

Enjoy,

-Larry

Stripes in Pale Green

Stripes in Pale Green  5x7 Oil on Paper 2017

I failed to post yesterday.  Bummer.

I try to keep at least a day ahead so I can write this blog the night before and have it scheduled to post the following morning.  Doing it this way sends out the Facebook notification same day - I don't know why but if I post in the middle of the day the Facebook notification doesn't go out until the following day.

This last weekend I spent a lot of time getting Lucy's pen all set up.  Lucy is my new dog, I just said goodbye to my last dog in November.  There is a HUGE difference between a one year old or younger dog and one who was over 14 years old.  So I'm going through a new learning curve with Lucy.  I have forgotten how fun and how irritating a new dog can be.  I went through a couple change of clothes Saturday do to muddy paw prints.  She got into my daughters Sculpty clay and chewed it all up like it was puppy bubble gum.  I walked into the studio Saturday and she was standing on top of my work table - next to a wet oil painting pallet - barking out the window at some birds.

In addition to getting the pen Lucy proof (so I can transition her out of the studio) I attended an artist gathering at a local gallery (http://thethresholdartgallery.com/ ) and I had other artists visit my studio on Sunday.  I have been staying up too late and getting up too early.

Sunday night came around and I thought- I could stay up late and get my painting done, photograph it, do post production, then write a post - but I was too tired so I watched a movie and went to bed.  I know - horrible artist person - bad, bad, bad.  The funny thing is, when I was photographing the painting for today I was checking my drying space and there I saw a funny thing.  A new unused painting.  I had moved it to the drying space instead of the photography space because of the studio visit.  Then I proceeded to just forget about it.  I had to double check the blog to verify it wasn't used.

Long story - short, I could have posted yesterday.  I could have also posted two painting today.  But in my reality, I'm gong to save it for tomorrow so I can be a day ahead.

Have a good day,

-Larry

Room to View

On Line 5x7 Oil on Paper $90

An Oregon View.  This one I painted with a pallet knife - no brushes.  Trust me, it's harder than it looks.

In other news, I been talk'in about a new addition to my studio.  Well....

Lucy Reinhart

She's a good girl.  I'm very blessed she has joined the family.

Lucy Reinhart has a good sniffer

Larry

Hometown Silhouette

Ave A Sunset  5x7 Oil on Paper  $90

Yesterday, I painted the glowing clouds along Bryant Street.  Today, I paint the silhouette of a palm as I look down Ave A.

I live in a nice place.

Ya'll have a good weekend.

-Larry

Hometown Beauty

Bryant Street Sunset  5x7 Oil on Paper  $90

Sometimes you don't need to go far to find beauty.  Sometimes it's right out your front door.  There's actually many things I find beautiful in my hometown of Yucaipa, California.  I should paint more of these things but I tend to get caught up in the places I have traveled or have lived in the past.  I wonder why that is?

The sun was setting on these bits of clouds the other day and I knew I had to paint them.

I was going to show you all something new in my studio today but I got so behind schedule because of it I don't have any picture to show.  I'll need to make sure and get some for tomorrow.

-Larry