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Here it is… finally got a few minutes this weekend to finish it up. I hope you like how it turned out! To purchase, please visit my other website artbyrhayes.com
Latest
Loose as a Goose… or Elephant!
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Sometimes in a persons life, they need to loosen up. You know, undo that top button on your shirt, throw an old pair of jeans on, and loosen your belt (those who still have gluteal muscles) not me, yep straight as a board. This painting is still in progress, with details and highlights yet to be put in, but I’m using it as a learning tool to stay loose. I watched a video of an amazing Australian artist Robert Hagan that inspired me to once again, back up on the brush, back up on the canvas, and relax. Man does this stress me out! Relax, relax, how can I relax when trying to stay loose while painting. How does he put so much life, color, movement, and a detail that’s not detailed but sure looks it when viewed. Wow! I love this style of painting and I hope to get better at it, that is unless I stroke out from the stress trying to stay loose!
This painting is a still in progress, 18″ x 24″ acrylic on stretched canvas
Twisted Love – Hot and Cold
Decided to play around and try something different. Driftwood and trees aren’t something different for me, but the twisted color palette is. I wanted to show a struggle between hot and cold, love and hate, and how they dance together sometimes as one. War is a horrible thing, but at times we have to fight in order to keep freedom, safety, and yes even save lives, by killing others. Like in war, there is hate and evil, and we could stand aside and see innocent women, children and men die at the hands of evil, but because of caring and love for the innocent, we fight to save those and secure our future safety. This struggle goes on in families, communities, the work place, politics, and within our own hearts. I guess without the one, we would soon lose appreciation for the other.
This isn’t finished yet, I have more leaves at the top to fill in, but wanted to post something new. Click on the image to zoom in and I apologize for the poor quality photo. It is all watercolor and for the first time in a long time… I used no Black, I know shocking!
Leave comments on whether you like it or not, either way I won’t be offended.
I’m Seeing Red
Wow, am I seeing red! MAD! You’re darn right I’m mad! MAD about my kids! MAD about my family! And most of all, I’m MAD about my wife! I’m even MAD about you people! So, you’re asking… Ryan, why are you so MAD about all these things? Well, the MAD that I’m talking about, is the good MAD. I’m not sure how words that have original meanings such as Mad, Crazy, and Bad, have been turned into words that mean just the opposite. I remember years ago when everyone was saying “That’s so BAD” which meant great, for an example, when you bought the biggest BADDEST boom box (Large music device, with huge speakers, carried upon your shoulder… for those under the age of 30) your friends would say “that is sooooo BAD” meaning that is soooo COOL! The same goes for the word MAD, it just takes a few changes in words to change the meaning of MAD, such as “I’m MAD about you” Good…. “I’m MAD at you” bad, and bad as in bad, not good???? I think… now I’m getting confused. And for the term “CRAZY about you” is that a good thing? Or is it more of the creeper, stalker like CRAZY about you? And then you have words that doesn’t have a good or bad meaning at all thrown in there to really make it confusing. Now I’m a little to young for this one, but at one time being HIP was a good thing? What? What is good about being called a body part, and who choose HIP as the body part? Why wasn’t it Arm, or Nose, for an example “Wow Betty, that new dress makes you look soooo Nose” instead of “Wow Betty, that new dress makes you look soooo HIP”. The other two words that are just the opposite but are used in the same way, is COOL and HOT! I’ve been called COOL before, but I think that they really meant HOT… O.k. maybe not, but in my head, that’s what they meant. And can you be COOL and HOT and the same time? Halle Berry seems to be COOL, and Lord knows she’s HOT, but how is that possible if the words mean the complete opposite… this is the type of thing that makes you say Hmmm.
So what I’m really trying to say is that I’m MAD about you, not in a BAD way, but in a COOL way, not cool as in cold, but in that, I think you’re HIP way, not as in the body part that most women complain about, but in that, I’m CRAZY about my bloggers way, but not in that, I’m up in a tree just outside your window CRAZY, but in the way… Oh I give up! You know what I mean.
I have been really busy and I hope that you all hang with me and keep coming back. I have enjoyed, learned, and laughed so much in the last two years with all of you, and I hope to continue in the coming year. Thank you!
This is a 4″ x 4″ watercolor that I played around with last night. I haven’t had a lot of time to paint because of shows and demonstrations, but wanted to do something to stay practiced. Hope you like it!
Cardinals Win!
But this little guy doesn’t act that happy about it. Sure the other cardinals are making millions of dollars, living in huge HEATED homes, or better yet flying to some tropical island for the winter until spring training. While this little sits in a pine tree draped with heavy snow and as snow continues to fall on his little head. Life would be a lot better for him if they made Snuggies in his size!
Oh and congratulations to the St. Louis Cardinals and their amazing year of baseball. I’m not a huge baseball fan, NFL football and College basketball are my favorites, but I’ll have to admit that the ending season and the World Series this year was pretty exciting.
I did this 7″ x 10″ watercolor last night while watching t.v., I haven’t had a lot of time to paint so I wanted to do something simple just to keep myself painting. Everyone have a safe and family filled Thanksgiving, and give thanks for what you have no matter how little it is.
Santa – Limited Edition Prints
Hot off the press, My first Limited Edition, numbered, signed, 4 color digital litho Prints of my “Santa’s Wink” watercolor. The print has an image size of 12″ x 16″, and printed on a Heavy Acid Free 80lb cover stock, that can be easily matted and framed in a standard 16″ x 20″ frame. I’m sure this would make a wonderful gift for that person who have everything, collects Santas or just to fill a spot with a holiday touch. I appreciate all of you, and I hope that you will help me out and do some marketing for me.
The specs:
Limited Edition (500, and only 500) Digital 4 color Litho Print
Signed and numbered by the artist
12 3/4″ x 17″ sheet size / 12″ x 16″ Image size
80lb Heavy Cover Stock Acid Free Paper
$35.00 + SH
Thank you again!
Frosted Holly Berries – Watercolor
I’m not sure if anyone that reads my blog has ever had a holly tree in their yard, but I have. My mom had a large one in the backyard, and although they are beautiful trees, these things are death waiting to happen. O.K. I went a little over board on the description, but for anyone that has gone barefoot anywhere near these things, you know what I mean. The green daggers of death are bad enough, but then they dry to be these brown daggers that will take an entire foot off at the ankles if hit just right. O.k., again I may have exaggerated a little, but those barefoot’n rednecks like myself, you know what I mean. I was barefoot so much of my life, that my feet were like toughened leather. Why I could run full speed down a gravel rocked road… didn’t hurt. I could walk in fields of briars, weeds, cross barbed wire fences… didn’t hurt. I once had to drive nails while building a barn with my feet… didn’t hurt (that’s a lie by the way). But when I stepped on one of these claws of the devil called holly leaves…. I screamed like a school girl on a roller coaster for the first time, yup, high-pitched, tearful and just throw something pink on me girl yell, because these things hurt! But it is almost Christmas, and I’m pretty sure instead of a crown of thorns when Jesus was crucified, they used these dried up Devil claws holly leaves wrapped as a crown. Beautiful! But painful!
This watercolor is a 12″ x 16″ on 140lb coldpress paper.
Also prints of the Santa Winking found on the pryer post is now available in a 500 Limited Edition, signed and numbered, on nice 80lb cover acid free stock. They are $35.00 plus shipping. Please, this is my first attempt at prints, so help me get the word out. They can contact me at ryanhayes.art@gmail.com
Thanks!
Why? God – watercolor
Questions, life is full of questions. I’m not talking about those questions that have definite answers, you know, the ones asked in school, although I didn’t have answers for very many for those either, But they did have answers. The questions that I’m talking about are those in our past that made us stop and either wonder why, or possibly cry, because we questioned. One of my most tearful questions for years, was my mom divorcing my dad. I was nine, and I can tell you that this tore major holes in my heart, so I questioned why. The loss of my grandparents that were the most religious and God-loving people, and yet taken by cancer, I questioned why. The meeting of my wife in high school, her being so good, and I was a waste, but she still found love with me, I questioned how I deserve this. The birth of my two brilliantly smart and absolutely beautiful both physically and within their hearts, I questioned how did I deserve them. There were times that I questioned my faith, and just wanted to scream to the Lord above, WHY! Why would you take such wonderful, God-loving people, that were some of the purist of Christian love so early in life. I didn’t just question, but I was angry. How could the Lord take a young child and allow cancer to eat their bodies away until death, and yet allow, what could be a healthy person, kill their bodies with drugs and alcohol. But I do know, after months, or years after I questioned why on these occasions, there always seemed to be an answer given. Unfortunately, so many people and especially young kids, question, but don’t allow enough time to go by to see the answer. My wife’s cousin, and a good high school friend of mine both questioned, but took their lives before they could receive and answer. The sad thing is, if they would have given it a day, or weeks, I’m sure that both would have been living a good life today with children and a wife, but sadly they’re gone.
What I wanted to show in this painting was pain being felt, but a prayer bringing a glimpse of hope into this young girls heart and eyes. Watching my girls grow, and go through high school, I have seen a lot of pain in their hearts, and I remember having that pain myself as a child and young adult, where you weren’t sure if your heart can take anymore pain, and whether it was all worth it. I can tell you, it is worth it, be strong, work hard at everything you do, and most importantly, have Faith, have Faith in yourself, friends, family and most importantly in God. Don’t hold things in, it’s not worth it, talk to your friends and family about things that bother you, but most importantly, close your eyes, open your heart, and pray. As you grow in faith, you will grow in confidence, friendships, and the love of life.
The painting is a 9″ x 9″ watercolor on 140lb cold press paper. I did this one, and another ATC last night while watching football. This is a first of this style for me as a portrait, and it’s a must for you to try.
Old Rusty Piece of…. Beauty!
With Fall approaching fast and the temperatures dropping, I find my self thinking of treasures, not the treasures of a pirate ship, although that would be great but other treasures. Call me a nerd but I love to explore, metal detect, yes I said metal detect, you would be absolutely amazed how many old coins, historical relics, old toys and so much more is still hidden by the earth. In almost every yard of a house that was built in the sixties and earlier, have I not found a silver coin. Unfortunately in Indiana the ground by the end of June or July is so freaking hard, not only can you not dig, but you would have to use a jack hammer to dig anything. Along with metal detecting, I also loved to explore the woods for hidden treasures such as this old car, and other pieces with a story. I look at these pieces of rust different from others, I always wonder about the story behind them, was the family poor, rich, did they have the vacation memories in this car, like I have in ours now. Like the Picker Sisters, I have decided to collect some of these pieces and create some art or furniture out of them, hopefully will post photos someday soon.
This original watercolor is 7 1/2″ x 7 1/2″ on 140 lb coldpress paper. The colors may vary due to the scan. $100.00
Dolphins – Acrylic
Finally… I know that’s what you’re thinking, but to be honest, it’s still not finished! The little guy has a little more detail and final layer to be put on it, but then it’s finished. I haven’t worked on this since the last post showing it’s progress, so I picked it up last night and attempted to finish it but had to get up at 5:00 this morning and going to bed at midnight, well let’s just say this old man can’t take it anymore. This is an acrylic on 24″ x 36″ stretched canvas. I have learned that the more detail with acrylics, the better I am with them, so this was a challenge since I haven’t used acrylics for sometime now. I’m still using the old school dry fast acrylics, but I’m thinking about switching to the new drying slower acrylics. If any one has an opinion on them let me know what you think.
This painting may be sold already, but if not I will be selling it for $250.00, but not until I know for sure next week-end.
Everyone have a wonderful, safe, labor day!
