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More than meets the eye! Just like life, if you zoom in on the eye, you will see that I have line shading with ink. At first you might not notice it, but if you look closer into the painting or at life, there’s more there than originally thought. It’s amazing to me that although 50 years old, I am continually learning daily. Learning from what I have done wrong in the past, what I have done correct, and just flat-out learning things new to my life. I have started giving private art lessons, which is new to me, I am a father of young ladies venturing off into their own life and not just my little girls depending on me, and soon looking at retirement of a job that I have had for 26 years… Life has been and continues to be an adventure. I see things that I want to try, even if I started today doing them all, I’m pretty sure that I would run out of time before completing a lot of them. Where would I even start? Traveling, seeing and doing things in different places, Art, my goodness the creativity that I see now days just makes my head swim with ideas of my own, sports, wood working, archeology digs, repurposing objects into art and furniture, metal detecting, and that’s just a start. Now let’s include hunting, fishing, ocean walks, family, wife, my, daughters and yes, maybe even someday… grandchildren!

A wise old man once said   ”Life begins in a moment, and ends even Quicker” Okay an old man did say it, he’s not wise, but the old man knows, because that old man is me!

My advice to young people, never put off things! Whether it’s work, play or family, get up, get out, and just do it, or you will miss out on so much and wished that you had a chance to do it all over someday. I see so much laziness from young and old now days wasting their time watching tv, computers, games, and other items that keeps people from growing. There is a place in this world for all of them, and I do use them daily, but I limit my time on each, and enjoy the outdoors, activities and people so much more than those items. Now get off the computer and find a passion that brings out the creativity, energy, emotion, or the help of others!

7″ x 10″ watercolor with pen and ink eyes and shading

Sisters… who needs them? I do, I do!  My family means so much to me, and my sisters are no exception.  I painted this painting for my sister that helps me so much with my parents and is there when I need her.  Ever since my parents got there divorce when we were really young, all of the siblings have been extremely close and helped each other get thru several very ugly years of divorce. Because of this, we have a special bond that goes beyond most siblings relationships.  To all my siblings far and near, thank you for your love and help thru troubled and wonderful times!

I’m not a wine expert or even close, but I do like a glass of dry wine every once in a while. The Biltmore wines (Ashville, N. Carolina) is some of my favorite. If you have never visited the Vanderbilt home known as the Biltmore… It’s a must! This home (Castle) is not only the biggest home in the U.S., but built amazing collection of history, arts, furniture, and grandeur of architecture. First indoor bowling ally, 70,000 gallon indoor heated and lighted pool, instant hot water through out the entire home, which is a 179,000 square foot home… 179,000 square feet. I have been there 4 times and simply amazed every time I go. You can google it, but believe me everything photo found, will not do the actual room, garden, wood working, furnishings, and art pieces justice, it’s a must see in real life to appreciate it.

So take a trip and visit this beautiful home and winery, and have a few taste test glasses for me!

This is one of three Wildlife mom and babe paintings that I will be doing for small notes and prints. I will be using various colors including greens, purples, reds and other colors to bring a little flair to each. These giraffes have purple, reds, orange and blues to make the spots and shading. I have a full schedule of shows and commissions, but I hope to maintain the blog the best that I can.

The parents and babe series came from the realization that my own children our becoming adults and how I miss them and the tender moments when they were little. They are still full of love, but are working, and going to college, so very little time to see us, but when they do, it’s truly a joy.  When my parents warned me that time flies by even faster when you get older and I didn’t think that was possible, but I realize now… it’s true!

Had time to play on a few small paintings, and decided to do one from a photo that a friend had sent to me of a tree at a university which held memories for her. The tree is a pen and ink, with watercolor greens and yellows. The other is from a beautiful photo found on paintmyphoto.ning.com. A great place for reference photos and subjects. This painting is all watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper. I hope to have more soon to come if time allows. Thanks and everyone have a great week.

A small watercolor sketch that I painted from a photo on paintmyphoto.ning.com, from a beautiful photo http://paintmyphoto.ning.com/photo/clovelly-roofs. This is a watercolor but I believe that I am going to do it on a larger scale and either oil or acrylics. The whites on the housing are a brilliant white and I want to capture that better than I did on the sketch.

I hope everyone is doing well and especially my friends on the east coast that is soon getting slammed by a blizzard. Take care and be safe and I hope to post a better painting soon.

I’m not sure which is older and in worse shape, this old school building or myself! This is a one room school building here in southern Indiana that a friend has located in her backyard. This 5″ x 7″ pen and ink, watercolor painting that I did was painted from a photo that she had taken earlier.

It’s funny to me, when I think of all the brilliant people who was taught in schools similar to this. Abraham Lincoln for one, actually grew up just miles from this school, and that’s not counting the great Philosophers, Engineers, Inventors, Astronomers, Physicist, etc. that we’re taught and excelled in classrooms similar to this. I hold education so important seeing that I wasted mine earlier in my life, but my question to you is why is it that we keep spending more and more money, millions upon billions on improving our schools and yet getting horrible results. A local high school has received millions and looks like the best of any small college in technology, and yet the graduation rate is less than 75% and minority rate is even much lower.  Maybe it isn’t the money spent, but what has changed in the areas of discipline (in schools, but more importantly at home), pride of both the child and parents, the respect for elders, parents and teachers from a child, and hard work, and that flat-out means stop being lazy America, whether your a child or an adult. I think it’s time we stop using money as an excuse for our problems and start looking at ourselves for the answers. A new computer can’t teach life lessons to a child, like that of a person who loves them.  Time to step-up, be the person that you were meant to be. Yes it’s hard work, time-consuming, and sometimes heart breaking, but like I have always told my daughters, most things that come easy aren’t worth having, and the rewards that are received after so much effort… is worth millions (or something like that).

Everyone have a great weekend, and let’s make a change for ourself and others that we touch this weekend!

This is my watercolor of the French Lick Train that they use for a Polar Express train ride and dinner in French Lick, Indiana. French Lick has a magnificent Inn and the West Baden Hotel that was considered on of the wonders of the world at one time and is absolutely beautiful. I will be at an art show there this weekend.  West Baden was once a hotel for the rich and hollywood famous, and after a complete remodel, should still be considered one of the best. I hope to do more private showings soon, and possibly some travels in the near future. Have a great Christmas and Holidays!

Prints available

8″ x 11″ Image size = $20.00 + SH

11″ x 14″ Premium Suede Matted print = $35.00 + SH

Contact me at ryanhayes.art@gmail.com

I will be at a arts and craft show in near by Santa Claus, Indiana this weekend and this is a small church that was going to be demolished but the owners of Holiday World Amusement Park saved it by moving it near the park. Hopefully I will be able to make cards or prints of it before the show. I have been extremely busy and haven’t had a lot of time for blogging, but I hope that my blog friends will keep in touch and hang in there with me. Happy Holidays and God Bless you all!