It’s been a fun ride!

It has been a long time from posting a blog or painting, but I have not forgotten all those that have been friends and fellow bloggers. I had my bi-pass surgery about 3 years ago, and my life has changed tremendously. Now living in Florida, doing my fine art and shows full time, and hopefully will be giving lessons next summer (2019). I’m writing this last asmalltowndad post to thank you all, and to let you know that I’ve enjoyed the conversation, sharing of our art, and to invite you to visit my Facebook page: Art by Ryan Hayes. New art, my show schedule, and other info will be found there.

It’s been a great ride, and so glad that I’ve met so many talented artist and friends along the way!

Thank you ALL!

Something new/driftwood sailboat

 

These two pieces are just a few of 30 wall, and standing driftwood art pieces. Delivered to me by natures waterways, and then I enhanced them by a lot of cleaning, treating, sanding and finishing, to create one-of-a-kind art. Although still doing watercolors, this branch (no pun intended) of art allows me a new direction.

i will be adding these and all others to artbyrhayes.com soon

White Stallion-Watercolor

Missing in action. I apologize for not being active on the web and blogs, but because of health issues and moving my life to Florida, I haven’t had a lot of time to paint or post. But hopefully all is about to change and both art shows and web content will be building and this year will be exciting.

Please be patient, keep visiting, and I hope that 2017 is a great year for all.

See you soon!

This painting is an original framed watercolor 18″ x 24″ that can be purchased.

Please contact me for pricing.

Splatter me a flower – Watercolor

This fun project was started with a very wet 140lb cold press paper, splattered with various colors, allowed to dry, splattered again with finer splats (technical term, LOL), and then the negative space around flowers were inserted to enhance splattered flowers.

Give it a try!

This painting will be available by going to artbyrhayes.com

16″ x 20″ framed

Lion of different color

This painting has been fun to do while recovering from heart by-pass surgery. Although the first week after being released from the hospital I didn’t feel like doing anything, let alone even moving, I now feel pretty good. It’s amazing what technology, doctors and surgeons, and the blessing of God can do.

My brother-in-law suggested that the drips made him see in the painting of something once strong and above all, is now becoming weak and possibly not as strong. I love the thought and critique of it and realize that this is exactly how I felt and feel finding out about my heart. Although not by any means an athelete or power house, I’ve always been fit, active and eat well. Now weakened by the surgery and not sure of my future, all I can do is to be all that I can be, and do, all that I can do. Even though at 52, like the lion, my power is beginning to drip away, I still have a whole lot of color in my life.

Fall In Indiana – Watercolor

Click on Image to zoom

Watercolor sketches of Indiana Fall leaves. The leaves haven’t turned yet but will in just a few weeks. This is one thing I will miss once moved to Florida. You have really missed out on a gift from God if you’ve never walked through a woods with turning leaves, or even better yet walk into a woods and just sit on a stump and watch the beautiful dance of golden leaves falling. And even better yet, take your kids or grandchildren with you and sit quietly, and admire the beauty of the woods and the creatures that live there. It’s time we all slow down and be thankful for the beauty given to us, and not let it pass without notice.

On a rainy day – Watercolor

Click on image to zoom

On this Indiana rainy day, I thought that I would post this painting I did a few months ago. The weather is moving into the fall season and it’s been fairly dry, but with this rain today, hopefully the burst of fall foliage will take bloom. Southern Indiana is supposed to be one of the most beautiful areas in the world to capture the beauty of colorful fall leaves. With our huge variety of trees, the colors burst into an explosion of oranges, yellows, reds, deep red, purple, rust and green. To view some wonderful photos type in Nashville, Indiana fall foliage or Brown County, Indiana on google image.

Memories of a friend – Watercolor

It’s only goodbye for now, because someday we’ll meet again.

Crossing over fences, and you without the pain.

From kindergarten on, a friend you were to me.

Spending most of the days hours together, no better friend you could be.

Riding bikes, playing sports, and our BB guns in hand.

All the summer days, until you were burnt red, and I was browned tan.

You were like a brother, and I hope that you felt the same.

From strangers in kindergarten, to brothers we became.

Grade School, Middle School, and High School goes by.

Time as friends is less, and I’m not sure why.

Although life’s path took us, in very different ways.

Memories of those fences and fields, in my mind will always stay.

Thank you John, for the friendship that you gave.

Until we meet again my friend, all our memories as friends, I will lways save.

Rest In Peace my friend.

Tiger at Water – Watercolor

Click on image to zoom

I find it fascinating watching wild animals at the watering hole. The game animals or prey, are on constant guard, flinching, heads in constant movement, ears twitching and legs on a hair-trigger ready to go to full sprint with in a split second. On the other hand, you have the predators along the water holes that are hidden in the bushes near, knowing all animals eventually needs water. This watercolor of the tiger doesn’t have the eyes of a prey glancing in fear, it has the eyes of an opportunist ready to take the unexpected that happens to come up on the same watering hole.

Sunset Sail – Watercolor

Click on image to zoom

There’s that few seconds when the edge of day meets the darkness of night that makes things magical. Several times while at the ocean I have my camera in hand thinking I was going to capture the moment, and before I knew it, that moment was gone. How is it that something that stays in the sky for so many hours of the day, can disappear as if there is magic involved. Now I know better, and when that moment approaches, I’m ready.

Original 8″ x 11″ watercolor (11″ x 14″ matted) on 140lb cold press paper

$90.00