Let the Adventures Begin!

After several years of dreaming and researching many travel options...and a couple of intense sleepless weeks pestering friends and family for their two cents...I finally traded in my beloved Zanne Van for my new art mobile...the Ford F150 FX2! With it's terrific towing capacity...and my new Truck Can-Do Attitude...the doors opened wide with many more artful possibilities.

Yes ma'am, this is Zanne's new art mobile!

Notwithstanding the missed manufacture deadlines, cancelled orders, harried dealership experiences and out right zaniness...I have at last come home TODAY with a new bundle of joy from Ft. Worth, Texas...a cute 24 footer, weighing in at just under 3500 pounds dry. Studio Zanne will at long last be adventuring out in those big skies and open roads...in her little Koala trailer.

My new 2013 Koala 21CS...a dream come true!

Somewhere on the edge of pure terror and the exhilaration of finally realizing a dream come true...I am discovering that there will be much I don't know how to do, or think I cannot do...until I just do it anyway, despite my fears and doubts!

I'm reminded that we really only skim the surface of God's great goodness and abundance. I am so humbly grateful when I start to comprehend just a bit of the depth of the divine Love expressed in so many ways in my life...especially in the wonderful, awesome support of friends and family....and a little bit more each day in my own life's divine expression.


The schedule:

• This month I'll be taking a few practice runs and learning the trailer camping ropes in San Antonio and Houston.

• August 3rd, 6-8 p.m.  I'll have a trailer art party at Austin ArtSpace to kick off my painting tour exploring 21st century America...beginning with the East Coast from August to mid October. You'll be able to follow me here on the blog and on Facebook.

• Then in October or so, I'll return home for a big art show.

...............

Big thanks to my God-parents... big hugs to my God-daddy for helping me learn how to drive her and hook up the trailer hitch; mucho kisses to my God-mother for helping me find her...and make a bloody decision!!! And for both of your countless other trailer tips, advice, love and support
--without which, I'd still be house-bound!

June Wallpaper

Big Sur Coastline, digital photo by S'zanne Reynolds

Happy June!

Feel free to download this image for a desktop background. Just right or control click to save to your desktop or set as your screensaver.

This image is from my trip down the northern California coastline of the
"Big Sur".

SOLD...to Cape Coral, FL

Painted Desert, 12x12" pastel

I'm pleased to announce that these two pastels are going to a private collector in Cape Coral, Florida.

Painted Desert, shown above, was taken from a road trip on the way to the Grand Canyon a few years ago, in a terrain that is actually referred to as the "painted desert". You can see why...the dappled turquoise sky shines like a jewel and the ground is blanketed in stripes of pink, purple, yellow, coral and lime green. Jumping out of the car frequently, I took tons of photos and painted this one at a later date. It's one of my favorite memories as nature was really showing off that day!

If you want to see some of the photos I took from that road trip, refer to my blog, here.

Ring 'Round the Rosey, 12x12" pastel

Ring 'Round the Rosey was awarded Second Place in Landscape at the Austin Pastel Society 2011 Member Show. It was quite an honor for me since so many terrific artists entered paintings in that category. The reference for this piece was originally shot on my iPhone during rush-hour traffic off of North Mopac Expressway where I have spent the last 20 years here in Austin...quite literally just off the highway! Of course I manipulated the colors in Photoshop, since we don't regularly have quite this amount of pink in the skies...unless it's out by Lake Travis where I have seen some skies like this.

As a side note, I also used this reference in a "paint around" with 4 other artists. I started and finished the piece while the other 4 took turns painting on this one, and each others. The finished piece was auctioned off for a worthy cause. To see how the other painting turned out, see my blog, here.

SOLD to a New Home!

Evening Shades, 16x12" oil - SOLD

These two paintings are now in a private collection in Austin, Texas. It's always a thrill when a painting finds a new home! I feel so blessed to be able to share these moments of vision with another.

The above image, Evening Shades, is from the top of Jockey's Ridge, the largest natural sand dune on the east coast, in Nags Head, NC –a favorite childhood vacation spot that I revisited a few years ago. There is a 360 degree view of water from up there –the sound on one side, the ocean on the other. It's an amazingly spiritual place to watch the sun set.

Dusk Impressions II, 6x8' oil - SOLD

 This smaller artwork, Dusk Impression II,  was inspired from imagination and photo reference. Painted at another time and place, it just happened to be similar in style and color with the first piece, Evening Shades. They are hanging close by in a hallway, leading your eye from two rooms into a peaceful resting area of their new home.

Now Showing in "Cool...Hot"

 

YOU'RE INVITED TO JOIN US

Saturday, June 15th from 6 - 8 p.m. for our "Cool...Hot" art reception 

of the Austin ArtSpace resident artists! 

Refreshments, live music, great art and fun times!

The show runs May 31 through July 6th,

so drop by to see a wonderful variety of creativity,

Fridays/Saturdays 11am -6 pm, or by appointment.

Austin ArtSpace

is located at 7739 Northcross Drive, off Anderson Lane.

Hope to see you there!

A Fire that Never Goes Out

The Preserve at Walnut Springs, Johnson City, Texas

After the recent tragedies we've faced individually and collectively in Newton, Boston, West and now Moore, I find inspiration in a longtime favorite tune by Mindy Jostyn. 

The lyrics remind us that no matter what has happened in our lives, we are loved, we are wanted and we matter. It speaks of the the fire that never goes out...like the love in the heart of this great nation, and the flame of all humanity around the globe.

May you find comfort, peace and love, and the courage to live from the heart, wherever you are. 

Words by Mindy Jostyn & Jacob Brackman
Music by Mindy Jostyn

In His eyes, you're a fire that never goes out
A light on the top of a hill
In His eyes you're a poet, a painter, a prophet
With a mission of love to fulfill
Outside there's a world so enchantingly strange
A maze of illusion and lies
But there's never a story that ever could change
The glory of you in His eyes

In His eyes you're a radiant vision of beauty
A gemstone cut one of a kind
You're fine as a diamond, deep as a ruby
Rare as a jade in His mind
No need to believe all you may have been told
No need to live in disguise
You're brighter than silver, purer than gold
A pearl beyond price in His eyes

You're an innocent child in the sight of His face
No cause for blame or fear or disgrace
He sees only goodness, His vision is true
And nothing can change the perfection of you in His eyes

In His eyes, you're a fire that never goes out
A light on the top of a hill
You're a rose in the forest, a prelude from Bach
A triumph of heavenly skill
Outside there's a world that keeps breaking your heart
And tearing your dreams down to size
But guiding you homeward, piercing the dark
Is the lovelight that shines in His eyes

Now and forever, that light never dies
You're dearly beloved in His eyes

Johnson City, Texas

Part 2: Painting Progression of "Somewhere"

In the zone... painting this 3x5 foot oil on canvas I call "Somewhere."

I have a favorite brooding spot I go to in the middle of the night or at day's end...when I need a little TLC from Mother Nature. One day I was trying to recharge my not so happy thoughts with a little fresh air and a fast paced walk. I found myself looking out over this place listening to "I Don't Ever Give Up" by Patty Griffin. Pouring out the refrain, "Love isn't here, love isn't here, but it's somewhere", I looked up and saw a blue heart-shaped piece of atmosphere peeking out from behind a dramatic dusky cloudscape...not quite sunset, but going in that direction. I swallowed the big lump in my throat and gave the Universe a high five for the special moment. And, the idea for painting "Somewhere" was conceived.

Humble beginnings...a quick layer of the big shapes.

Several years later, I am finally getting around to this painting...starting with toning the canvas in cadmium red...probably one of all time favorite colors for it's passion and tonality.

From dark to light I begin to define the larger earthy planes.

Surrounded by my thumbnails, I primarily keep the far upper left one in mind but I occasionally refer to some of the techniques in the others...both as much as what to avoid, as what to do.

Working on laying in the sky shapes and reflected light in the water.

We still see a lot of the red background showing through the above image, and much less below. Overall the warmth of the red is still a strong presence. Perhaps the vanishing red is symbolic of the song that inspired it...love isn't here...but it's somewhere!

I'm starting to add more lights and mid-tones now.

The sky is beginning to take shape and the grasses are starting to come to life,

but it still has a long way to go!

Stay tuned to see more progress in Part 3.