I know she’s getting nervous about trying something new when I hear the words

“Is It Break time Yet?”

I would love to introduce to you one of my favorite people on the world, Artist Bobi Reinhart. I have been blessed to know Bobi for a little over 2 years now. We met when I started being an art instructor at Ye Olde Art Shoppe in my home town. It didn’t take long to see that we were kindred spirits and to become quick friends. I just love spending time with Bobi because She is like a light when she walks into a room. She is also an amazing artist. Although she would say to that statement, “Really?”

Bobi has one of those rare gifts of being able to paint a knife painting that up close loses definition, but when you step away from it, it becomes crystal clear and stunning.  She has worked on pretty much a smaller scaled canvas for years. But since her style lends to standing back, A fellow artist gifted her with a larger canvas measuring 18″ x 36″. After having a mild panic attach about painting something that big, she came up with the plan to start the concept small, then enlarge it.

She began working through the composition on a small canvas like she was used to using. I have to say as she was painting the first waterfall on the small canvas board (above on the left ) I was struck with very strong emotions, I nearly started crying as it stuck me as so beautiful a place, that I wanted to go there. Before she was even done with it I offered to buy it; and I couldn’t wait to see her full size piece.

Once she completed the first she did another on a slightly larger canvas the same ratio of the larger canvas she would be painting the final piece onto.

Since it was a long tall canvas she had to stretch the middle of the falls more to get her focal points where she wanted them. But this was easily done and moved rather quickly.

Now I have seen much of Bobi’s work from over the years and know what she is capable of, so I wanted to challenge her to stretch a little further then her comfort zone. I suggested that she do something in all blues instead of the realistic colors from her reference photo. I showed her a few abstract paintings in the blues to give her the idea of what I was talking about. This added a level of difficulty to the painting because not only was she trying to look at her reference photo but also at an abstract blue painting to remind herself to use only blues. So once more she did a small paintings in the blues to use as a reference for the larger painting.

Finally the day came for her to start on the big canvas. She was asking for break before class even started, but we all encouraged her that she was going to do great. She decided to start by painting the whole canvas a thin layer of blue then started with her knife work.

She only had time to work on this project once a seek during class time so it took her a while to finish up. I invited her to my studio a couple of times to give her more painting time between classes. I really just wanted more time visiting with her because she is so fun to be with!

For a while she struggled with wanting to add yellow to the painting as the original reference photo shows warm sunlight on the leaves of the trees and the bright green moss on the rocks. In the end she did leave some of the yellow in the trees but replaced most of the yellow in the moss area with lovely shades of teal green. Making the shaded areas of the painting in purple/blues and the sunlit areas in the green/blues.

Bobi is such a caricature. I know she’s getting nervous about trying something new when I hear the words “Is It Break time Yet?”

We all love her so much, that It has even gotten to the point that if she misses coming to class, we all jokingly say, “how will we know when it’s break time without Bobi here?”  

Bobi is such a caricature. I know she’s getting nervous about trying something new when I hear the words “Is It Break time Yet?”

We all love her so much, that It has even gotten to the point that if she misses coming to class, we all jokingly say, “how will we know when it’s break time without Bobi here?” Lets just say we had a lot of break time on this painting!

Yakso Falls    18″ x 36″ x 1″ gallery wrapped canvas $450.00

This piece came together so beautiful. The reflections of the water, the beautiful glowing in the trees. I love the sparkle of the water as it cascades down in to the pool. It is all so peaceful and calming. You should come check it out as it will be hanging at Ye Olde Art Shoppe in Myrtle Creek Oregon for several months or until sold which ever comes first!