WINNERS OF JIM’S BOOK:
Russ Tanner New Mexico
Robert Clayton Alaska
Nori McConnaughay New Mexico
Donna Forgacs California
Brooks Powell Colorado
The Landscapes of James Reynolds
July 7th, 2011James Reynolds
June 27th, 2011
I was glad to hear that some of you were able to buy Jim’s book while they were still available. Also, for those of you who have reported problems trying to post your name, I have added your names to the drawing.
Palette
June 24th, 2011
Several people have asked me questions regarding his palette [glass painted gray underneath] and the paints he used. Here’s the list and he laid them out in an ell from left to right. [They are mostly Utrecht and Winsor Newton]:
Titanium white
Cad yellow
Med cad orange
Yellow ochre
Raw sienna
Terra rosa [sometimes Indian Red both WN]
Cad red [WN he loved this color for sunsets, light on clouds]
Alizarin crimson
[Burnt Sienna—he used this when he did westerns, not so much in his landscapes]
Magenta WN
Burnt umber
Raw umber [only recently added this color]
Olive green WN
Viridian
Sap Green
Ultramarine blue
Cobalt Blue
Payne’s Gray [99% of time never uses black]
Also in his drawer: Permanent green light; Winsor Green and Winsor blue green shade; but I’ve seldom seen him use them
LANDSCAPES OF JAMES REYNOLDS
June 22nd, 2011 
I forgot I will be out of town on July 4th and will not have internet access. So I will post the winning names on July 5th.
I was glad to hear that some of you were able to buy Jim’s book while they were still available. Also, for those of you who have reported problems trying to post your name, I have added your names to the drawing.
I now have 5 copies of Jim’s book, and 60+ people wanting to buy a copy. It looks like it might be several years before any more will be available again. To be fair, I’m going to have a drawing. Jim intended the book for artists and because most of the inquiries are young ‘emerging’ artists, I want the book to be affordable. So I am not raising the price. I’ve averaged out the shipping costs so the total price per book will be $110. I want to give everyone time to respond so I will draw names and post them on July 4th. If you still want a copy of Jim’s book, please comment below, leaving your name and email address. Then check back here July 4th.
2011 TRIP TO FRANCE
June 21st, 2011MORE PHOTOS OF TRIP
Countryside 70″ Lock
TUESDAY CHATEAUNEUF DU PAP & VIVIERS
Viviers Cathedral Oldest Building Viviers Street Hilltop View Viviers
Taking a Break Typical Street Cafe Pat View From Ship Riverside Early Morning
WEDNESDAY
Cafe Lyons Fountain Ship Wake Lunch in Trevoux Trevoux Street Dog in Window
THURSDAY PEROUGES & TREVOUX
Tournos Cathedral Tournos
THURSDAY PM TOURNOS & MACON IN BOURGOGNE
Chateau Cormatin Gardens Cormatin Kitchen Pond
FRIDAY CHALON-SUR-SAONE & BEAUNE IN BURGUNDY
FRIDAY BEAUNE
MAY 2011 TRIP TO FRANCE
June 7th, 20112011: RHONE—SAONE VALLEY RIVER CRUISE
Arles Pat in our Stateroom Our Ship
Collectors paid for my trip in exchange for a first choice of paintings on my return so these photos are posted to give them an idea of the scenery.
SAT URDAY Marseille
SUNDAY 
V G Hospital Arles 2 Views of Colisseum Van Gogh Cafe Pont du Gard Van Gogh Cafe
Palace of the Popes 
Avignon Cathedral Pope’s Palace Patio at V G Cafe Gan Gogh’s Painting of the Cafe
LANDSCAPES OF JAMES REYNOLDS (TEST)
June 3rd, 2011This is a sample post about the late Jim Reynolds.
Jim Reynolds
December 17th, 2010Email from Bob about the Jim Reynolds book, The Landscapes of Jim Reynolds:
Like everyone I too admired Jim and his wonderful talent. I am 56 years old andtrying to become a painter. I have his book Traildust and I would love to gethis landscapes book. Please do you have a copy I can buy?
Response from Sheila Cottrell:
Thank you for your inquiry. I spoke with Claggett-Rey Gallery and we are trying to ‘find’ two hundred copies of Jim’s book that I thought were being shipped to Claggett-Rey. Hopefully this will be resolved soon. We’re also discussing doing some ‘print on demand’ copies of his book. Perhaps if you check back in a couple months this will be resolved. Sheila
Reply from Bob:
Ms. Cottrell, just wanted to thank you again for responding to me yesterdayabout Jim Reynolds. I will cross my fingers that a copy of his landscapes willcome available.Would you mind if sometime I asked you to tell me a little more about yourexperience with him? I have scoured the horizon for anything about him butexcept for the short bio in AskArt etc I have seen little other than what youhave mentioned about some of his advice or thoughts about painting. You knowthings like did he do en plein air, did he have a large pallet, did he like touse a painting knife, etc. I loved it when you said that he had mentionedtexture and color were what really got attention. That was a small glimpse intothis wonderful talent. I think you are the last link to this great artist forthe rest of us to learn from. Maybe you would consider writing something aboutyour time under his training. From your art you are a master as well.Just some thoughts. Again thanks for responding and I apologize if I have been a nuisance. Best regards,Bob
Persimmon Hill Magazine – James Reynolds
August 10th, 2010I haven’t posted anything since Jim got so sick last November. It is now 6 months since he passed away and I finally feel like I’m above water. I now enjoy coming across photos of him in better times, especially when he was healthy and full of life. Though painting is my first priority, I’m determined to get out more. I’ve missed playing tennis, though I haven’t played in many years, so I signed up for lessons. I’ve even added Zumba classes to my exercise regimen and love them. BEST: today, when I was debating whether to post or not, I received the nicest letter and copy of the Summer issue of the magazine PERSIMMON HILL from its Editor Judy Hilovsky. She suggested I look at page 56 and there was the nicest full page article on Jim. The issue also included results from the Prix de West show there at the Cowboy Hall of Fame so if you’re interested, the web site is www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/involvement/PHillMagazine.aspx.
Hunting Trip – Mule Deer
November 25th, 2009
I haven’t eaten good venison in years so a cousin, Ric Chaudoin, took me hunting. I’m still so excited—got the first mule deer buck we’d seen in 4 days, and with my first shot at 140 yards! I could never have done this without him—for many reasons: he took me to the southern Chiricahua Mountains, where he’s hunted most of his life; he has all the gear, including the 30.06 rifle I used; but mostly because he both field dressed the animal, got it back to camp and butchered it!I shot it just at dawn when the temperature was freezing. So by the time the sun warmed us to shirt sleeves, we could do the butchering in camp. There’s no point in getting wild game if the butchering isn’t done exactly right and Ric did it perfectly. I helped and learned so much. I’ve been home less than a week and have had delicious venison for 7 meals—and not a trace of gaminess!He’s also invented an incredible campfire cooking set up. He would make a fortune selling them. His grill can be adjusted to any height, and swings easily out of the heat and smoke when you want to check the doneness of the food. There is both a solid grill and a grate for steaks and they can even be used simultaneously. An optional attachment at the top holds a lantern.The Chiricahuas are in the southeast corner of Arizona and it was especially fun hunting here, where generations of our families have hunted for over a century. He had a fascinating or funny story about most every canyon and mountain ridge around us.I still can’t believe he agreed to take me. Words can’t adequately express my admiration for this man. I have such unbounded love and affection for him as a man—a devoted proud husband and dedicated loving dad. He is a man of integrity, grit, humor, kindness, wit, and amazing strength, stamina and intelligence. I am so proud to know him and so grateful to his parents for helping to raise such a man. He gave me a hunting experience of a lifetime—a great outfitter, guide, cook, coach and the best campfire company.
November 12th, 2009
November 22, 2009 is the 40th annual Mountain Oyster Club show and sale in Tucson. My painting, “Sonoita Branding” is in the show. The preview/cocktail party the day before is always a lot of fun, a more casual time to catch up with other artists and collectors.
Painting
October 31st, 2009Got an email asking about the painting of little Samantha with the horse in the pasture [but already sold]. His comments reminded me of several people’s reaction of, “Oh my gosh, that little girl is alone. She’s too small to be around that big horse.” We [seven sisters] always knew what we could and couldn’t do around a horse. Dad taught us well and he didn’t ascribe to the idea that horses were dumber than doors. As a kid growing up near Tombstone, Arizona, Dad made money capturing and saddle breaking wild horses. He said he had captured wild horses in nearly every mountain range in southeastern Arizona.
James Reynolds December Show
October 28th, 2009Reading about Millais made me ponder what I most enjoy about the process of painting. Millais liked the last touches, “Putting the highlights on his subjects’ boots.” What excites me most is starting a painting. It’s when I am most hopeful that the vision in my head will, “this time,” successfully transfer to the canvas. I cringe at using the word ‘struggle’ when I think of finishing a painting but Jim uses the same word. He has a show of 20+ smaller landscapes coming up on Dec. 19th at Claggett-Rey Gallery in Vail CO and many emails from him say, “I’m trying to save [...] painting.” Just fill in the blank with whatever painting it is that day. Favorite recent quote from him: “Texture and color excites the eye.” Speaking of upcoming shows, I must hurry to varnish and frame my painting that must be delivered tomorrow for the Mountain Oyster Club Show coming up in Tucson on November 22nd.
NEW BOOK: The Landscapes of James Reynolds
October 23rd, 2009
This 11″ X 14″, 200 page book features over 80 large format color images and many more smaller reproductions in both color and black and white. Hard cover $95 + shipping.
After 3 year’s work, Jim’s book on landscapes is now available. Fill in the information below and you will be contacted re ordering a copy.
To order a copy click here
Welcome
October 22nd, 2009DAY ONE: Friends insist that, for business, the future is here and now, the “here” being the internet and Blogging seems to be the lesser of its evils [hourly twittering?] and the guidelines for “now” are: Ready, Fire, Aim later. My nephew-in-law, Geremy, is G 2 [Geek Genius] who sets up websites, including mine, and does all internet/tech-related coaching, says I must start with something about myself so here goes. His email is @ geremy@ihdesk.com, tell him I sent you.
I live where the majority of the year, water from both taps is one temperature, hot: Tucson, AZ, a 4th generation Arizonan … I love the smell of tomato leaves and pinched basil on my hands when I’m gardening and the smell of garlic on my hands when I’m cooking … I’m in the Baby Boomer category [I refuse anything to do with chrono age] … I’d give my eye teeth for a dinner with Charlie Rose [perhaps a wisdom tooth would be more appropriate] … I adore mysteries, reading and writing them … Sam Keen is my favorite living philosopher [please someone tell me he is still alive] and my favorite line of poetry, “Beeches strip in storms for winter and stain the wind with their leaves.” [Anyone know the poet?] … I’m considered a fine art painter [“Beauty is in the eye of, etc.”] of representational art: contemporary and historical western subjects, portraits, landscapes … My holy painting trinity is Sorolla, Sargent and Schmid. But he, who literally haunts me, is my holy “Ghost,” James Reynolds, who prefers to hover over my shoulder, “You can’t possibly be considering leaving that hard edge, can you?” … Hobbies [if I had time to pursue them]: writing mysteries; researching endless topics; playing pool, preferably in the Crystal Palace, Tombstone, AZ; cooking [my most recent favorite recipe is Dusoulier’s Beef Bourguignon—the chocolate bits make it]; and reading.
Best of the West to you,
Sheila Cottrell
Visit me online at http://www.sheilacottrell.com to see my paintings.