Old Edsels...

Edsel

Pastel

12" x 30"

 Copyright 2013 Ronnie D. Riner

 

 On a resent trip to Lawrenceburg, Tennessee I came upon this old Edsel. For some reason I love these old cars. Maybe it is because I tend to cheer for the underdog. The Ford Edsel was a car considered a failure when it was introduced and as a result wasn't a very good seller for the company. However, I think it has become a classic and a icon of the 1950's. 

An Intimate Landscape...

Resting Place

14"x18"

Colored Pencil

 

Copyright 2013 R. D. Riner

 

Walking through the woods in Middle Tennessee near a place called Machine Gun Falls, I occasionally would come upon many little scenes like the one illustrated in my colored pencil drawing Resting Place. I really like these intimate landscapes that seem to be worlds unto themselves. Too often we overlook the small things and fail to appreciate the beauty that literally is right under our feet. 



Summer Fun...

I have had the pleasure of working on a fantastic project this summer. My buddy, artist Tim Stevenson, was commissioned by the Florence Mainstreet Committee to create a mural depicting life in the city of Florence, Alabama. He asked me to help him on the project along with his nephew, Cullen Stewart, a singer/songwriter/artist. All of the designs are meant to express various aspect of the area, from the beauty of the river to the flora and fauna of the surrounding countryside. I will post photos of the mural in progress and completion. Click on an image to see a larger version.

 

 

 

 

Tim on the ladder.

 

 

Cullen painting on the last panel,

 

 

Tim mixing color.

 

 

 

 

 

Wish I Had a Moon Pie...

    RC Cola    

Colored Pencil

9" x 20"

Copyright 2013 R.D. Riner

 

I have finally completed my colored pencil drawing and I really like the way the rust shows through the metal siding. It was a real challenge to try and overcome the rough texture of the paper, however, the paper color, a dark chocolate, was a perfect choice for the rusted sign. 

In Progress...

 

After working in charcoal for a few years, it has been fun to add a little bit of color to my portfolio. In the next couple of photos I want to show the progression of a colored pencil drawing. The subject matter comes from a trip to the Amish community near Ethridge, Tennessee. This RC Cola sign was located on an old building right off the highway. I started with a grid drawing, using my original photo as a reference. The support I am using is a piece of Murano textured 98 lbs. drawing paper. The grid is drawn with an off white colored pencil. Next, it was just a simple matter of drawing from square to square. The textured paper really takes colored pencil well. I am able to layer color without the worry of destroying the papers ability to add more colored pencil. The white sheet of paper in the upper part of the photo is used to "test" the color. Sometimes it is difficult to judge the right shade or hue on a darker paper.

 

My reference photo can be seen in this photo. I have finished the background of the drawing and started working on the sign it-self. I have used a white pencil as a base coat for the lettering as I believe the color will show up a little better with this technique. I really like letting some of the color of the paper show through to simulate rust and textures of the metal. Another added feature in using this type of paper, in case of a mistake, I can use a razor blade to scrape off the colored pencil and make corrections. As soon as I can I will post a photo of the finished drawing. By the way, the size of this drawing is 9" x 20". I am using Prismacolor pencil for this work. 

I Love Old Trucks...

Thriftmaster

16" x 20"

Colored Pencil

 

I love old trucks. I love trucks with history. I love trucks with battle scars and stories to tell such as the one depicted in my colored pencil drawing Thriftmaster. While driving through Tennessee, on one of the trips I take with some artists buddies, we came upon and old junk yard with some interesting rusty vehicles. In seeing this old Chevy pickup with all of its beautiful colors I just had to render it in something other than charcoal. Colored pencil is the perfect fit for me. I can retain control and add a tremendous amount of texture and detail. I started with a piece of Daler-Rowney Murano Textured 98 lbs. fine art paper. Instead of a white surface I have decided to use a dark gray paper to begin my drawing. This allowed a mid-value that helped in establishing the darks and lights. I used Prismacolor colored pencils. They are wonderful pencils to work with. I like the amount of pigment that I am able to layer on top of the previous color.

In Honor of Baseball...

Summer's Dream

Charcoal

9"x 24"

 

The sound of a baseball hitting the "sweet" spot of a wooden Louisville Slugger is a sure sign that all is well in the world... baseball season has started. The concerns of life suddenly take a back seat, if only for a couple of hours, for the simple joy of watching a game. How quickly a grown man is once again transformed into a ten year old boy with the announcement of........ "PLAY BALL"! 

Something New...Color!

Tennessee River Fog

18"x24"

Charcoal and Pastel

 

 Through-out the year, a couple of artists friends and myself would take a day off and explore various areas of Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi, taking photographs along the way. We limit our travels to within one hundred miles or so from home. My drawing, Tennessee River Fog, is the result of one of our adventures. As we approached O'Neal Bridge, which spans the Tennessee River at Florence, Alabama, the morning fog was starting to burn off and this barge and tugboat appeared out of the mist. A wonderful sight. After completing the charcoal drawing, I decided to add just a touch of color with soft pastels. I really like the subtle color against the dark background of the bluff.

Saying Goodbye To 2012...

2012 was a very tough year for our family. In September we lost our dear mother to cancer. She fought her illness with courage and determination not wanting to be a burden to her family and friends. My mom was my best cheerleader. She was very proud of her family and given the opportunity she would tell anyone and everyone who would listen about the things her children and grandchildren were doing. She was a friend to many and will be greatly missed. Thank you Mom for all the lessons you taught me through the way you lived your life. Thank you for the example of a true Southern Lady you were to the community and to your family. God Bless You and Keep You!