Patriot - a Redding Eagle

This is Patriot, one of Redding's Eagles that many in the community watched from their beginning as eggs. Now fully grown, we watch them soar high above the Sacramento River and are reminded of our freedom, and during wartime, of the cost.

I found Redding Eagles' facebook page and saw they were raising money to relocate the camera to the eagles' new nest. The stunning photography inspired me to paint the eagles and contribute 20% of the sales from the paintings to Friends of the Redding Eagles.

This painting was inspired by a photograph by Renae Tolbert, 2012

Patriot
9"x12" oil on canvas board
pallet knife
copyright Raette Meredith 2012

The Price of the painting is $100 and it is unframed. If interested in purchasing "Patriot" please contact Raette at raette@charter.net.

Thank you so much!

One out of three

Okay, so I sat down to paint today, the first time in about... a week. I did three paintings. One is HORRIBLE.. totally need to just burn it and move on. The second is pretty good, though dummy me, I didn't prime it right - What I thought was gesso was acrylic paint, so my oils have this weird crackle-y look to them. Hmm not okay. It's okay, because the colors for some reason brought me back to the eighties - yes.. time to burn that one too.

The third painting was inspired by a place here in Northern California - near Whiskeytown Lake called Brandy Creek. Though I painted it different - I felt the painting wanted to be a dry creek instead. The whole thing is done with pallet knife, my new favorite for smaller paintings. It's challenging enough to keep my interest and frustrating enough to keep me focused. I still have a lot to learn but I like the way it turned out.

Here's "Creek Bed" - I hope you like it.

Creek Bed
11"x14" oil on canvas board
pallet knife
copyright Raette Meredith 2012

Alma's Lavender Fields - Mural Commissioned July 2012

This was a really fun mural commission. The mural took a total of 2 hours prep and 9 1/2 hours to paint. I would do it again in a heartbeat! If only I got to do this everyday, I'd be in paradise! Okay, I am in paradise - I get to do this for a living. Who can complain?

Before

Zen Garden Mural

Started May 23, 2012, completed May 24, 2012

Again, here's a before photo...

and here's the completed mural and garden:

7' wide x 9' high wall:

Zen Garden mural
Mercy Medical Center Healing Garden - Redding, CA
7' wide x 9' wide
copyright Raette Meredith 2012

My personal goal for this mural project was to create a little piece of heaven with each painting.

Mediterranean Garden

Started May 21, 2012, completed May 23, 2012

Here's the before photo of the Mediterranean Garden (Forest Design Landscaping did all of the landscaping.)

Mediterranean Garden (before)

And.. here's the after.. Dimensions are 24'wide x 9' high

Mediterranean Garden (full)
Mercy Medical Center, Healing Garden - Redding CA
24'x9'
copyright Raette Meredith 2012

 And for some left to right detail photos... in case you are interested...

Mediterranean Garden (left 1/4)
24'x9'
copyright Raette Meredith 2012

Mediterranean Garden (center left 1/4)
24'x9'
copyright Raette Meredith 2012

Mediterranean Garden (mid rt 1/4)
24'x9'
copyright Raette Meredith 2012

Mediterranean Garden (right 1/4)
24'x9'
copyright Raette Meredith 2012

It's hard to get a good face-on shot as it is so big and the courtyard limits how far I can step back. Opposite the painted wall is a wall of windows that reflect the image back, which further widens the courtyard.