Just Desserts

18x18 oil on panel 
Ask Gardner Colby Galleries about this painting

The Slice of Life show opened last Thursday at Gardner Colby and I had a lovely email this weekend telling me about an article written about my work in the show. The article focused on the aerial perspective that I use in some of my paintings. I am really flattered to have sparked people's interest, especially Tom Hall, Arts & Exhibits Correspondent
of Southwest Florida. :-)
Click here to read the article.  

Exit Row

24x18

oil on 2" cradled panel

Ask Gardner Colby Galleries about this painting

Afternoon

24x18

oil on 2" cradled panel

Ask Gardner Colby Galleries about this painting

I am so clever with titles. Not. Anyway - this is a larger bird's eye scene than I have ever done before. I love to paint these scenes as they are so simple and almost abstract. Its always fun to play with shadows. I think though that they have taught me how to fill in large empty spaces in interesting ways. With subtle shifts in temperature and color and by varying brushwork, the empty fields are not boring. Its also taught me to make interesting greys.

This week is spring break in central Texas and I sure wish I was able to visit Naples, FL for the opening this week. If you are in the area, go and tell me how this show is. I'd love to see all these artists work in person, and see their subjects. Would be very inspirational.

Saucier

11x14 oil on linen
Ask Gardner Colby Galleries about this painting

Click on this one to see it larger. I could have gone on and covered more canvas and added more details but I decided to stop. I loved it at this point - loose, fresh and gestural. This is more of what I want to do and I just have to be bold enough to do it. Hopefully, the gallery and their patrons will approve!

Maestro

12x9 oil on panel  

Ask Gardner Colby Galleries about this painting

"Slice of Life" opens March 14th. The theme couldn't be more right for me. Its what I like to paint best - those moments in life that seem less than extraordinary, but are what the stuff of life is made of. Life here is finally taking a turn for the better. My husband is going back to work soon. My parents are making plans to move to the Austin area finally. Spring is in the air and I feel my heart lifting as these weighty matters come to resolution. Not to get too personal, but I feel very blessed that these last months have made our family stronger and closer when the difficulties could have produced very different results. I'm really proud of my husband. And my daughter.


My work is now turning to kitchen and domestic scenes. Its all relative. :-) 

Yesterday I met my lovely friend V....Vaughan and we painted while we visited in a very welcoming and cozy coffee shop in northwest Austin - Joel's. Its also the home of Austin Truffle Company and nothing will get you through a crazy time like excellent mocha truffles (and friendship.) I did the two studies above from photos while we enjoyed our hot chocolate, tea and truffles. Will be working them into larger works soon.

Conductor

Conductor
8x6 oil on panel
$175 + s/h - sold

Houston Symphony
20x24 oil on panel
Commissioned by the Houston Symphony League

Above is my final painting for the Houston Symphony celebrating the last year their conductor, Hans Graf, will lead them. I have had such fun painting scenes from this event. Now I need to get backstage at the Austin symphony, or maybe the opera. How fun would that be?

Brigade de Cuisine

14x11 oil on panel
sold

One of my favorite subjects to paint. Its on its way to the Florida for the "Slice of Life" show. Below is a nice little write up on the show which appears in the March issue of American Art Collector. I am still starstuck at the company I am keeping in this show! My parents are going to drive down to see it, and I wish I could join them especially as that is spring break week here in central Texas.  

Allegro

Allegro
8x6 oil on panel
$175 + s/h
PURCHASE

Yes, I am still here! I've been painting and now finalizing my work for Gardner Colby's "Slice of Life" show which opens March 14 in Naples. I also finished up the large commissioned painting for the Houston Symphony conductor. I really enjoyed painting scenes from that night. I have several smaller ones like above and larger ones which will be available in my galleries.

Sorry for my long absence. Its been hectic at home. My husband is still out of work, we had Girl Scout cookie season, show prep, sick dog, a trip for interviewing out of state, and the usual things like extra curricular activities and lots of laundry, etc. Just a whirlwind start to the new year. I make the time to paint, but not so much to post.

Oyster Bar

 12x9 oil on panel each

I think I had names in mind for these but have forgotten them. Hopefully I will come up with something clever. For now, they are two more views of the Oyster Bar. I've sent these images to Castle Gallery and all three paintings are spoken for. That is a wonderful feeling. I guess I got it right!

Oyster Bar

16x20 oil on panel
sold

Last fall, I had the pleasure of meeting a wonderful couple in their favorite restaurant - The Oyster Bar - in Forth Wayne, IN. It was a dim, narrow and historical old building with a lot of charm and character and they wanted me to paint some scenes from it. They get first pick of the scenes I've worked on. 
I'm sending this and two others to Castle Gallery soon for their annual Valentine's Show. Opening night is February 9th.

Houston Symphony

Happy New Year! 2013 is promising to be full of challenges and changes if my last couple of weeks are any indication!

I had the very wonderful opportunity last weekend to paint behind the scenes at the Houston Symphony. I was commissioned to capture the conductor Hans Graf and some of the principal players for the conductor's last season. It was such an honor and so inspiring to be painting with a live orchestra!

 

They had set up a monitor for me to work from backstage with the camera behind the musicians, looking towards the conductor. I also got to look through the doorway peephole and get onstage before and after the performance. These are my sketches from that night. The first painting I just focused on the conductor and tried to capture some of his movements and the lighting on him. A definite challenge!

 

I will complete the one above using the photos I took while there and post again to show my final results. Its good to be back focusing on art again after lots of holiday fun. I hope that the new year is a joyful one for all my friends in blogland!

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you every happiness this Holiday Season, the Merriest Christmas and prosperity in the New Year. Thank you for being a friend and fan. I look forward to the new year and new creative endeavors.

  

All the best to you and your family!

Robin 

Anything But Pedestrian

10x20 oil on canvas panel
sold


A walk down Congress Avenue in Austin. Its generally not a mundane tour of the city. :-)

_____________

Consider a fine art print for a holiday gift this year - 

16x12" giclee on fine art paper - signed limited edition of 20

$80 incl. shipping
16 still available

Les Deux Gamin

12x12 oil on panel
sold

A little blast from the past. Ready to find a permanent home!

I dreamed about going to NYC last night. This is a little corner bistro in the West Village where we had lunch one day during a workshop. I hope that the city, and New Jersey and surrounding areas are recovering from Sandy. What a devastating mess. My thoughts are with all in those affected areas.

Gelato Counter

18x12 oil on linen
Available at Russell Collection Fine Art

We had a very fun opening reception last night at the gallery for the Femme show. What a great bunch of artists and a very eclectic show. Nine of the 11 featured artists were there. Several of my new paintings sold which I consider high praise. 

I had fun taking pictures with my iPhone apps. I used Hipstamatic on these below.  The show hangs until Dec. 22nd so do stop in to see it if you can.

 

Slow Pour

20x24 oil on panel -
Sold

Opening night tonight at the "Femme" show at Russell Collection Fine Art in Austin and I had two paintings sold during previews yesterday!
The paintings were larger scale for me and definitely harder. The other I really struggled over, but the results apparently were satisfactory! Its a good feeling to know going in that I have sales and people like what they see!

If you are in Austin do come by tonight during the reception and say hello and see the wonderful variety of work created by some very talented women!

étudiant des arts - Giclee GIVEAWAY

And the winner is Jane C. - CONGRATULATIONS!

What fun this was! Thanks so much for writing in and telling me what you liked. The breakdown was interesting - the winning theme was "art patrons". Next were laundry scenes, birds-eye views and city/restaurant. What great feedback!

The painting below is the one now featured as my first ever limited edition print. It is a 16x12 giclee print on fine art paper, signed and limited to only 20 prints.

$80 limited edition (20 prints)
16x12 giclee on fine art paper

Since so many like the museum paintings I wanted to revisit this little "copiste" in the National Gallery. I can't seem to get enough of her at work copying one of Berthe Morisot's lovely works (The Mother and Sister of the Artist 1869/70). Unfortunately, this image has some glare on it and I will replace it as soon as I can get a good photo in daylight. I finished up too late tonight. Its been a hectic week. I was frantically working on paintings for a group show opening tomorrow night at the Russell Collection. "Femme" features all their women artists. I took in 9 paintings - some larger scale than usual for me. I had good news this evening. Two already sold! What a feeling, especially after lots of angst over one in particular!

Now, if you'd like to purchase a limited edition print, email me and I can send you a invoice via paypal. $80 includes shipping.
If you would like to own the original - send me an email!

Mon - Fri

6x6 oil on panel
$125 + s/h - sold


As another thanks - and in the hopes of moving some of my smaller works out of my studio and making room for new - I am offering 15% off my ETSY site with the code THANKS12.

As an artist I think its hard to live with my past works sometimes. In a way, its hard to move on and keep creating and being inspired when I keep seeing these previous works sitting and staring at me. Some I love and hang onto but even those pale after awhile. We are ever evolving and growing and I think its important to look forward. My husband laughs at me and says I hate everything I do as soon as I finish it (not true) - but it is true that I am always looking ahead to the next piece. Not only is the creating of it what drives me, but I always feel that with beginning anew, there is nothing but potential to create something really beautiful.

In the book Art & Fear the authors talk about the idea that each brush stroke diminishes the painting's potential. As in, the more you work on a piece, the more it can only become ONE piece. But in the beginning, the possibilities are endless. 

Anyway - its an awesome book. And please help me by clearing out my studio.  :-)

Thanksgiving Give Away

It has been another amazing year together. I want to thank all the people who check my blog on a regular basis, leave heartfelt comments, chat with me via my website and "like" my Facebook posts. It means everything to me to share my work and have an audience to be inspired by.

This Thanksgiving week I wanted to say thank you with a special giveaway!

The winner will receive both my "Looking Back" and "Vignettes" books as well as a special - first time ever! - Limited  Edition giclee print on paper.

  

How to enter: Leave a comment and tell me what painting or subject of mine that you like most; I'd love to know!

A winner will be selected at random on Friday, November 30th.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Hard Day's Night

 

6x6 oil on panel

$125 + s/h - sold

Coffee Break

6x6 oil on panel


I actually broke out some small panels last week in the hopes of getting a few paintings to send to the "6 inch Squared" exhibition and sale at the Randy Higbee Gallery. The one above is shipping today and the opening reception is December 8th.