Old New Orleans

24x12 oil on panel

Ask Tidewater Gallery about this painting.

Off Broadway

30x24 oil on stretched linen
deep sides/unframed

Ask DK Gallery about this painting

This was fun for me. I painted a small version of this (also below 7x5) and it sold ages ago. I always considered working it again, but I have this aversion to repeating myself. I  love the play "Waiting for Godot." I've never actually seen it, but have read it. Read the Wikipedia description of it here.  Perhaps "abdsurdist" is up my alley.

I feel like some of my best works were those I did small for the blog. But I can't seem to paint that small anymore and am not sure the market is even there anymore for the small works. So maybe its time to look back at those early paintings like the interiors and cities and consider revisiting the scenes for larger works.    

 

I'm really excited to be showing my work in a new area at a really exciting gallery in Marietta, GA. The show opens tomorrow night and I hope the paintings are well received.

Don't Walk

16x20 oil on cradled panel

Ask DK Gallery about this painting

First, thank you for all the virtual pats on the back and so forth. I don't stay down long. I set aside the two paintings that failed and turned the lights out in the studio for a day or two.

This scene above I showed a few images of while it was in progress. The location is the same intersection in the Village as the painting below but on the opposite corner. The scene with the cupcake title is so named because this intersection is the home of the Magnolia Bakery - made famous in the "Sex In The City" tv series - and many people walking along Bleecker are carrying cupcake boxes to go and eat in the little park on the 4th corner.

Today I shipped off the last of my paintings for this show. Not a moment too soon either. I feel very badly for being a little crazy and not getting the work out sooner. Opening night is FRIDAY! If you are in the Marietta, GA area, try to stop by! It looks like a great group of artists and work represented. I wish I could see it in person. Hmmm...maybe next month for the "Farm to Table" show.

Corner Bistro

16x20 oil on panel
sold

I'm excited to announce that I am going to be showing work as a guest artist with DK Gallery in Marietta, Georgia for a couple of their upcoming shows. The first one opens in August and is a gallery show called "Oh, the Places You'll Go".

My works will feature some NYC and New Orleans work - and maybe a museum or birds-eye piece to see how they are received.

I'm glad to have the opportunity to show my artwork to a new audience and new collector base. I never like to talk about the sordid business side of art on this blog, but let's face it, its the elephant in the room. The economy remains sluggish and so do sales. Its challenging being a creative individual these days. Prints and posters are so widely available - and so much cheaper - that people find it easier to purchase a cool scene from Target while they are getting their new fall throw pillows and accent rugs than to search galleries and attend art fairs to see what original art there is. I think too that people are unsure about buying art - "maybe its not good!" Oh, its a whole lot of reasons. The main one being that housing is slow, people are still out of work and there is a lot less spending money to play with.

That being said, having my paintings seen in a new area and being a new face in a gallery might give me a boost. The gallery represents some really interesting contemporary artists too and I'm excited to be  explore a more modern approach to my work and framing options as well.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

City - Work in Progress

16x20 
work in progress
 
I thought I'd share my work in progress here. Three stages of a city scene I worked on Friday night. It is not yet complete but close to it. I had the evening to myself while my daughter was at an evening camp and my husband went to Texas World Speedway to do some racing!

Here he is getting ready for his laps today. The team raced the car for 7 hours both Saturday and Sunday. It was the ChumpCar "Habanero Hoon". Hubster's first such event. What a great team - I got to go and meet them and watch. Much fun - except for the 100° temps.

Sunny Stroll - Revised

20x16 oil on linen

Ask Tidewater Gallery about this painting.


I just shipped this painting to Tidewater Gallery in Swansboro, NC. It was painted in 2010 and had been in my gallery in Carmel for awhile. Once back here in my studio, there were certain things bugging me about it and needing fixed. So I revised it. * Gasp*  It was the first time I dared to (or bothered to) change an older work. Mostly I think its better to just paint a new one. But this was a good composition and the figures were well done and interesting... the other stuff just needed some tweaks.

I didn't like the foreground mostly and wanted to vary the rather strident orange tones. But then my changes escalated and I moved all around the figures making adjustments! Can you see all the changes? I've highlighted the big ones below and you can compare the two images. Then there were little changes like making her nose a little smaller, bluing up the sky and punching up the highlights on her shirt and his shorts to really make them pop. Its ok to use pure white paint! But, it can be cool, so add just the slightest touch of cad yellow or surround white with yellow (or another warm) to make it stand out as a "hot spot".

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.

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.

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.  :-)

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.

Birds Eye

8x8 cradled panels each
sold

This set is probably arriving at Edward Montgomery Gallery in Carmel today, but is already spoken for we believe. I'll post otherwise if they are still available.

I'm in Jackson hole right now and this is likely the last Internet service I will have. It will be good to be "unplugged" for a bit.
This incredible landscape is just stunning! I want to move here. I don't think any words or pictures can do it justice. I'm walking around town continually staring upward at the mountains and tripping all over. Does anyone get used to this scenery?

Today we will get to visit a few local galleries and then head to Yellowstone.

Where to Next?

10x12 oil on panel

Available at Tidewater Gallery

This is inspired from my recent trip to New York City. I painted a view of this West Village corner on site, but was so frustrated with it, that I wiped it off. I sort of regret that now. I took a photo and later could see that it was at least a good start. It was a funny day there though - the light was really super bright and intense. More like Texas! No matter where I set up, I couldn't see well. Ah, the challenges of painting "en plein air".

"Vignettes"

An exhibition of small works by Robin Cheers

Tidewater Gallery

107 N. Front Street

Swansboro, NC

910-325-0660

Opening reception Friday, June 15, 5-8 pm

Taking A Look Around

12x12 oil on panel

Ask Edward Montgomery Fine Art about this painting.

Ok, if this one doesn't sell eventually, I really don't mind. Its one of my all time favorites. Why? Well, because I love horses. And I love light in it, and the dappling of his coat and the gesture. And it reminds me of NYC and my trips there.

I don't think I ever really talked about the book I put together last fall. Part of what I enjoyed most was the feeling of accomplishment and a sense of growth I saw as I looked back over my paintings. Artists rarely get to see their work in a group or spend time looking back over their body of work. Revisiting the work I'd done over the past several years and having a real sense of pride in the work was huge for me. Not only had I created quite a few paintings, there were enough that hit that high mark I expected. Others might not agree with me on all the choices, heck, I doubt any two people could agree on what to include, but each one of my choices was a milestone in my ability to express myself in paint and brushwork. I can't wait to see where I grow over the next few years.

East Enders

12x16 oil on panel

Ask Russell Collection Fine Art about this painting.

This is looking east on Austin's (in)famous Sixth Street. During the day, if you overlook a bit of dust and grime, the buildings are wonderful examples of "old west" architecture with their builder's names and dates on their facades. At night, its a half mile or more packed with competing music acts and partiers pouring in and out of countless bars. I don't get down there at night anymore, but it could be a lot of fun people watching.

Sunny Stroll

20x16 oil on linen

Ask Edward Montgomery Fine Art about this painting.

A couple of hipsters strolling Sixth Street in Austin. Its always a fun challenge trying to capture the effects of bright sunlight. Oh, that it came in a tube.

Waiting for Godot

7x5 oil on panel
$100 + s/h - sold

This was at a gallery for awhile - one of mine that frames the work for me - and its so small, I figured I'd sell it here rather than get a frame and send it on to another.
Its a scene from NYC with one of my favorite stories featured on a theater marquis.

City Beat 15

6x6 oil on linen - sold

Its always fun to play with this perspective. Its almost abstract; all about the bold shadow and the marred pavement. A nice break after laboring over larger works.