Dîner de Fête

10x12 oil on panel (each)
Available at Tidewater Gallery

Cafe Gitane is in NYC right in the Jane Hotel. We ate breakfast there every morning and often ended our day there too with a nightcap (a yummy chocolate chaud). Its a French theme with a little bit of Morocco thrown in - very Casablanca feeling. At night, it glows with the vapor lights from outside and the dim lamps and antique chandeliers inside add to the warm glow. It was fun to try to paint everything with an orangey-pink tinge. These paintings, un and deux, are framed separately but make a nice pair. See them at my show opening next Friday!

"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

Show catalog available on Lulu.

Night Owls

20x10 oil on linen
PURCHASE

Another painting making a return home from a gallery. Available unframed from my studio. Its a dark scene - as in low light. But the cafe and sidewalk look very pleasant and cozy!

I haven't been painting actually, and I don't want to sound negative, but I feel like I am lately. I've been having issues with a business associate and its stressed me out so much that I can't paint. Be really careful who you allow to represent you art. Not every opportunity is golden. Can you sense my restraint here?

Night Owls

20x10 oil on linen

I have been painting away, just not posting. I wanted to finally check in with my blog friends though and let you know that I am still here.

There has been a lot going on at my house lately. I have been painting a lot, getting ready to send work to another new gallery. More on that to come. ;-)
When not painting, I am never still - having to pick up more than my "share" because my husband has been suffering some bizarre condition which we've narrowed down to chemical poisoning. Its really rather a nightmare, so take note: BE CAREFUL when using any kind of solvents, stains, paints, etc. Watch out for those neurotoxins. They are bad news. Its going to be anywhere from 6-18 mos. for my husband's nervous system to return to normal (looking on the bright side) all from using a solvent to clean his car for a short while.
This is an important reminder too for all the artists out there. Remember to work in a well-ventilated space and choose low voc cleaners. A good substitute for mineral spirits/turps is walnut oil, but I use Gamsol currently out of sheer laziness. I wear gloves though and I do not use any colors with heavy metals in them (no cads, no lead, etc.) I've found substitutes for those colors. The toxins in such can build up in your system over time too and since I want to be painting for many years, I make my environment as healthy as I can.

My plan is to get back to some small paintings after I get this round of gallery paintings completed. If I finish that up, I will be set through the summer with the galleries I think. Added up, I have quite a few works out there waiting for the right home! Its rather amazing to think I've created so many these past months. Some I've absolutely loved and already miss. But I can't keep them all.

Late Dining

11x14 oil on panel - sold

Today I have foot surgery so this is probably it for the week. I also have a cold starting, so have not made any use of the time I did have while waiting for this surgery - starving and dying of thirst - until late afternoon.
If I don't get back to this later in the week, I wish you a blessed Thanksgiving.

Night Colors

6x6 oil on panel
$100 + $12 s/h - sold

Tending the Bar

6x6 oil on panel
$100 + $12 s/h - sold

A lot of my New York trip seems to center around food. Hmmm... so does my life really. Its one of my pleasures. I am not that great a cook, however. I'm good at down home, comfort foods, but have a gourmet taste too that can only be satisfied by chef-prepared meals. This is a little neighborhood bar we stopped in for dessert and an apertif. It was late and the restaurant was nearly empty. The bartender spent most of his time chatting with a customer at the end of the bar unknowingly giving me lots of inspiration.

Mid-Night Lights

6x6 oil on panel
$100 + $12 s/h - sold

I was up around 3 a.m. one night at the beach (thanks Dad!) and went outside to have a look at the moon which was a brilliant orangey-red and hanging low on the horizon. Looking to the north though I saw this hotel lit up with the glow of vapor lights.
I love night scenes. I should do more.

While I paint, my dog Macy sometimes hangs out in the studio on a pillow I have for her under my easel. Usually, though she is too busy laying on the couch in the front window watching for passersby to bark at. But today she was nearby and she was so cute and relaxed, that I quickly sketched her in on a board. Seriously, this took about 5 minutes and I am really pleased with it. Can you guess that she is a schnauzer? Best dog ever! :-)


6x6 oil on panel
nfs

Bonne Nuit

16x16 oil on canvas

Ask Russell Collection Fine Art about this painting.

Another memory of France... this time in Paris. I have no idea what restaurant this might have been. One of the thousands with sidewalk seating.
I have to say I was really pleased with how I painted that green light glowing on the red awning. It took several tries to get the right value and not have it be too bright, too distracting or too obvious.

Look for new works in all my galleries this weekend. And look for some small works coming here again now finally.

City Lights

16x12 oil on panel
Available at Castle Gallery

The city at night is so spectacular. There is so much color - all moving and changing continually. The Chrysler building is such a unique shape also, really drawing your eye up to its glowing top.