Spring Fling

6x6 oil on panel
sold

A couple of kids swimming in the luxuriously cold waters of Barton Springs Pool in Austin. I love the green water - its so clear and reflective. And such a relief on hot days!

Dolphin Watch

10x12 oil on panel
Available at Tidewater Gallery

I am looking forward to being at the coast of NC next weekend. I'm a little bummed that my family isn't traveling with me. When one works for "the man", the schedule isn't open enough. But then again, the paycheck is a whole lot better than when one is working for "the self". :-)

"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

Windy Beach on She Magazine Cover

I've had the honor of having one of my paintings printed on the cover of She Magazine - a faith-based publication located in South Carolina. Its a nice bit of publicity but even more of an honor because the May issue is all about motherhood. Its lovely to have my painting  reflect all those hard-working, infinitely loving, guiding, and nurturing moms out there. Happy Mother's Day early!

The painting Windy Day is available at Edward Montgomery Fine Art gallery in Carmel. Its 12x9 oil on panel.

Treasur Seeker

6x6 oil on panel
$100 + s/h
PURCHASE

Giddy

6x6 oil on panel
$100 + s/h
PURCHASE

Gorgeous day in Austin today! Had a leisurely lunch at an outdoor dining area in the Domain, strolled an outdoor art festival, listened to some live music and enjoyed family time. Not a day at the beach, but a close second. :-)

Leading Edge

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

Back from Loretta Goodwin Gallery's Tiny Treasures show which was held over from the holidays. I will have several more of these small beach scenes to share in the coming days.

Surfing the Pier

10x10 oil on linen panel
$300 unframed
PURCHASE

This one is back from a gallery and I thought I'd keep it in my studio for now and offer it via my ETSY site. I don't use ETSY as often as I'd like, but its updated with the work that is currently available from my studio. Check it out!

Beach Girl

8x10 oil on paper
$125 incl. shipping
PURCHASE

Even with 30 minutes on the timer, I think I put too much info in the water and waves. I think had it been more graphic or solid in color it would have made the figure stand out more and been less busy.

Also - she appears very, very red (rock lobster) on my computer, but she isn't so in the painting. Can't make the red less intense.

Moses Botkin Monthly Challenge

Windy Beach
12x9 oil on panel

This month the theme was "blue" - in whatever way we wanted to represent it. Well, I had two thoughts - the big blue skies of Texas, which are pretty special, or the blue of ocean. Only it is bigger than the skies over Texas. Those skies are dripping some wet stuff on us lately, for which we are extremely grateful.

Enjoy my fellow challenge artists' interpretations this month!

Holiday Blues
5x7 oil on hardboard

©2011 Diana Moses Botkin

Blues
4x4 silverpoint and oil on gessoboard

©2011 Vicki Ross

Malibu Blue

4x8.75 oil on canvas
©2011 Ruth Andre



Blue Ice
16x20 oil on canvas

©2011 Suzanne Berry

Beach Walk

8x8 oil on paper
$125 including s/h
PURCHASE

I did a smaller version of these girls, which is at Randy Higbee Gallery for the 6" Squared show. And a similarly sized one which is at a gallery. And I thought I'd try it once again as I play with my timer and painting on paper. Obviously, I've enjoyed these girls on the beach.

I had a lovely surprise today - being recommended in the e-newsletter "Informed Collector" by Clint Watson. Thank you Clint!

Leading Edge

6x6 oil on panel

Available at Loretta Goodwin Gallery

This is available at the gallery for their Tiny Treasures show which opens Thursday night in Birmingham. The last month has been such a whirlwind that I am not sure if I posted this already or not! If its a repeat... sorry. The fans at Daily Paintworks won't have seen it yet. I've joined that online gallery site finally. And I gave my blog a little facelift too today.

Sorry about my rant the other day. I was overwhelmed, but things settled down nicely this week and I've been able to focus on a new project in the studio. While excited about a new idea, I'm at a loss for creating these small works for the blog/online galleries. I really struggle with finding a subject to fit on this small format. But I can't paint larger and offer those at low prices. I'm trying to find a new project idea for the blog to get my juices going and provide fans with affordable, collectible art. Its still very important to me to do that. Heck, I can't afford most of the art I'd like to have - being able to buy small pieces and books from my favorite artists is wonderful.

I know that the subject has to be simple, a single figure works best. Beach scenes. I might become the "beach scene blogger." The weird thing is, I paint loosely and quickly. You'd think a small format would be ideal for simplifying. That is my challenge. And maybe I ought to embrace that and work on it.

Smooth Surfin'

5x5 oil on panel
$100 + s/h - sold

Here is an example of my brain function, I couldn't really remember WHERE I'd seen these surfers. Turns out (according to my diary) that we were in Siesta Key last year (just a year ago!?), and these were taken at Turtle Beach. Its just south of Siesta Key beach but quite different. The shore was a steep drop down to the crystal clear green water and the sand was dark, deep and fine. I think it was that sharp drop that made the waves good for these guys to surf on these short boards.

Once I read the little entry in my 5 year diary, it all came back to me, but until then... a total blank. I find this a little worrisome.

Boarder 3

5x5 oil on panel
$100 + s/h
PURCHASE

I'm not the best at clever names! But this is what it is. Enjoy!

Boarder 2

5x5 oil on panel
$100 + s/h
PURCHASE

Today I'm rejoining Daily Painter's Gallery. I dropped off for about a year while I focused on establishing myself with new galleries and working on larger paintings. I missed the community and the exposure to be honest. I look forward to being part of the gallery again. I looked into other such groups as well (and there are quite a few) but I still think this is the best. It was among the first, its done a lot to promote the artists, and they have high quality and varied art available! I suspect they must have a huge audience too. So I better keep my hand in these smaller works!

If you are anywhere near the beach and going to see fireworks over the ocean, I am jealous.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Downtime

6x6 oil on panel
SOLD

This was so much fun to do. I didn't think I could pull it off really - the start was rather ugly. But I'm really happy with the results. Click the image to see it larger and you can see the strokes, the lost edges and the suggestions which make it come together to the eye.
I really hit my stride yesterday leaving things loose and sloppy. That might sound odd, but it is sort of what I want. It felt really good to just let go and put the brush down before I tightened everything up. Will share that tomorrow! Facebook fans have had a peek at it.

Cooling Off

12x12 oil on panel

Guess where I am going tomorrow?? Siesta Key! I am so ready. I've been painting and framing and focused solely on gallery work... and dealing with all the other bits of life. You know... cleaning, laundry, parenting, chauffering, gardening, being the door opener for a demanding squirrel-crazy dog....
Tomorrow it all ends. Tomorrow I will be sitting on the white sands of the beach and shell hunting and visiting with my family.
I'll "e" ya from the other side of the gulf!

Rough Surf

11x14 oil on panel

My thoughts are turning to the beach this week. We leave in a week for our annual family trip to Siesta Key, Florida. Like many, I've been so depressed about this oil spill and worried about all our gulf coasts - from Texas to Florida. I hope that our lovely white sand beaches and manatees who swim with us in the surf are still as beautiful as ever.

I can't wait to paint and sketch on the beach. They have the best sunsets from "our house" there as well.

Balancing Act - Surfer

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

I finished up some larger subway paintings today and began another project I've wanted to do for awhile. I will share pics of those the rest of the week.

Catchin A Wave

6x6 oil on panel
$100 + $6.50 s/h - sold

I felt like visiting the beach today! I wanted to practice some quick gestural figures too to get ready for my live event painting tonight. Must get packing now and head out. Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Note: those little blobs that sometimes appear from time to time on the left and right edges of the painting are actually what holds the panel in place. I was too rushed today to try to edit those out. They are not included with the painting.

Lighthouse House

Here we are at Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island. Its been lovely. Though a little windy. I painted yesterday morning and could barely keep things from blowing away. Done a lot of sketching in my book too.
This is a house down the beach a few doors - we call it the light house. I'm reminded of Hopper's paintings when I look at it.


roughly 6x6 oil on paper

Below is a very tiny painting I did on the other end of the paper above. This is that "museum board" or carton paper that I like, though I don't know yet how to frame it. I suppose it should go under glass. I don't like the thoughts of that. That is just another reason I love oil paints so much. No messing with matting or glass framing.



I am having a thoroughly wonderful time lazing about and alternately basking in the sun and being pounded by some rough surf. Speaking of! There have been surfers here too and I've gotten lots of great photos as well as sketches! Between this trip and NYC I will have things to work on for a year or more!