THINKING SMALL

THINKING SMALL/ THINKING LARGE

I'm working on two big paintings. This plein air painting is 6x8", and it gives me a balance of working large and working small.

The local Rose Garden has been outstanding this year. Every time I go there is a swarm of volunteers working diligently to keep it lovely. At any garden there is an overload of information (or inspiration, depending on your view). I was just tickled that I could simplify one view of the sun dial into a nice little composition. There was so much to leave out - I only suggested what was a profusion of red roses.

Plein air artists really pay their dues - sweat was running down my back from the humidity - and it was early morning, and I was mostly in the shade!

Sundial, 8x6, oil sold

SUNTAN

SUNTAN
How can you tell? It's aready yellow orange. I'm not really sure what this equipment is.
It was on a paved road through the Wildlife Refuge. It looks like some kind of sweeper, which is odd because this is a road that doesn't need tidying. It was sitting off to the side in the tangled undergrowth of the Refuge and the sunlight lit it up so that it glowed. Light is the factor artists seek, and there it was in an array of glory. No matter that it's just a lowly piece of road equipment. To an artists eye it was an arrangement of angular and rounded shapes with striking color and light. Made me turn the car around to catch it. Most of what I paint is from the side of the road. Scenes just sit there and wait on me, it seems.
16x20 oil on canvas

HORSES

LUNCH PALS 5X7, oil sold

EVENING STROLL 5X7, oil sold

I tried several ways to keep the glare out of theses photos with no success. Gestures of animals intrigue me. You could tell these two were good friends. There is always one who is boss, though.

I have a larger painting in mind from this set. When I snapped the photo ( from my car, as usual) there were at least 30 turkeys in this pasture, strolling around with the horses. I was so excited I could hardly hold the camera still. I hope someday to make that scene into a painting.

LEAP INTO FALL

LEAP INTO FALL

Ok, maybe I'm rushing the season with these deer. This is 6x8". It's a diversion from the boats and water paintings that were keeping me cool a couple of weeks ago. The hurricane weather has given us much needed rain and more humidity along with it. So I'm anticipating that drier time of year. I enjoy the colors of fall and the colors of winter. I'm also trying to keep the compositions simple. I'm working on two large paintings and I tend to get lost. These small paintings help my focus.
Leap 6x8, sold

COME VISIT - FALL ART SHOWS

LETS GO!

I would enjoy visiting with you this fall. Yes, fall is just around the corner!

MONTE SANO ART SHOW

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20

always the third Saturday in September

Enjoy this one day show on the top of the mountain in Huntsville at Monte Sano State Park. Tons of nice artwork. Map and info on the link above. It's always cooler on the mountain!

&

BLUFF PARK ART SHOW

FIRST SATURDAY IN OCTOBER

SATURDAY OCTOBER 4

In the Hoover/Shades Crest area of Birmingham. The website link has a map.

Take the shuttle from several different locations to Bluff Park. This is a great way to kick off the fall. Great artists scattered all over the hill.

Remember this is a one day show, so put it on your calendar

In case you're wondering: Alabama plays Kentucky in Tuscaloosa, and Auburn plays Vanderbilt in Nashville :)

and add to your calendar:

Dragonfly Gallery in Fayetteville Tn

annual holiday downtown stroll and exhibit

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7

ON THE SQUARE IN fAYETTEVILLE TENNESSEE

enjoy refreshments and fresh new great art by a dozen artists

MORNING SURPRISE

MORING SURPRISE
6X8 oil on canvas
I'm working both small and large this week. Paying attention to values. This seemed easier than the recent onions!

RobinRobertsARt.com

MORE SUMMER

MORE SUMMER

Water and summer are still on my mind. It always amazes me how strokes of abstract paint blobs make themselves into something recognizable. Any boat or marina scene is filled with tons of information. I just kept making blocky shapes (except for that beautiful curve of the bow) and paying attention to the constant question for painters: lighter/darker? warmer/cooler? brighter/duller?

Mixed Company, 16x20, oil in canvas

website: RobinRobertsArt.com

COOLING OFF AGAIN

RobinRobertsArt.com

COOLING OFF AGAIN

You were waiting for the next step - weren't you! Perhaps you can see more clearly where I'm going. Painting water while the weather is so hot must have worked - we had rain and it's much more tolerable. This painting has rounded the bend - meaning for me that the structure is more apparent and if I can keep a light hand in fininshing it will do well. 30' square, oil on canvas

VELVET AND FRINGE

RobinRobertsArt.com

VELVET AND FRINGE

For a landscape painter, something indoors can be a treat. The green shawl was just beautiful and I couldn't resist giving it a try. Speaking of try - try painting an onion sometime. What a challenge.

STAYING COOL

STAYING COOL RobinRobertsArt.com

A work in progress......

One way to stay cool this summer is to paint water. I'll show you the finished painting later this week. What attracted me were the odd rocks standing out of the water at an angle, plus the odd round shape of the larger rock on the right. It will all become clear as this painting gets finishing touches. This is another case where it could fall apart in the end. In the meantime it helps beat the summer heat.

HOLLYHOCKS

HOLLYHOCKS

Warning! several images of the painting process......

Perhaps I missed painting for a couple of weeks so much that I went to an extreme.....

about 18x36, oil on canvas

Here is the process:

detail

In June a group of artists visited the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa. The artwork was great, and the grounds featured a variety of gardens - such a pleasure. And who can resist hollyhocks? Just remembering cools me off from the intense humidity we're having now.