My Two Sides

"When I heard that there were artists, I wished I could some time be one. If I could only make a rose bloom on paper, I thought I should be happy! Or if I could at last succeed in drawing the outline of winter-stripped boughs as I saw them against the sky, it seemed to me that I should be willing to spend years in trying."  - Lucy Larcom

"My Two Sides"

Most people love Halloween.  It's an opportunity to get into costume and become something else; a superhero, a sexy maid, or maybe a zombie.  For a few brief hours we hide behind the masks and become something we normally are not.

Being an artist affords me the same opportunity.  I get to try new things and take that essential step outside my comfort zone.  

Some days I just want to sling paint.  On other days it's all about the detail in light passing through a wine glass or vase.

Below are a few examples of my two sides.

"Skatepark"

9" x 12", Acrylic 

http://fineartamerica.com/products/skate-park-karyn-robinson-framed-print.html

When I painted "Skatepark" I wanted to experiment with an image that would appear both realistic and abstract at the same time.  I liked the play of light and shadows. 

"Grandmother's Silver"

30" X 36", Acrylic

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/grandmothers-silver-karyn-robinson.html

"Grandmother's Silver" on the other hand, was all about realism and I took days meticulously painting the details in the tarnished silver.

"Pandemonium"

Triptych

24" x 36", Acrylic

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/pandemonium-karyn-robinson.html

My triptych, "Pandemonium" brought out my inner graffiti artist.  Creating it was very rewarding and great fun.

"Strawberries"

8" x 10", Acrylic

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/strawberries-karyn-robinson.html

In a return to realism, painting "Strawberries" was equally enjoyable.

Every artist seeks guidance from those more experienced and the one thing I hear over and over is 'find your style', or 'develop a recognizable style'.

Perhaps one day I'll heed their well intentioned advice, but right now I'm having too much fun.  I prefer to seek counsel from the writer, Doug Adams who proudly proclaimed:

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I ended up where I needed to be." 

Visit my gallery and celebrate the dichotomy that is my Art.

http://karyn-robinson.artistwebsites.com/index.html

My Arizona

"My Arizona"

Why I Love the Wild, Wild West

"I shut my eyes in order to see."

- Paul Gauguin

It's time for a trip down memory lane.

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/prickly-pear-flower-karyn-robinson.html

  I began my painting career by painting that which I love best, which is always a good place for an artist to begin.  We moved to Arizona nearly 25 years ago and I was immediately taken with the desert.

Where some see only rocks and dirt I see incredible beauty.  I love the sculptural shapes of the cacti and the way light plays on their forms.  I love the mystery of the desert by moonlight.

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/barrel-cactus-karyn-robinson.html

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/saguaro-cactus-karyn-robinson.html

I love the plants that thrive in unbearable conditions...

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/desert-agave-cactus-karyn-robinson.html

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/prickly-pear-with-fruit-karyn-robinson.html

...like extreme temperatures and little water.  Their adaptations are an inspiration to my spirit to 'find a way' even in the most challenging of times.

I love the self-defenses of desert dwellers like thorns and needles, still their beauty screams 

'I dare you not to love me.'

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/southwest-contemporary-art-desert-solitude-karyn-robinson.html

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/southwest-contemporary-art-the-purple-window-karyn-robinson.html

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/mission-san-xavier-del-bac-karyn-robinson.html

I respect and admire the Mexican, Spanish and Native American cultures that came before me and give my state a look, a feel, a sound and a taste like no other.

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/homage-to-inlay-1-karyn-robinson.html

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/-homage-to-inlay-2-karyn-robinson.html

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/desert-jackrabbit-karyn-robinson.html

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/-turquoise-necklace-karyn-robinson.html

I love the craftsmanship of Native American artists and their  respect for the land and animals.

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/prickly-pear-abstract-karyn-robinson.html

But what I love most about Arizona is how its beauty and its people awoke the artist in me 

and inspired me to paint.  

A passion as strong as mine cannot be contained purely in the heart.  

Love leaving the soul is art.  

If you'd like to see more of my work, including more southwestern images, please visit my gallery at 

http://karyn-robinson.artistwebsites.com 

"Coronado Island Expedition" and "Overlooking the Cliffs"

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures."

- Henry Ward Beecher

Daily Painting #11

"Coronado Island Expedition"

8" x 10" Acrylic on board

Original painting, $100.00

Daily Painting #12

"Overlooking the Cliffs"

8" x 10" Acrylic on board

Original painting, $100.00

I'm one of those people who gets 'carried away' with things.  I commit myself to whatever I'm working on with my entire being.  I can be preoccupied with something to such an extent that I'll even dream about it.  

That is how I've become since I started painting seascapes.  There is something very familiar in these scenes.  I like to think I was a painter in another life and it's all coming back to me just now.  Maybe I'm remembering my own childhood spent on the beaches of Florida.  Whatever it is, it's comfortable and it makes me happy, and 'happy' is why I paint.

My recent paintings are the first time I've painted from my own photographs.  I still have one more to do; a young mother holding a toddler in her arms as both gaze out to sea.  I can't wait to get started.  

Will I paint more?  Undoubtedly.  The Siren's call is strong and I will once again be drawn to the sea. 

To purchase either the original painting or a reproduction, visit my gallery:

karyn-robinson.artistwebsites.com

"La Jolla Flowers"

"I dream my painting and I paint my dream."

- Vincent van Gogh

Daily painting #10

"La Jolla Flowers"

Acrylic on board

9" x 12"

125.00

I recently spent some time in La Jolla, California and I saw these two elderly women sharing a bench overlooking the beautiful, blue Pacific ocean.  There is an assisted living facility nearby and although I do not know for certain, I like to imagine these two are residents and the trip to the beach is a daily occurrence.

Still 'California girls' at heart, they don their sun hats and hit the beach.  Once comfortably seated they begin to share their stories; stories about their children, their dear, departed husbands, the parties they once threw and the boys they once dated.

Those lucky enough to call La Jolla home may recognize the two as a fixture on that bench.  Each day they dress in cheerful colors, like the flowers that line the cliffs overlooking the beach below.

Any woman fortunate enough to have a dear friend probably sees something familiar in this painting.

The two are lucky to still have each other, and they know it.

Purchase the original painting or a reproduction visit:

Purchase a reproduction here:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/la-jolla-flowers-karyn-robinson.html

New Art for Sale - "I'm Not Dead Yet"

“To create one’s own world takes courage.” 

-Georgia O’Keeffe

Daily Painting #9

"I'm Not Dead Yet"

Acrylic, 12" x 9"

100.00

With apologies to Monty Python for the title.  This little guy is indeed, not dead yet.  It appears his compatriots have bought the farm, though.

This painting represents my gardening skills perfectly.  I kill everything.  I'm not neglectful; in fact just the opposite.  I have a tendency to 'love everything to death'.

Too much water.  Too much sun.  Too much fertilizer.

I believe this is a succulent of some sort.  The owner probably didn't realize how hot it gets on the balcony or the window sill in the midday sun.

Poor little guy.  Give him some love...and a good home...before it's too late!

To purchase either the original or a reproduction visit:

http://karyn-robinson.artistwebsites.com/

New Painting for Sale - "Last Light"

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." - Unknown

Daily Painting #8

"Last Light"

Acrylic, 12" x 9"
$100.00

Memorial Day is the official kick-off for the summer season and while many families will spend the day grilling hamburgers and playing games, more than a few of us will head to the beach.

In my painting "Last Light", a young boy lingers just a while longer near the swirling foam as the sun sets behind him, illuminating the sand and his tanned skin in a golden glow.  

I can imagine his mother gathering the blankets, sun screen, and toys while his father grabs the cooler and folding chairs.  They call his name.  He pretends not to hear.  "Just a little longer" he thinks to himself.  

"Just a little longer."

Purchase the original painting or a reproduction here.  Be sure to take a look at the variety of options like gallery wrapped canvases, and artwork printed on acrylic and metal.  Very cool!

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/last-light-karyn-robinson.html

Why I Love Fine Art America

"Buying art is the same thing as falling in love." 

-Nohra Haime

Daily Painting #7

"Chiles - Sweet Heat"

Acrylic on Panel

10" x 8"

Every artist needs to have a POD site.  What is 'POD'?  It's an abbreviation for 'print on demand'.  While I can only sell my original one time, through my POD site - Fine Art America, I can sell the image multiple times.

I especially like that Fine Art America gives my buyers a variety of choices.

Let's start with size.  I use a scanner to copy my paintings and upload them to the site.  This gives me an excellent copy of the original painting with very high resolution.  That allows FAA to create prints even larger than the original.  

For example, while this original is only 10" x 8", a collector could buy a print as small as 6" x 8" or as large as 24" x 30" without any loss in quality.

Want that image framed?  You can order mats and frames in a variety of styles and receive art ready to hang on the wall in just a few days.

You can also order the artwork on gallery wrapped canvas eliminating the need for a frame.  FAA also prints on acrylic and metal for a very contemporary look.

And all artwork is available as greeting cards which you can personalize.

Finally,  FAA's 30 day money back guarantee lets you purchase with confidence.

Buying a reproduction is smart.  It's an affordable way to decorate your home with unique art you won't find at every big box store.

To purchase either the original painting or a reproduction, visit here:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/chiles-sweet-heat-karyn-robinson.html

Daily Painting #6

"First Timer"

Acrylic on Panel

10" x 8"

Every mother who has ever taken a young child to the beach remembers this special moment.  Dropping those little feet into the cool water for the first time.  Trying to imagine what he's thinking being exposed to so many sensations; the smell of the ocean breeze, the roar of the waves, the soft sand shifting between his toes.  It's a memory she'll be replaying in her mind for days, maybe even years.  For the child, it's yet another 'first' to be checked off on his long list of life experiences.

It's nice to be able to revisit this moment.  To be taken back to that bright day on the beach perhaps many, many years ago.  Close your eyes and hear the gulls cry, feel the breeze and listen to those little squeals of laughter echo in your mind.

The original artwork has been sold, however you may purchase a reproduction here:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/first-timer-karyn-robinson.html

New Original Abstracts for Sale

"Inexplicable"

36" x 24" x 1.5"

"Fruit Salad"

36" x 24" x 1.5"

"The Arrangement"

24" x 30" x .75"

New Originals for Sale

I've currently listed three more of my large originals for sale.  While I love abstract art I find it conducive to my own creative process to mix things up on occasion.  

Right now I'm enjoying the challenge of painting 'small', very small by comparison.  

I enjoy sharing my art with you and welcome your comments.  Feel free to send me an email too!

Here are some thoughts on the pieces I've currently listed...

"Inexplicable"

This work has a feeling of constraint.  It has an energy which is contained; the reddish tones within the ovals, and the ovals within the squares.  I understand this work so well.  I think I really painted what I was feeling that day and yet it's so difficult to put into words.  Some things really are 'inexplicable'. 

"Fruit Salad"

The colors are bright.  The feeling is one of excitement.  The possibilities are endless.  This work is unconquerable.

Like a delicious fruit salad this painting contains the zing of a blueberry, the sweetness of cherry, the tang of tangerines, and the coolness of green and purple grapes with just a touch of sour from a lemon.  

Are you hungry yet?  A painting good enough to eat but you might just want to place it in your dining room and let the colors excite the palates of your dinner guests. 

"The Arrangement"

A little of this, a little of that...deciding what goes into an abstract is the easy part.  It's the arrangement; the transition from one area to another which poses the challenge.  Knowing when to say 'when'.  When to walk away.  Knowing when another stroke will be too much and understanding when simplicity might not be enough.

I call this piece, "The Arrangement" because that was the challenge.  Look at it and tell me what you see.  I see big rectangles and within those, squares.  I see squares and within those, circles.  I see the color, orange and its complement, blue.  The energy in this mixed media work comes from the combination of those two colors. 

To purchase the original painting or a reproduction in a variety of sizes or view my collection of paintings, digital art, and photography, visit here:

http://karyn-robinson.artistwebsites.com/

"Blue By You"

"Blue By You"

Acrylic, 36"x 30"
$600.00

I can't speak for other artists but I find writing a description for an abstract piece of art extremely difficult.  I don't want to tell the viewer what to see.  Rather, I prefer that the individual experience the work without prejudice.

This is a large work, at least by my standards, and it is without a doubt my favorite abstract I've created.  The colors are perfect together and the palette knife technique gives this painting a great deal of texture which contributes to its interest.

When I first started painting I only wanted to create abstracts.  In my opinion, creating a beautiful abstract is the most difficult thing to do.  I quickly discovered it is so much more than just putting random colors on a canvas.  There are elements like 'harmony' and 'balance' the artist needs to consider.

To purchase the original painting or a reproduction, visit here:

http://karyn-robinson.artistwebsites.com/featured/blue-by-you-karyn-robinson.html

Thanks for visiting. 

"Happy Hour"

Daily Painting #5

"Happy Hour"

8" x 10", Acrylic on Panel
$100.00

It's always 5 o'clock somewhere!

In recent times adding '-tini' to a beverage name has become popular, as in 'chocolate-tini' or 'apple-tini', so I guess that makes this a 'cherry-tini' although it bears little resemblance to a true martini.  I believe the naming trend has more to do with the shape of the cocktail glass in which this mixed drink is served.

I love to combine complementary colors when it makes sense to do so.  In this case the muted green background is a nice complement to the red cherry.  The 'distressed' background effect was achieved by applying many layers of thin color, or 'washes', which I then scrubbed off.  The accumulated paint has the appearance of an old chalkboard.

I'm so happy that I've decided to create smaller works.  It allows me to experiment because if it doesn't work out, it's usually not a big deal to go back a step and try again.  And by taking that risk and trying something new I'm growing as an artist.  I'm also completing work much more quickly which means I'm painting a larger variety of subjects - a good thing for a woman with a short attention span. 

Purchase the original painting or a reproduction in many different sizes from my online gallery here:

http://karyn-robinson.artistwebsites.com/featured/happy-hour-karyn-robinson.html

Subscribe to my feed and be among the first to see what's new!

Thanks for visiting, have a wonderful week!

Cheers,

Karyn

Daily Painting #4

"The Bowling Party"

For those of you who are following me, and I believe that's 'zero' people right now, you'll remember I started this practice of daily painting to improve my skills.  That means trying things I've never done before.

Such is the case with "The Bowling Party".  I've been painting now for a few years and I've avoiding painting the human figure at all costs.  Well, not anymore!

I like that I painted this sort of in an impressionistic style, which frees me from having to paint too much detail.  It was enough for me to create well proportioned people of a discernible sex.

The original painting has been sold.

If you'd like a reproduction, from a 6"x 8", all the way up to a 30" x 40", visit here:

http://karyn-robinson.artistwebsites.com/featured/the-bowling-party-karyn-robinson.html

And if you'd like to visit my gallery and see all my paintings, digital art and photography, visit here:

http://karyn-robinson.artistwebsites.com/index.html

Thanks for visiting!

Have a great day!

Karyn

Daily Painting, Day 4 - "The Bowling Party"

Daily Painting, Day 4

"The Bowling Party"

As you can see, this one is a work in progress and unfortunately, tomorrow I'll be editing all day so it will be a paint free day, as will Thursday.  Sigh...

I have never painted people before.  This lawn bowling party is being painted in an impressionistic style so there won't be a lot of detail in the faces which is good news for me.

My favorite part of any painting is adding the highlights and shadows.  That's when a painting really comes to life.

I can't wait to finish this one and share it with you!

If you'd like to see more of my work visit my gallery at:
http://karyn-robinson.artistwebsites.com

Daily Painting, Day 3 "Red Bowl and Chop Sticks"

"Red Bowl and Chop Sticks"

Daily Painting, Day 3

I'm having a blast!

I used to work on a painting for days, weeks even.  I was painting on large canvases, like 30" x 36".  By switching to painting 'small' I can finish a painting each day, hence the term 'daily painting'.

Just because I can complete a work more quickly doesn't mean I don't work hard on the details.

What I like most about this work is that reflection on the outside of the bowl.  It really makes the work seem dimensional, in my humble opinion.

The reflections are achieved with a glazing technique; a very thin wash that let's the color beneath show through.

Time to get started on today's project.  "It will be titled "The Bowling Party".  Curious?  Me, too!

See you tomorrow!

To purchase a reproduction of this work in various sizes and on a variety of surfaces, visit here:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/red-bowl-and-chop-sticks-karyn-robinson.html

To purchase the 'real deal', the original 8"x10" artwork.  Acrylic on panel.  Visit here:

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/allartists/#/artist=robinson, karyn&mode=search

Daily Painting, Number 2

Day two went better than day 1.  Like I said in my previous post, it's been a while since I painted and contrary to popular belief, it's not 'like riding a bicycle'.

I'm determined to become the best artist I can be so the subject matter has to serve two purposes.

First, it has to be interesting and yield a painting people will like, and secondly, it has to provide a learning experience for me.

This was really a value study.  'Value' is the quality of lightness or darkness in a color.  Painting a reflective surface is always a challenge, but it's also a great deal of fun.  I love putting a highlight next to a darker color.

Painting number 3 will be...stay tuned, I haven't decided on that one yet.  Many possibilities...

Thanks for visiting.

This painting 8" x 10" painting is available for purchase at the link below:http://www.dailypaintworks.com/allartists/#/artist=robinson, karyn&mode=search 

Or you can purchase a reproduction in a larger size, printed on canvas, metal, acrylic or as a greeting card, here:

http://karyn-robinson.artistwebsites.com/

The Journey to Becoming a 'Daily Painter'

"Painting is just another way of keeping a 

diary."

-Pablo Picasso

"Bell Peppers"

8" x 10", Acrylic on board

First, let's be clear about one thing.  I will not be creating a new painting each and every day.  I wish I could, but there's this little thing called 'work', and even though I'm a freelancer, my work will, on occasion, keep me from doing the thing that I love most...painting.

Today I'm beginning my daily painting journey.  Within a few months I hope to look back on this day and be amazed at the growth I see.  Below is painting #1 - "Peppers".  It's okay.  I could spend several more hours on it and change the things which annoy me but I'd prefer just to move on.  Tomorrow's subject is already waiting, a silver dish and serving utensils.  In fact, I have several days worth of projects lined up.

So why do this?  Why do I paint at all?

I love painting because it is difficult.  At least it's difficult for me.  I'm hoping that the more I do it, the easier it will get.  We'll see...

Painting is my escape.  I do it in silence with just my thoughts to keep me entertained.  Sometimes I listen to classical music.  When I paint abstracts I listen to the Blues.

I hope you'll come along with me.  It will be fun.  I invite your comments because I need someone on the sidelines cheering me on.

Come back tomorrow to see what's new.

Here's a link to my website if you'd like to purchase a reproduction.

http://karyn-robinson.artistwebsites.com/

If you're interested in owning the 'real deal', go here:
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/artists/karyn-robinson-4804/artwork