"Chip Brush" Happy New Year from Robin Weiss Fine Art!

To all my blog buddies, friends, family and collectors,  may you all have a very happy and blessed new year! I'm starting my new year post with a painting that is a little out of the ordinary for me hoping that this will remind me to branch out in new directions of painting inspiration this coming year. In spite of all the economic and other woes of 2011 it was a great year for RWFA!  I want to thank all of my collectors who purchased work this year for investing in my journey as a full time artist! Also, my good friends Jim and Leigh Metteer at the Knowles Studio, Diane,and Tom at Alki Arts, Jack and Kim McLaughlin at the Directors Gallery and Christy and Russ Camerer of Bluewater Artworks who are representing me in Poulsbo with their new gallery opening January 14th!...I appreciate all your support and will continue working hard to improve the quality of my artwork.
7x7 oil on panel  sold

"Off at Seneca Street" Seattle city oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Off at Seneca Street"  6x10 oil on panel  SOLD

Believe it or not I worked for three days on this 8x12 panel trying to capture the motion and feel of this familiar scene in Seattle. One of the problems I encountered was my fault for not taking time to prepare the surface of the panel properly.....only one coat of gesso!   The paint kept sinking into the wood.
  So one of the things I have been doing over Christmas break is properly preparing surfaces!....and learning from my mistakes. There may be some things you can cut corners on but it is not gesso...Three coats! Four are better..
8x12 oil on panel

"Yakima Valley Farm" Eastern Washington oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Yakima Valley Farm" 12x36 oil on canvas SOLD

This scene is near a little town on the Yakima Indian Reservation called White Swan. It always amazes me when we cross the mountains, how dramatically the climate and landscape changes.






There are still wild horses in this area near Mt Adams!

"City Under Lights" Seattle city oil painting by Robin Weiss.

I'm not sure sometimes, why I choose the scenes that I do. My wife tells me that I often pick the photographs she would never consider good painting reference. On this one I loved the glow of the leaves in the trees and on the sidewalk under the artificial light of the city at night. The challenge was to render that light convincingly. My son Maury and I were out sketching and taking pictures. That's him in the scene.
16x20 oil on canvas.sold

"The Cadillac Hotel" Seattle city oil painting by Robin Weiss

"The Cadillac Hotel" 8x12 oil on panel SOLD

Just down the street from the Cadillac Hotel is a great coffee shop where I like to sit and sketch while I am having an espresso. Seattle has a LOT of great coffee shops.....you can walk all over the city and whenever you feel like it's time for a Joe Break , there will probably be a coffee shop right next to you.
10x12 oil on panel  (pic taken with my new Canon Rebel!...=)

"Cafe Bengodi" Seattle city oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Cafe Bengodi" 6x10 oil on panel   SOLD

Long time between posts! I have been painting, just haven't been taking pictures lately...We purchased a new camera off Craig s List primarily for taking quality images of artwork. It's a Cannon Rebel EOS ....now I have to figure out how to use it! Hopefully I will be getting a lot better images of my artwork.
6x10 oil on panel

"Under the Viaduct" City oil painting by Robin Weiss, Seattle

Soon the Viaduct will be torn down and the Seattle waterfront will look totally different....Until then I will keep painting it and recording the look of the city before the tunnel.
12x8 oil on panel  sold

"Near the Institute" night city painting by Robin Weiss

On the third Tuesday of each month I hop on the ferry and meet my friends from East/West Outreach at the Bread of Life Mission in Seattle. We serve a meal and conduct a service for the guys and gals who are staying the night. After, I usually walk down to Belltown to visit my son, Maury and that is when I have been getting these late night, rainy, city shots.
6x8 oil on panel sold

"Mario's" Pioneer Square oil painting by Robin Weiss

I am working right now on a permanent setup in my studio at home to take better pictures of my artwork. It's high time! Pioneer Square is a spot in Seattle where we go quite a bit to sketch and photograph. But it got a little cold so we went to the Seattle Art Museum to warm up and draw indoors.

sold

My son Maury, working on a sketch at the S.A.M. Check out his digital work HERE.

"The Black Bird Cafe" Bainbridge Island oil painting by Robin Weiss

What better refuge on a cold, rainy day than a nice, warm and inviting coffee shop!  This one is very familiar to all of us who spend a lot of time on Bainbridge Island, here in Washington State.  The Directors Gallery, who represent my work and a lot of other fine artists, is just down the alley .
12x15 oil on canvas sold


 
We recently had our yearly studio tour called Arts in the Woods. It is a three day event and took all of us a lot of time to prepare for..The studio was all decked out with great art work from Leigh Metteer, Jim Metteer, Jessica McGreal, Wanda Garrity. and myself. I'm glad to say it was very successful for all of us, which is crazy in this economy, but for which, on this Thanksgiving day, I am very grateful!

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Capital Grill" Seattle city oil painting by Robin Weiss

There are a few paintings I have missed posting along the way, so I will try and tie some loose ends and post these lost paintings before I get back to my series of rainy night scenes. As most artists, I love the look of a great backlit scene. I removed some of the foreground distractions to give this composition a stark look.

I started this painting in my most usual way with a underpainting in Transparent Orange Oxide and Ultramarine Blue washes, using a "drawing brush" for line.

 

 Here's the photo I used for reference.

"Night Reflections" nocturne, urban oil painting

"Night Reflections" 6x8 oil on panel    SOLD

We just got through with our yearly studio tour and it was a great success! I sold quite a few paintings, several from this series that I realized too late, no photos were taken of them....sheesh!   I will try and contact the very kind buyer and perhaps get photos to post for you. In the meantime here is another view of the last painting posted.  Winslow Way , walking to the car from the ferry , late on a rainy evening.
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"Winslow Way" nocturne, urban oil painting

"Winslow Way" 6x8 oil on panel   SOLD

I've done a series of these small rainy night city paintings that will be on display at the Knowles Studio this weekend for Arts in the Woods Studio Tour...If you are in the area be sure to stop by and say hi! The hot spiced cider will be on and the studio will be decked out with exciting new art work!

"Passing Under the Viaduct" Alaska Way Viaduct, oil painting by Robin Weiss

If you live in Seattle then you know that the Alaskan Way Viaduct is being removed and replaced by a tunnel.It has been very controversial and taken a long time but they are now in the process of removing the structure. It is supposed to make the waterfront a lot "nicer" and free up a lot of valuable property for development. I guess that's true but I want to document in my artwork, the industrial, gritty feel that I love about the Seattle waterfront before it is gone forever.
8x6 oil on panel

"Chinese Lanterns" oil still life painting

One of our students at the Knowles Studio brought in a bunch of Chinese Lanterns from her garden. I took some pictures and then set up this little still life with one of Leigh's custom ceramic pots.....looking for a blue that would compliment the orange. This is my last in a series of small still life paintings.... Back to my city scenes this week!...=]
This painting will be on display along with other recent paintings at Arts in the Woods Studio Tour coming up in a couple weeks.....See the Cultural Arts Foundation's  new website with all the info HERE
6x6 oil on panel

"The Last Sunflowers" oil still life painting

These are the free sunflowers! I put them in a ceramic teapot that belongs to Leigh. I have painted this teapot before in a still life. Since I have been posting work on this blog since 2006 it is always fun to go back and see how my work has changed and improved(or not). You can see an earlier version of this teapot HERE  and again HERE.
All of these small still life paintings will be on display and for sale at Arts in the Woods Studio Tour this year. You can see the new website for the Cultural Arts Foundation HERE. All of the information you need about Arts in the Woods is on this site and all of the artists too.
7x9 oil on canvas

"One for the Sun" sunflower still life painting

I picked this sunflower out of Leigh's garden. It was the last one left with all the petals...I had trouble getting the brilliant color but think I achieved a sensitive mood.....Hopefully.    Enjoy!
6x10 oil on panel

"Rose Hip" oil still life painting.

There is a great grocery store near us called Central Market. In the parking lot they have a lot of Regosa Roses which produce these wonderful Rose Hips. I cut a few off for painting and then went in to see if they had any good Sunflowers...They were right at the end of the season and getting rid of the leftovers....so they gave me a few for free!....Double score!
I wasn't happy with this until I softened all the edges except for the focal point.
6x6 oil on panel  sold

"White Bowl with Huckelberries" oil still life painting

"White Bowl with Huckleberries" 6x6 oil on panel  SOLD

These are the huckleberries I have been making the pies from! Mix with apples and you have a real treat! There is so much great fruit this year, Wish I could store it all....as it is, our freezer is stuffed with bags of apple slices!
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"Sweetie Pie" Two apples, still life painting

"Sweetie Pie" 6x6 oil on panel   SOLD

For some reason these two apples give me a sense of intimacy....but your right....apples can't be intimate...but they can be great in a pie! And these are!

"Three's a Crowd" pear, still life oil painting.

"Threes a Crowd"  6x6 oil on panel   SOLD

It's been awhile since I set up to do a series of still life paintings. I'm having fun with it! The challenge is to push myself creating three dimensions using temperature and edges.

"Rose Apple" fruit painting, from life

"Rose Apple" 6x6 oil on panel   SOLD

"Yellow Apple" fruit still life painting

Okay, ...This post starts a series of small still life paintings I have been rendering from life in the studio. Most of them are 6x6 studies of the fall fruit, berries and flowers found in the fields right around the Knowles Studio.I love this time of year and recently, for the first time,...have been making pies from the apples and huckleberries that are abundant this year. They tell me this is a Yellow Transparent.  Delicious in a pie!!
6x8 oil on canvas

"Seattle Waterfront" and Arts in the Woods

I walk by here a lot when I am in Seattle. It's just a little way down from where the ferry lets you off at Coleman dock if you are coming over from Bainbridge Island or Bremerton. Both of these boats do tour cruises. This painting will be on display for the Arts in the woods Studio Tour in Poulsbo coming up November 11th, 12th and 13th . Stop by if you are in the area! The Knowles Studio will be decked out with exciting new artwork!
6x10 oil on panel  sold

"The Flower Vendor 2011" figurative, floral , oil painting, Seattle city scenes.

It seems like every time someone sees this painting they say "I know that girl"!  This is a familiar face and a familiar scene at the Pike Place Market in Seattle. The flower stalls at the market and the folks who create the bouquets are irresistible to me as an artist! I have painted this same girl before but I think my technique is improving from many "brush hours"  . I am going to post a link to my last painting of this scene from 2007 (even though I am embarrassed to do it) just to show how much you can improve yourself by determination and practice(and prayer!). click here  .....By the way, this is the same girl!
16x20 oil on canvas sold

More Sunflowers, plein air sunflower oil paintings

I couldn't resist painting Leigh, painting the sunflowers!  That's the studio behind her and the field all dry from the summer's hot days.
6x10 oil on panel

"Sunflowers" Plein air paintings by Robin Weiss

I took my student, Mike, out to Leigh's flower garden for some plein air painting. We were using the three color palette,  Ultramarine Blue, Quin Red and Hansa Yellow.

 

 One of the challenges we talked about was simplifying your subject

and creating a good design.

 If you live in the Northwest and would like to see the Knowles Studio for yourself, November would be a great time to do that!  Arts in the Woods Studio Tour is always the second week in November. This year it falls on the 11th, 12th and 13th of November. The stunning Knowles Studio will be decked out with new and exciting art work for this three day event. I would love to see you there!

"Main Street Gyros" Seattle city scenes.

A great place to get some good grub! Surrounded by the tall buildings of Seattle and located next to the Comedy Underground is Main Street Gyros. It looks as if somebody dropped the place out of an airplane and it landed in the middle of the city!
6x8 oil on panel   sold

"Ferry Deck" Washington state ferry oil painting

A very familiar view from the top deck of the ferry for those who commute or ride the ferries regularly here in the Pacific Northwest.
8x10 oil on panel  sold

"Last Vendor Open" Pike street market, Seattle city oil painting

As the sun goes down at Pike street market in Seattle, vendors try to attract the last of the tourist dollars.
8x8 oil on panel

"Stormy Day on Alki" Seattle city scenes, cityscape oil painting.

We get down to Alki a lot more than ever now that the gallery there has been exhibiting my paintings.There are some great views of Seattle across the water and the atmosphere is always changing , sometimes very dramatically!.. If you get the chance to come to Alki Beach be sure to stop in Alki Arts and say hello to Diane. She will be glad to show you all the work that the many talented artists have on display.
8x10 oil on panel  sold

"Morning Run" plein air painting, Juanita Bay Park, Kirkland, Washington

I set up in the shade for my first painting at Jim Lamb's PA workshop in Kirkland.  It was a beautiful day promising to be very hot and lots of folks were coming to the park. I tend to have a hard time painting figures into a plein air painting so I made a point to try and get them in this one. Jim gave me some good advice about adjusting values and a good tip that "rich ,saturated color(in the foreground and around the focal point) reads sunny day".
8x10 oil on panel

I tried to get one more quick 5x7  done at the end of the day. Sometimes these quick sketches can be the best ones, This one seems to be a bit washed out and flat.  Overall a great day of painting with good friends, Emiliya, Janet, Dianna, and our excellent workshop host Jim Lamb!

"Backlit Willow" Plein air painting with Jim Lamb, Juanita Bay Park, Kirkland

I attended another plein air class with Jim Lamb. Along with three other artists, we spent the day at Juanita Bay Park in Kirkland Washington painting on a beautiful sunny, summer day.  One of the tips I picked up from Jim was to look for a backlit scene in the middle of the day when the sun is high.
8x10 oil on panel.

"The Copa" Seattle city scenes

Same day, same alley, same wife .....different view...=]
9x12 oil on canvas  sold

"Cafe Champagne" Seattle city scenes

Earlier this month I, my wife and her son Andrew went to the "Beauty and Bounty" exhibition at the Seattle art museum.  Which was great! Amazing landscapes by some of the great masters.....Anyhow, after that we walked around Seattle a bit and I was taking  pictures as usual....and my wife was walking in front of the camera....as usual...so I decided to include her and Andrew in my painting.....=]  (I don't know the couple sitting in the cafe but it looks like they are having fun too)
9x12 oil on canvas  sold

"Low Tide at Point no Point" Marine landscape painting by robin weiss

The last in this little series of  Point no Point paintings.  I painted this one from a photo I took while plein air painting in this spot a few weeks ago.  It was early morning, the tide was out and just a few folks were walking on the beach loving the fresh sea air and the quiet peace of early morning.
You can see a few wrinkles in the canvas as I painted this on loose linen. I will have it mounted on Gator Board and then framed.
14x16 oil on linen   sold

"Boys on the Beach" at Point no Point, Hansville Washington

These boys were getting a lesson from dad on how to rig a salmon lure.  Sometimes it's elbow to elbow down at the Point no Point beach during salmon season. Especially on a day like this one!
8x8 oil on panel   sold

"Lighthouse Trail" Point no Point Lighthouse, Hansville Washington, oil painting by Robin Weiss

Another view from my favorite spot to paint!  Still using (and loving) the three color limited palette.  Heading off to paint PA with Jim Lamb today. If you have never seen his amazing work check it out here.
8x10 oil on panel sold

"Needle View" Space Needle, Seattle city scenes in oil.

All over Seattle you get these peek-a-boo views of the Space Needle and you know exactly what city you are in. This one is from down by the stadium looking north.
6x6 oil on panel sold
FYI ..Fellow daily painter and founder of Daily Paintworks, David and Carol Marine have lost their home in a terrible wild fire down in Texas. A family member has started a fund to help them out. you can get more info here.

"Solitary Sentinal" Daily Paintworks, Help the Children of Africa Challenge

Daily Paintworks has started an Artists Challenge to benefit those suffering in one of the worst droughts in recent history on the Horn of Africa.  This challenge has a special meaning for me as I visited my wife in Uganda when she was serving as a nurse in the clinic at New Hope Kasana .You can see my posts from that time by clicking here. I have decided to donate this painting to the challenge and will give 100% of the proceeds minus shipping to World Vision, who are doing great work to ease the suffering in this part of Africa and all over the world. To go to the Daily Paintworks auction and bid on this painting click HERE.


15x30 oil on canvas  sold

"Lake Union Boathouse" urban marine scenes , Seattle

There is an amazing variety of great scenes to paint around Lake Union in Seattle. We were on our way to visit our friend Emiliya Lane who owns the cool and eclectic gallery/gift shop called Frank and Dunya, in Freemont. We stopped to take some pictures of the boat house's on Lake Union.
I'm still painting with the three color palette that I experimented with in the Jim Lamb workshop from a few weeks ago.....I think I will stick with it for now ....so much easier than trying to sort through all those colors!
sold