"Up the Grand Park Trail" oil landscape painting by Robin Weiss

"Up the Grand Park Trail" 10x12 oil on panel     $450

  This is my last post for 2014!  It has been an amazing year! Full of plein air adventures , meeting new friends, painting spectacular scenery up the west coast into California and all the way to the Baja peninsula! I feel incredibly blessed to have the ability to pursue my love of art, full time!
   My advice is to find what you have been gifted and called to do and then get out there and work towards making that your lifes work. Sometimes you have to work other jobs until you can get there but never give up!

  This painting is from one of the photos I took a few years back of a hike up to Grand Park in Mount Rainier National Park. Another Washington location of spectacular beauty!
     
   May your year be filled with love, joy and adventure!  Happy painting and hope to see you down the trail!

"The Gift of Joy" portrait, oil painting by Robin Weiss

"The Gift of Joy"  granddaughter , Brooklyn- 8x8 oil on panel   NFS

I'm posting this painting just before we walk through the woods to my moms house to open our presents on Christmas morning. This is a gift for my wife. She won't see this post until after opening it. I'm excited to see her face.
 Our grandchildren bring much joy to our lives but this morning I'm thinking about the great joy of Christmas that came wrapped in a manger in Bethlehem. I'm hoping that you all will know the peace and joy that comes through faith in Jesus and the message He brings of love and redemption.
Merry Christmas!
rob and ann

"Quilute Marina" marine, landscape, oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Quilute Marina"   8x10 oil on panel       Sold

Our scouting trip also included a stop at the Quilute village in La Push. There is a great marina there where the native fishermen take their boats over the bar every morning. 

Jim painting the sea stacks

 

 I decided to paint the marina while Jim was painting the great sea stacks just outside the harbor. The fog softened the edges in the distance and lent a nice mood to the paintings. I added a second boat to my composition after coming back to the studio thinking it needed the balance. I guess that was a good move since the painting sold during the studio tour.

In La Push



Anne Dalton and me at the Quilute marina

"Sol Duc River Afternoon" plein air, landscape, oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Sul Duc River Afternoon"     9x12 oil on linen panel   Sold

Earlier in the summer of 2014 I was invited by the events director of the Port Angeles Fine Art Center to join her and Jim Lamb for a few days, scouting painting locations in preparation for Paint the Peninsula. Jim was to be the awards juror and was also teaching a workshop after the event. I had already been on a few painting trips with him and we were both like minded about what would be good spots to paint.  See Jim's work HERE

Painting the Sol Duc with Jim Lamb

One of the places that Anne Dalton took us was up the Hot Springs road to a spot called the Salmon Cascades on the Sol Duc river.

A location with a good view of the actual cascades didn't work out due to some young people having a lot of fun diving and swimming in the lower pools.  We did find a good spot above the cascades and took some extra time to do a quick painting.

You can see a painting of the cascades that I painted from a photo taken on location HERE

My paintings and experiences at Paint the Peninsula are recorded in earlier posts.

The El Malecon" Seattle, cityscape, oil painting by Robin Weiss

The El Malecon"  14x9 oil on panel   Sold

I scoped this spot out on my way to Alki Arts one afternoon and thought to myself it would make a great painting when the sun is just right. I came back early enough to set up before the sun was the way I wanted and grabbed a slice of pizza. FYI , right across from the El Malecon is a great little pizza joint with tables outside in the alley. That's where I set up my easel.

El Malecon 10x6 oil on panel
Plein air

This is the plein air study I did that sunny afternoon. The above painting is a larger studio painting with the figure of the walking girl added from photos taken on location.

I liked the design of the darks on each side connecting through the figure in shade and the shadow of the hanging plant. Also one figure shaded and one in sun makes a nice offset balance to the whole....Anyhow that's what I was thinking...

I'm really starting to love painting in the city!

FYI  Malecon means Seahorse in Spanish   =]  The food there is good too!

The plein air painting is available at Alki Arts located at First and Seneca, downtown Seattle!  Call Diane and she will ship it right out to you!

"Fishermans Restaurant" Seattle cityscape, oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Fishermans Restaurant"  8x10 oil on panel  Sold
Available at Alki Arts Gallery, Seattle

 

Eating crab at the Fishermans Restaurant

I had a blast painting this scene while waiting for the family to arrive. We were celebrating several birthdays by having lunch on a beautiful, sunny day in the city. The Fishermans Restaurant has a spacious deck out back, right under the new , giant Ferris Wheel .

I went back to this spot three weeks later and all the trees had been torn out and the street ripped up as workers dug a giant pit twelve stories deep to recover and repair the boring machine which was disabled while trying to build the tunnel to replace the aging viaduct.

The scene I painted will never look like that again.

"The Teahouse at Bloedel" Bloedel Reserve, oil landscape painting by Robin Weiss

"The Teahouse at Bloedel"    10x10 oil on panel   Available at the Bloedel
Reserve Gatehouse Gift Shop

While we are on the subject of the Bloedel Reserve , here is another one done on location in the Japanese Garden area.

"The Footbridge at Bloedel" plein air, oil. landscape painting by Robin Weiss

"The Foot Bridge at Bloedel"   10x10 oil on panel    Sold

The Bloedel Reserve is an amazing garden and grounds not far from us on Bainbridge Island. I have painted there quite a bit, in fact I have painted there so much they are now showing my paintings of the reserve at the gatehouse!



7x7 oil on panel available at the
Bloedel Reserve Gatehouse Gift Shop 

 I was invited to join my friend Darrell Anderson and some other painters at Bloedel the first time I painted the footbridge. We had a wonderful day in beautiful sunshine. We all set up around the Japenese Garden area.

Curious friends

The local gander even stopped by to check it out. These geese were so friendly they walked right by us as we were sitting on the path!



I liked the little painting so much that I decided to use it as my study for an upcoming show called "Natures Gift of Water" sponsored by Plein Air Washington Artists and exhibited at the American Art Co. in Tacoma WA. This show features plein air paintings and studio paintings derived from the studies.

"Bridge over Peaceful Water" 20x20 oil on canvas    $1100
Available at The American Art Co.

Since the requirement for the show was at least an 8x10 plein air study I had to go back and do another plein air (top one).  I then used that study to paint this larger studio painting.
 If you have never tried going larger with your PA studies you may not realize how difficult it is to get the same spontaneity and freshness of brushwork. It's tough!

It was an honor to meet and receive an award of honorable mention from awards juror Jeremy Lipking for my plein air study.

And then to top the evening off I sold the painting to fellow artist and collector Mami Shimomura.






Happy painter, collector and award

"Olympic View" commission , oil, landscape painting by Robin Weiss

"Olympic View"  11x14 oil on linen panel       Sold

This was another commission request of a favorite view and happy memory during a period of time in a place much loved by the family.

If you would like a favorite place captured in paint for your home contact me here;  robinweiss@earthlink.net  

btw,  Lori ordered some custom notecards of her painting as well....and you could too! Actually I can arrange notecards of most of my paintings which would make a great Christmas gift!  =]

Lori wrote me this note;

Rob, the painting arrived a few minutes ago, and it is just breathtaking!  I am so excited, and can't wait to give it to Chris.  I guess it's a pretty selfish gift because I know I will get every bit as much enjoyment out of it as he does.  I hinted to our former landlords that a surprise was coming their way, too (I am going to give them some of the note cards), so your gift will go out to Maine as well!  You're a bi-coastal artist now.  :-)  Thank you again.

 

Lori

"The Annie Belle" commission, marine oil painting by Robin Weiss

"The Annie Belle"  8x10 oil on panel    Sold

Good things seem to come in bunches like bananas and this month it was commission paintings . Christy Crider thought a painting of her friends sailboat would make a nice gift. She sent me some photos and I did this painting for her.

I would be willing to paint your boat too!  Or maybe some other place or thing that represents a great memory....Email me and we can talk about it

robinweiss@earthlink.net


Christy wrote me after she got the package;

Robin,

 The package arrived right on time on Monday and it is much loved by its owner.  Thank you again.  It was a pleasure to work with you. 

 

Christy

"Majesty" Mt Rainier rising behind West Seattle, oil landscape painting by Robin Weiss

"Majesty"  6x6 oil on panel   Sold

A view familiar to all who ride the ferries from Seattle to Bainbridge Island. On a clear day Mt Rainier commands the horizon, a perfect backdrop for the Emerald City.

This painting is available at Alki Arts located at First and Seneca in downtown Seattle. Stop buy and say hi to Summer or Diane. They would love to see you! ....I will be there for the first Thursday Artwalk , hopefully painting on the street somewhere close by.

"Double Kayaks" oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Double Kayaks"  6x6 oil on panel    Sold

While spending some time in Freemont taking photos for a commission painting I ran across these kayaks tied up at the marina. The colors, and the reflections those colors generated in the water grabbed my attention and I snapped a few pictures. This small painting is the result of those reference shots .

"Sailing Day on Elliott Bay" Marine landscape painting by Robin Weiss

"Sailing Day on Elliott Bay"  6x6 oil on panel   Sold

After finishing the three paintings for the Randy Higbee Show and having cut up a stack of 6x6 panels from some old paintings and odd stuff laying around the studio, I just kept painting from reference photos in my large box of past pictures.  I have painted from this photo before. You can see it HERE.
  It was good to have some smaller fresh paintings for our annual studio tour, Arts in the Woods , which was a big success again this year. I'm not sure who all follows my blog so it was fun to meet some of you! Thanks for coming and  mentioning that you follow my adventures "en plein air"!
 I sold lots of work including this little one, and I feel incredibly blessed to be able do what I love and love what I do for a living!  Don't give up on your dreams!

"Salmon Cascade" Sol Duc River, , landscape oil painting by Robin Weiss in the Randy Higbee 6

"Salmon Cascade" 6x6 oil on panel  SOLD

A must take trip if you should find yourself on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state is a drive up the road along the Sol Duc river to the Sol Duc Hot Springs and then on up the trail to the Sol Duc Falls. If you do, the Salmon Cascades are right along the way.

 I spent some time earlier this year scouting painting spots with my friend Jim Lamb for his workshop during Paint the Peninsula. We stopped at the Salmon Cascades and did a couple paintings of the river. I took a bunch of photos which I used to compose this painting.









This is the third and last painting accepted in the Randy Higbee Six Inch Squared Show in Costa Mesa California. You can view all my paintings in the show HERE.  By clicking the "Back" button on the page you can view all of the 600 plus paintings accepted.  By clicking on the image of the painting on the page you can view the image larger and see a paypal button for purchasing.

Thanks for visiting!  There are more 6x6 paintings coming!

"Grand Park" Mt Rainier National Park, oil, landscape painting by Robin Weiss in the Randy Higbee 6

"Grand Park" 6x6 oil on panel    Sold

This painting also entered into the Randy Higbee Gallery 6 Show, is from a photograph taken on a little known trail up the backside of Mt Rainier to a large meadow called Grand Park. Ann and I found our way up there and you can see my post about the hike HERE. 

Higbee 6

Click HERE to see all of my paintings accepted into the Higbee 6 Show. From this page you can click "BACK" and see all of the other amazing artists paintings in the show.

 If you click on the image of the painting you will see a larger image and a paypal button to purchase.  =]

My paintings have all been framed in the Arroyo Black with Gold Trim, Floater Frame from the King of Frame website. A very elegant frame!




"Lake Eleanor" oil, landscape painting by Robin Weiss in the Randy Higbee 6

"Lake Eleanor"  6x6 oil on panel   Sold

A lot of folks have already seen this painting on facebook but I did a whole series of these little 6x6 landscapes recently. I will begin posting them daily. The first three including this one have been accepted into the Randy Higbee Gallery, Six Inch Squared Show in Costa Mesa California.

Higbee 6

It's quite an honor to be included among some of the amazing artists in this show. There are over 600 paintings and they can be viewed on line with paypal links to purchase.

My paintings have all been framed in the Arroyo Black with Gold trim and they can be viewed and purchased HERE

"Smith Tower Morning" Seattle, cityscape, oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Smith Tower Morning"  9x12 oil on panel  Sold

I'm randomly going through paintings I haven't posted yet. There are a bunch!  You can see this one for yourself by coming to Arts in the Woods Studio Tour this weekend in Poulsbo, Washington! Seriously, if you are in the area come on out and say hi. There will be great deals on my artwork and also several other artists showing their amazing work at the Knowles Studio. You can find out more info about this studio tour on the Cultural Arts Foundation website HERE

 

Yes!  The 2015 Robin Weiss Fine Art , desk calendars will be available at Arts in the Woods or order them directly from me by simply emailing your address to me with your order at robinweiss@earthlink.net   $10 per calendar

"Sunflower Demo" still life, plein air, oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Sunflower Demo"  16x20 oil on canvas    Sold

This painting brings to a close my work done at Paint the Peninsula 2014. On the last day The Port Angeles Fine Art Center was open to the public for the final exhibition and sale of all the paintings completed during the week. I had volunteered to do a painting demonstration picking the still life setup outside. It was yet another sunny, beautiful day. Using my only large canvas and biggest brush, I quickly rendered the subject.
  I received many great comments and liked the way the painting came out so I took it into the gallery still fresh with wet paint and leaned it on the floor against my wall of paintings in the exhibition hoping for a sale.

At the Fine Art Center

As you may be able to guess....and while I was distracted doing something else....a sweet little old lady , with her little dog, was allowed into the gallery. She went right over to the snack table, got a plate of artichoke dip and some crackers and started viewing all the paintings. When she got to my wall, while leaning over closely inspecting the work, she dropped a glob of artichoke dip on the wet painting leaning against the wall. Her dog, alert to any complimentary hors d'oeuvres offered, immediately licked the dip off the painting along with my signature.....

It was a fairly easy fix and I got over it after awhile....and now I can even laugh about it!  But I am happy to say the policy has now changed to NO dogs allowed in the gallery at The Fine Art Center!   Also, I will NOT be leaning wet paintings against walls at a public display again! That was a dumb idea to begin with!


Again, I had a blast meeting and painting with all the other artists and the staff of PAFAC. Here are the other winners in the competition,  Sorry for the quality of the pictures it was the best I could do in the gallery lighting.

 

Eric Jacobson,  Best of Show

 

Bruce Gomez , First place, Third Place Quick Draw

 

Ned Mueller , Second Place

 

Jane Wallis, Third Place

 

Mike Rada , First Place Quick Draw

 

 

Ken Falks, Sponsors Award

 

Mike Wise, Sponsors Award and Special Honorable Mention

 

Kat Sowa, Honorable Mention

 

Emiliya Lane, Honorable Mention

 

Susan Ogilvie, Sponsors Award

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Dock Mates" plein air, marinescape, oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Dock Mates"  11x14 oil on linen panel    Sold

The gate to the marina was left open so I slipped through and set up on the access ramp for this painting.  A few minuets later a large group of people filed by commenting on the work in progress and saying that the whale watching tour was a blast.. Guess it was okay for me to be there.

"The Fuel Dock" plein air marinescape by Robin Weiss

"The Fuel Dock"  10x8 oil on panel     Sold

Last year at Paint the Peninsula I spent most of the week painting boats around the marina areas. This year I spent more time out in the parks.
After the Yellow House painting I decided to head over and have lunch at Donna's  Fishermans Wharf Café that I remembered being the best fish and chips ever!.. and then paint some more boats!

"Yellow House on Race Street" plein air, urban, oil painting by Robin Weiss

Yellow House on Race Street  10x12 oil on panel  $450

After coming back from LaPush and a restful nights sleep at my wonderful host house I found myself driving around without a plan of what to paint. Realizing a lot of precious time would be wasted by not getting busy, I stopped right where I was and painted what was in front of me.  Sometimes this tactic can get your creative juices flowing again when you are feeling stagnant, especially during a competition.

This painting was awarded an honorable mention by our juror Jim Lamb in the overall painting competition.