Seattle Sky Bridge" Seattle city, oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Seattle Sky Bridge" 20x20 oil on linen    Sold

This is a familiar scene to anyone who commutes daily to Seattle from the Kitsap Peninsula.  This sky bridge takes you from the ferry dock across Western Avenue directly to First Street.  I used a photo for reference taken on one of my trips to the city specifically on days like this one so I can capture the atmosphere of Seattle's famous rain.

"Art Deco with Lemons" still life painting by Robin Weiss

"Art Deco with Lemons"  7x7 oil on panel   Sold

I struggled with the lemons in this one. Yellow is an interesting color to render!  I find that it usually works to combine a color with its compliment for the shadow areas but when that color is modified by objects near it or its own color changes it gets tricky and you have to model color back and forth using your eye to evaluate its "rightness"  That is why the same subject can be interpreted so differently by each artist!

After all that work I noticed after photographing this painting that the bowl of lemons seems to hover above the ground plain and needs to be brought down a bit!  Fooie!!  Thats not easy to do at this point and I will probably procrastinate indefinitely on changing it....A good lesson on making sure objects are "grounded in their proper places during the drawing phase!

Grab a lemon and try it!!   =]

"Art Deco with Pears" oil, still life painting by Robin Weiss

"Art Deco with Pears"  7x7 oil on panel   Sold

This time I tried pears with the sugar bowl.  I scraped it down once and repainted it...that seemed to help some. I still see a few edges that need to disappear such as the line at the bottom of the sugar bowl in spots.

Still life set up and easel

"Art Deco Coffee Pot" still life painting by Robin Weiss

"Art Deco Coffee Pot"  7x7 oil on panel    Sold

I've talked in previous posts about how I came about acquiring this silver tea set at the thrift store in LaConnor.  It's a very enjoyable challenge for me to try and capture the light and reflection and the exceptional design of these vessels.

I began this painting as I usually do, washing the panel with a Burnt Sienna color. Then I use a "Drawing Brush" to sketch in a line drawing, sometimes using a cropping aid. Then with a 1/2 inch flat or bright Mongoose hair brush I will work out values lightening it with yellow or using a bit of Ultramarine for the dark areas.

When I get everything where I want it I will go in with color , observing closely the relationship between the light and dark areas, the soft and hard edges and where I can lose an edge.

"Art Deco with Apple" oil. still life painting by Robin Weiss

"Art Deco with Apple"  9x12 oil on linen panel     Sold

I enjoy browsing through thrift stores and I spotted this silver tea set when Ann and I were checking out a new one during our anniversary trip to LaConnor last year.  I just loved the design!  At $75 I thought it was a bit pricey for thrift store goods but I also knew it would make a great still life prop so I offered the lady $50 for it and she said okay! When we got home I looked up the maker (Rodgers Bros) and saw a set like it on Ebay for $400!    This is my first painting with the coffee pot and sugar bowl ....hopefully I will recoup my initial investment and have a lot of painting fun doing it!

Ann with the Trumpeter Swans during our anniversary getaway

"Echo Valley Cabin #3" winter landscape painting by Robin Weiss

"Echo Valley #3"   9x12 oil on panel      Sold

The last in my Echo Valley series, this is the one I will probably try and go bigger with. This is the view we had from our cabin window.  It snowed about four inches over night and this is the way it looked until the wind picked up and blew all the snow off the trees...Then the sun came out and we had a beautiful day of cross country skiing.

Leanne and Brooklyn enjoying the snow!

"Woodland Winter #2" winter, landscape painting by Robin Weiss

"Woodland Winter # 2  10x8 oil on panel   Sold

I love how snow can transform a simple unnoticed bit of ground into a masterpiece of light and beauty!

Another from our trip to Echo Valley. This scene was out back of the restaurant we stopped to eat in Leavenworth ....called The Hidelburger!  =]

"Echo Valley Cabin #2" oil, landscape painting by Robin Weiss

"Echo Valley Cabin #2"   5x7 oil on panel         Sold

As often happens with me , I come back from a trip inspired by what I have experienced, the creative juices flowing from my first impressions of nature and atmosphere in the landcsapes I have seen. Then, back in the studio I get on a roll painting a lot of smaller studies while the images are fresh in my mind. From these studies I may do larger paintings.   I am now in the middle of a series of winter paintings from our trip to Echo Valley in December.  Here is a link to the resort where we stayed. It's worth a road trip to stay for a day or two! Tell Uncle Tim I sent you!  =]

Brooklyn, Chase and Gramma Mary  during craft time at Echo Valley

"Winter Woodland" winter landscape painting by Robin Weiss

"Woodland Winter" 8x10 oil on panel       Sold 

I will start the new year off posting a series of winter paintings done from reference gathered on a recent cross country ski trip to Echo Valley with the family.

I want to thank all of my friends , family and collectors who have encouraged and supported me this year! It has been an amazing year of traveling to stunning locations, painting in various events meeting great artists who will become life long friends and just feeling very blessed to have the privilege to make a living as a painter. Thank you all so much!  I wish you all a fun filled and prosperous 2017!