"Run for Cover" Seattle cityscape by robin weiss

"Run for Cover" 7x7 oil on panel. Seattle cityscape, by Robin Weiss  Sold

Seattle is known for it's rain and we have had plenty this spring! I love to be in the city when it is pouring down rain! All the reflections and umbrellas come out . Nature does the job of softening edges and muting colors that makes for great painting. I have completed a small series of rainy day studies featuring the famous Seattle Pergola in the heart of Pioneer Square.
 The elaborate Iron Pergola was erected in 1909 as a stop for the Yesler and James Street Cable Car Company. This waiting shelter was the most lavish of its kind west of the Mississippi with ornamental iron columns, wrought iron ornamentation and a large underground restroom. The pergola was designed by Seattle architect Julian Everett.
  Here is another Pergola painting from the archive which received a lot of attention.

"Under the Monorail", Seattle cityscape, oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Under the Monorail" 10x6 oil on panel SOLD

Maury and I hang out in the city every time we get the chance.....which is fairly often.  I'm usually over a couple times a month..Sometimes we find a spot to sit and sketch , other times we walk around taking pictures of everything like tourists.... hoping for a photo that will yield elements that we can use in a composition for painting. This time we were headed for the Five Point Cafe.....our newest favorite place to eat lunch.  This scene has two classic Seattle monuments, The Space Needle and the Monorail,  which leads from Westlake to Seattle Center.


This is my first painting of the Monorail, but I have painted the Space Needle many times . You can see my painting of the most well known view of this iconic symbol of Seattle here.

The Space Needle was built for the 1962 Worlds Fair.It has 25 lightning rods. It is built to withstand winds of up to 200miles an hour and earthquakes up to 9.1 magnitude. The earthquake stability of the Space Needle was ensured when a hole was dug 30 feet deep and 120 feet across, and 467 concrete trucks took one full day to fill it. The foundation weighs 5850 tons, including 250 tons of reinforcing steel. With this concrete base weighing the same as the above-ground structure, the Needle's center of gravity is just 5 feet above ground level. The structure is bolted to the foundation with 72 bolts, each one 30 feet long.

Here is the latest "Art" project associated with the Space Needle.  Apparently, Angry Birds needed a launching pad to get into space and decided that the Space Needle would be perfect!.......Looks like he's going to smash into the restaurant to me....


Photo by Todd Bishop on GeekWire.com

"Powerline Firs" plein air, landscape painting, by robin weiss

"Power Line Firs"  10x8 oil on panel

It has been a cold wet spring here in the Pacific Northwest....as per usual!!  But every once in a while we get a few hours of decent weather....I took the opportunity to sneak out to the power line rd....which is right across the street from the studio.

 sold

You can see a new element to the plein air rig....I have bungeed my  back-pack to a hand truck. which helps a lot when I don't have to hike into a remote location....I'm hoping to be able to use this at Red Rocks....  Wow! ....and that's coming up pretty soon! 


Mike Hernandez is an artist I have been following on Facebook. He is quite versatile in many mediums including digital art. He lives in the Seattle area but is employed at Dreamworks in L.A. Check out Mike's art HERE

"Viaduct Afternoon" Seattle cityscape,oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Viaduct Afternoon" 12x8 oil on panel SOLD

I'm back to painting city scenes for our upcoming show at Alki Arts in June. My son Maury and I will be collaborating in this father and son show to celebrate Fathers Day. Maury has graduated from the Art Institute of Seattle and is mostly working digital...(You can see his work here). However he has agreed to join me in this exhibition with some traditional artwork..

 I even got him out of his computer cave in Belltown for some studio time with the Old Man...


It is always great meeting like minded artists. Last week I went over to meet a friend I met on Facebook who also enjoys painting city scenes of Seattle. Having the background of architectural illustration he's good at it too! William hook is spending his free time these days doing fine art paintings of Seattle and environs in watercolor. You can see his excellent work here. Thanks for giving me the tour of your working space Bill!

 By the way, if you have been linked to my site before and are wondering why you're not any more it is because I lost all my links when I updated to the new template. I am slowly adding most of the links back as I remember them. Feel free to give me a shout if you would like a link.

"Creek Fall" waterfall, oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Creek Fall" 14x10 oil on canvas

On the way back from the ocean there is a long drive around Crescent Lake. There are many beautiful scenes as you bank the turns following the shore line. What always catches me veering into the opposite lane as I crane my neck around to look are these magical little waterfalls, especially in the winter, that cascade down to the lake. I had to pull over and capture this one. I tried my best to simplify and create a mood here .......Over-worked?

 I have completed about six or seven waterfall paintings. You can see the one I think was the best here.....and it is in the middle of Seattle!


Richard Schmid is a master of landscape painting. I received his new book, "The Landscapes" for my birthday. In It are several examples of waterfall paintings that will certainly inspire you to give them a try! You can down load some of Richards instructional videos on painting here

"Driftwood at Rialto Beach" La Push seascape, oil painting, by Robin Weiss

"Driftwood on Rialto Beach" 8x12 oil on panel  Sold

I was interested by the trees coming down to the oceans edge... They remind me of a scene from some fantasy movie. I can picture Sam and Frodo making their way through a forest like this, evading some unseen danger.

It was also quite an exercise in perspective drawing. Not only with line but with atmosphere. Another painter who does a great job painting distance with atmosphere is Marc Hansen. You can see his work here.

If you would like to take a trip down blogger-memory lane,  you can click here to see some sketches of a trip I made to La Push in 2008.

8x12 oil on panel. 

"Stormy Seas" La Push, seascape by Robin Weiss

Back to my series of ocean scenes from La Push, Washington. This was done from a photograph taken on location. I have tried to paint in conditions like this and it is no fun. You end up getting more sand on your canvas than paint!  I did try and limit my time for execution which gives it a little more of a PA feeling....I hope..This view of James Island is from  Rialto beach.
8x12 oil on panel

 You do have to be careful when you are on the beach at the Washington coast in the winter time...Here is a nice picture of my wife posing to have her photo taken.....

The rogue wave came fast and furiously but fortunately did not wash my poor wife out to sea.....however it was a long, rather damp walk back to the cabin....

The rubber boots didn't help much....maybe a deep sea diving suit with helmet .....=]   Love you Honey...

"Old and New" Plein air landscape painting by Robin Weiss

All things must change.....Right!  But man it is hard for me to change old habits and ingrained routines!...I have had my old blogger template since 2006!...virtually everyone has updated their blogger formats but me....Keeping things fresh is crucial in this business .....so after getting fed up with the problems I have been encountering with my old blogger interface I finally updated to a new one...Let me know what you think?

I really want to be open to change and keeping things fresh with my artwork too..I think one of the keys to that will be to get out in the field more this year. I have a couple workshop trips planned starting with the First Annual Plein Air Convention and Expo in April. I am also looking forward to joining my friend and fellow painter Darrell Anderson in Montana for the Bitterroot Workshop later in the fall.  Until then I will be getting out between commissions..
  These pines are out in the field by the studio....Unfortunately they are dying ...So I wanted to paint them before they are removed.
My pallet consists of Ultramarine blue, Cad Red, Hansa Yellow and Titanium White. 
8x10 oil on panel.

"Quileute Marina Boats" La Push, marine, fishing boat, painting by Robin Weiss

I was amazed to see the patched up old fishing boats that are still used by the Quileutes to fish out in the open ocean!  Although they are great subjects for painting I would not want to be out to sea in some of these...
8x10 oil on panel.


On another note...so to speak....If you live in our area and have never been to the Knowles Studio where I work...Saturday night would be a good time to do that!  Jazz Canvas is a special event at the studio. A core group of jazz musicians play with a special guest artist while my colleague, Leigh Metteer interprets the music on canvas...At the end of the show the painting is raffled off...It is a fun night you won't want to miss....especially since Kyle Gregory is back with us again from Verona Italy!

Jazz Canvas at the Knowles Studio with Kyle Gregory  2011

"Ocean Surf" La Push, seascape oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Ocean Surf" LaPush , 8x12 oil on panel  Sold

This is the view from the other end of the beach at the Quileute Ocean Resort. Did I already say...I love the ocean in the winter!
8x12 oil on panel

"Channel Marker" La Push , seascape. oil painting by robin Weiss

You can just see the channel marker on the right side in the shadow of James Island that leads into the mouth of the river and the Quileute marina.  The boats come and go in this crazy surf! ...I'm working on a few studio paintings now.
8x12 oil on panel

"La Push Evening" plein air oil painting by Robin Weiss

La Push Evening  8x12 oil on panel.

               To bid on this painting click here

For the last two years my wife, Ann and I have been staying at Quileute Oceanside Resort for Valentines Day....I'm hoping this will be a yearly tradition for us because I love the ocean in the winter and especially the La Push/ Mora Beach areas!

 This year our cabin was closer to the beach with big picture windows and a porch that faced the majestic crashing surf......now this is a gettaway! No TV or internet distractions, just the awesome beauty of God's creation!

It was raining on and off which doesn't bother me at all except when I am painting...I know, I know....I have seen all those pictures on the internet of guys pouring water out of their pocade boxes.....I prefer a covered porch if I can get it!...=]

All in all it was a great couple of days! I got some romantic time away with my wife .....and some painting time too!
 We also took a ton of pictures and I have already done some studio paintings.  Some of these I have posted on my facebook page.....The blog is about three weeks behind my Fb page.......It just works out that way!  Hard to keep up with all the social media venues out there these days!  Anyhow, you will see all the paintings here in time....Have a great weekend!

"The Fir Tree" plein air landscape painting by Robin Weiss

Washington State has a lot of Fir trees!  This one is growing in the field outside the studio and I can see it from my window....I have been wanting to paint it....so I did!   I'm also adding this painting to my Daily Paintworks auction....click HERE if you would like to bid on it...Thanks!
6x10 oil on panel. 

"The Old Apple Tree" plein air oil landscape painting by Robin Weiss.

I painted this one on the same day .  This old apple tree still had a lot of apples left on it from summer and the birds were going crazy for them....however I didn't do a very good job capturing all the action..I still feel pretty rusty painting from life..

10x8 oil on panel sold

"Field Tree" plein air landscape painting by Robin Weiss

The weather warmed up and dried up enough for me to get out and do some PA painting last week....I didn't go far....didn't have to...there is plenty of subject matter right out side the studio door!
7x7 oil on panel

I made some modifications on my PA easel in preparation for the First Annual Plein Air Expo and Convention that is being promoted by Plein Air Magazine.The convention will be in Las Vegas near the Red Rock Canyon National Park. I am pretty excited to attend this event as some of my heroes in the art world of plein air painting will be there!
 I'm almost embarrassed to call myself a plein air painter with all the studio work I have been doing lately......and this will be a humbling experience to be around some of the best PA artists in the world but I will try and absorb as much learning as possible from them without making a pest of myself!
 sold
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"Seattle Waterfront" The Argosy, Seattle city painting by Robin Weiss

You may remember this scene from a few months ago. I did a small quick sketch in oil (10x6) which sold quickly and generated a lot response. There are often difficult challenges in trying to enlarge paintings that worked well as small studies. I thought this composition would be a good candidate because of the strong focal point and large divisions of space created by the structures and shadow areas.
 Anyone who has been to Seattle will recognize  this scene along the waterfront on their way to Ivars Fish House for a bowl of clam chowder!
36x22 oil on canvas.sold

"Seattle City Street" cityscape oil painting by Robin Weiss

Looking east on Occidental Way as the sun sets over Elliott Bay. The buildings lit up by the late afternoon sun caught my eye.  This is not an iconic view of Seattle but still recognizable to the people who live and walk around the Pioneer Square area of the city.  I chose to work large with this piece giving the ordinary scene a sense of grandeur.
48x36  oil on canvas.Sold

Black History Month at Alki Arts, oil figurative painting by Robin Weiss

Things have been frantically busy around here as usual!  I am posting a picture of my painting "The Runner" before I had finished it. I have since fixed the runners neck so that it doesn't look so stiff! .....and then rushed the painting off to Alki Arts for the Black History Month Show before I remembered to take an updated photo! The "runner" is my friend Patrick and the scene is from camp last year where we both served as camp counselors. 16x20 oil on canvas

 I also framed and brought over my painting "Brothers" for the show. These two guys were talking in Seattle when I candidly shot the photo ref.
 6x8 oil on panelsold

The opening was a fun party with live jazz music and a big turnout !  Selling a painting topped off a great night!

"Mt. Baker Farm" oil landscape painting by Robin Weiss

"Mt. Baker Farm" 18x36 oil on canvas   SOLD

I had a tough time getting a good photograph of this painting.  That happens sometimes with the larger work since it is harder for me to control the lighting. We found this scene on the way back from Vancouver, BC. It is near Lynden on the border of Washington state.
18x36 oil on canvas

"Four Cows" cow,landscape painting by Robin Weiss

"Four Cows" 8x10 oil on panel  SOLD

Here's to all the cow fans out there..and I know you're out there!...These guys are hanging out in the pasture with the honey bee hives.
8x10 oil on panel.

"White Face" cow, landscape painting by Robin Weiss

I have this thing for cows...I keep going back to them for subject matter. Some people ask me why I never paint horses......I'm not sure...I like horses....I just think cows are cool...
 Sometimes you can execute an entire landscape with mood and design and all it needs is that hint of a cow to add that spark of interest......Just sayin.
8x10 oil on panel

"Crossing over to Marrowstone Island" oil landscape painting .

"Crossing over to Marrowstone" 6x10 oil on panel  sold

There is a spit of land that you cross on the way to Marrowstone Island that affords many painterly views. I like this one....Also Lagoon beach is nearby. Another great spot!
10x6 oil on panel

"Palette Knife" Artists tool, still life, oil painting by Robin Weiss

These are kinda fun......
6x10 oil on panel

"Mop Brush" Artist tool, still life, painting by Robin Weiss

I received a great response from the last chip brush study I did as a warm up exercise and it served as a good way to loosen up the hand before starting the days painting......so I did a few more! This is an easy way to do a quick study from life with out a lot of set up time.

Plein Air Painting magazine is doing an artical featuring  messy palettes and are asking for painters to send in pictures....I've been considering it!  They're going to receive a lot of pictures!

  I have been working on large canvases lately...and that is my excuse this time, for not posting as often.... But I paint every day!  I finally finished my home studio and am using it for working large...I still work and teach mostly at the Knowles studio with my buddy and colleague Leigh Knowles Metteer, but it helps to have a space I can get "in the zone" without a lot of distractions.

Speaking of Leigh,..she has just started a blog of her unique and stunning, monotype prints! Check it out HERE  

"Night Alley" Seattle alley oil painting by Robin Weiss

A few days ago I spent nine hours sitting at my computer, organizing my images into folders for the new year!..and I'm still not done yet! Although this is a tedious, time consuming job , it really pays off down the line when I am searching for an image for a show or publication,or reference. This is my last painting to post of paintings done last year, and now I will have a blog book made as a hard copy of my painting journey in 2011. There is a great site called Blog-to-Print that will import all your blog posts into a neat little book....Oh,.. and then to complete the deal I down load all the images onto a remote hard drive.
8x10 oil on panel  sold