"A Slice of Color" Skagit tulip field, plein air painting by Robin Weiss

"A Slice of Color"  9x14 oil on panel   $800

Never ending inspiration!!  Tulip season in Skagit county, Washington State!  Painted from the side of the road with my friend Mark Bistranin.  To see a whole bunch of my paintings from this location and other amazing places go to my Daily Paintworks Gallery page HERE

"Skagit Quick Sketch" Plein air, landscape painting by Robin Weiss

Skagit Quick Sketch"   12x9 oil on panel   $600

We set up on the side of the road by the tulip fields in Laconnor to paint the amazing colors of spring in Skagit Co. I knew which view I wanted to paint and quickly set up my easel after parking in a questionable turnout along the road. It gets pretty crazy during tulip season with many more visitors  than usual clogging the two lane roads , pulling off anywhere , taking pictures and filling all available parking. It was not very long before an officer on a motorcycle , no doubt getting overtime pay, pulled over and told us we could not park where we were and suggested another location across the road. I left my pochade box by the road, moved the van and then jogged back to continue painting. When I finally took a breath and looked around there were a lot of views to paint from right were I was!.....I turned about and laid in this composition in about twenty minuets .

I'll post the painting I started with next time!

Have fun out there and watch where you park! 

"Valley Farm" Plein air landscape painting by Robin Weiss

"Valley Farm"  6x8 oil on panel  Sold

As you are heading into LaConnor from Fir Valley Rd. there is a place to pull off and park. I never tire of the views from all directions in this little spot where their is plenty of room for a couple cars to park and paint.

I didn't have a lot of time so I pulled out a 6x8 panel and scraped up all the juicy paint on my palette for this little study of a distant farm. Using a fairly big brush and lots of paint I laid this composition out quickly and let it stand on it's own.

Thanks for stopping by IPA!  Have fun out there! 

"Blue Mountain" Skagit Valley, plein air painting by Robin Weiss

"Blue Mountain"  9x14 oil on panel     Sold  

At least once a year I try and visit my friend Mark Bistranin in Skagit County to paint for a few days. He co-owns and operates the Seaside Gallery in LaConnor.
 The Skagit valley once inhabited by the Salish Indians was a valley of small prairies that were burned in controlled fires to harvest bracken ferns and camas . After the development of the dike system the unmanageable wetland area became a fertile area for agriculture. These days it is still a vibrant farming community and a great place for us painters to find  stunning views of fields and farms surrounded by mountains whose mood and atmosphere are constantly changing.

"The life I love is making paintings with my friends"
Me and Mark painting in one of our favorite spots

This is an area on Fir Island that Mark and I go to paint a lot.  It is a wetland, salt marsh at the end of......well, I can't remember the name right now...it will come to me...But, it is the first road to the left as you pass Snow Goose Produce. Follow it past farms to the very end and there you are. It can be tricky to turn your car around down there but I have turned my van many times....just be careful you don't back into a irrigation ditch!!




I entered this painting in the "Little Gems", small works Show at the Scott Milo Gallery in Anacortes and it garnered a Best of Show Award!! How cool is that!  Thanks much to the good folks at Scott Milo Gallery and Judge of awards, Michele Usibeli!
You still have time to go see the show!  The closing reception is this Saturday the 30th at 3pm.

Best of Show Award at the Little Gems Show,
Scott Milo Gallery, Anacortes, WA

"Tall Quince" Still life painting by Robin Weiss

"Tall Quince"  12x6  oil on panel  Sold

I got a lot of mileage out of the Quince blossoms I plucked from the side of the road...and those lemon wedges!  You can see in this painting how they are starting to dry up and the rind is turning a dark burnt orange.

This is the last painting I will be posting in this series as I keep trying to catch up to real time and what I am working on now.  Maybe I can do it in the next few weeks because my painting time has been taken up working on a treehouse for the grand kids....Ha!

"Daffy Duck" Still life painting by Robin Weiss

"Daffy Duck" 12x10 oil on panel

I used a different fabric scrap for this painting. The idea was to compliment the yellow of the daffodils with the purple background of the fabric, again creating a dramatic contrast.

This was just a plain fun painting to do!  I see a lot that I would like to improve now that I see it again on line including softening some edges and improving the drafting but for now it will remain my statement of the spring daffodils of 2018.....

Hope you are enjoying summer as much as I am!!

"Red on Red" Still life painting by Robin Weiss

"Red on Red"  10x10 oil on panel    SOLD

My studio mate, Leigh , lent me a big pile of fabric scraps to use as still life props. I set this color composition up in the studio under natural light .  The idea was to get a dramatic contrast between the red backdrop and the stark white vase.  Think I should have worked on it a little longer and resolved a few things like the leaves and stem of the camellia blossom. I have a problem with overworking paintings so sometimes fall short of actually finishing them to the best advantage....It's tricky!

Blue Vase with Lemons" Still life , oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Blue Vase with Lemons"  10x10 oil on panel    $600

I used the Quince blossoms again and put them in a blue vase used in many paintings over the years. I focused mostly on the lemon wedges and getting the transparency and glow of light coming through the pulp. Also I like using a reflective base and the silver tray that came with the art deco tea set works really well.
I think that a better composition could have been achieved if I had used more blossoms and took a little more time arranging them as I did in an earlier post of "Quince with Lemons" ....Those lemon wedges lasted through four paintings!!

Thanks for visiting !!

"Camellias with Sugar Bowl" Still life, oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Camellias with Sugar Bowl"  12x9 oil    $600

I just really enjoy painting the reflections in silverware. I used the art deco sugar bowl again in this composition....The juicy red camillias were provided by a nice neighbor who was trimming her bushes away from the road just as I drove by....Score!!

I entered this one in the American Impressionists National Show...Hope I get in this time!!

"Quince with Lemons" Still life , oil painting by Robin Weiss

Quince with Lemons  9x12 oil on panel     Sold

Seems like my inspiration for paintings goes in cycles. In the spring when the flowering trees and spring bulbs start to open up I get really motivated to paint still life.  When I try them at other times it just doesn't work out. ...So, when the urge comes upon me, I set up and paint as many paintings as I can before it passes.  My next posts will be the series of paintings I completed in March/April 2018

Quince with Lemins, underpainting

My usual method is to set up a shadow box using natural light if possible.  Then arrange a composition. Here I am using sprigs of flowering quince, one of the earlier flowering shrubs and components of an art deco tea set found last year at a thrift shop in Laconnor. You can take a look at earlier blog posts about the tea set HERE
As I have described in other posts on my method, I start out composing and determining values in the underpainting using a color made by M Graham Paint Co. called Quinacridone Rust

"Summer in the City" Seattle city, oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Summer in the City"  14x9 oil on panel  $800
Available at:
The Michael Birawer Gallery
1003 1st Ave, Seattle WA 98104
206-624-7773

This was a fun demo painting I did from a photograph taken while I was having coffee at the Zeitgeist Coffee shop in Seattle.  M Graham Paint co. has been sponsoring me and sometimes will send me off to do a demo or promotion at one of their vendors. This time it was in Port Townsend at Quimper Mercantile, a cool store with all kinds of stuff including art supplies!

M Graham Co. even did a really cool video of me in the studio. You can see it HERE

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

"Sky High"  16x12 oil on panel    $1000

This view of Seattle is from Pike Place looking south on First Ave.  I love the reflections of the shy in the tall buildings and tried to capture it in this painting.  "Sky High" is available and on display at;

The Michael Birawer Gallery

1003 Ist Ave , Seattle WA  98104

206-624-7773

"Feeding the Gulls" oil, landscape painting by Robin Weiss

"Feeding the Gulls"   15x30 oil on canvas       Sold 

I snapped several photos of this family feeding the seagulls in Edmonds, WA awhile back and composed this studio painting from that reference. I struggled a lot with this one and eventually removed many of the seagulls.  I think the simplified version makes it easier to tell the story.

Available through
The Cole Gallery, Edmonds, WA
425-697-2787

Have fun out there!

"Pike Place Downpour" Seattle city oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Pike Place Downpour"  20x16 oil on linen  $1200

A different look for me but one of my favorite pieces in the featured artist show at the Michael Birawer Gallery in Seattle.
It started out in the usual manner of painting for me but was not working very well. Had no spark or excitement. I got frustrated and grabbed the big palette knife thinking I would just scrape it off and start over. As I was pulling the paint off it started to get the atmosphere that I originally wanted to convey. I carefully kept removing pigment skirting around some areas. After that I went back in and worked edges and contrast in the key focal areas.

This painting is available at

The Michael Birawer Gallery,  

1003, Seattle WA 98104

206-624-7773

"Bistro" Seattle city oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Bistro" 20x20 oil on linen      Sold

Back to Pike Place Market in Seattle. This alley leads to a little piece of underground Seattle and the famous "Gum Wall"  Check it out if you come to the city. This painting has sold but there are still a few of my city paintings available at....( I know!....another shameless plug..  =]   )

The Michael Birawer Gallery

1003 1st street, Seattle WA   98104

206-624-7773

"Destiny" Seattle city marinescape by Robin Weiss

"Destiny"  18x24 oil on Linen    SOLD

A favorite restaurant of ours in Seattle is called Anthony's.  If you get off the ferry in Seattle at Coleman dock and walk north along Alaskan Way for maybe half a mile you run right into it...and that's a nice walk to take along the water!  This is the view of the marina from the outside eating area...A great place to hang out in the summer for dinner or lunch.

This painting is also available for viewing or purchase at:

Cole Gallery, Edmonds WA

425-697-2787

"Autumn Serenade" Seattle city oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Autumn Serenade"   18 x24 oil on canvas     Sold

This painting was titled after a song on my favorite Coltrane CD , sung by Johnny Hartman. It depicts one of my favorite places in Seattle, the Pike Place Market. This is a typical fall scene in the Emerald City......You can always tell who the locals are....the ones not using an umbrella....

If you plan to visit Seattle be sure to explore Pike Place Market, have a meatloaf sandwich at the Three Girls Bakery and be sure to visit the Michael Birawer Gallery at 1st and Madison to view more iconic scenes of Seattle like this one!

The MBG is located at 1003 1st street, Seattle WA 98104

206-624-7773

Have fun out there!  =]

"December" Seattle city oil painting by Robin Weiss

"December"  20x20 oil on canvas   $1400

Available through;

The Cole Gallery, Edmonds, WA 425-697-2787

The Pergola is an iconic landmark in Seattle. I have depicted it here, dressed in Christmas decoration on a winter day in Seattle with the fall leaves still clinging to the trees and the mist from Elliott Bay softening the edges of the city.

Add the atmosphere of the Emerald City to your home by contacting

 The Cole Gallery in Edmonds WA

425=697-2787

"Seattle Buskers" Seattle city oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Seattle Buskers"  20x20 oil on canvas  Sold
Available through the
Cole Gallery, Edmonds WA
425-697-2787

My featured artist exhibit at the Michael Birawer Gallery is officially over but you can still go there and see a lot of the work I completed for the show.  Sorry I'm so far behind on the blog!!....But I am catching up!

Amber Hayes and friends

Seattle Buskers was painted from reference taken during one of my many "shoot from the hip" photo excursions through the city. I always stop to listen to the street musicians and this little band was really good! After I did the painting I ran into them again at Pike Place and showed the lead singer a photo of the painting on my phone. She really liked it ! Long story short....They came and played a few songs at my opening.....I love this job!!

Amber's band is called the Satin Sirens. You can see them play in venues around Seattle. Check out their facebook page HERE

Have fun out there!

"Sailfish Park" Florida plien air painting by Robin Weiss

" Sailfish Park"  10x12 oil on panel   Sold

This painting wraps up all my work completed during the 5th Annual Plein Air Festival in Tequesta Florida. Ann rode by this little park during her daily bike ride and suggested I paint there....Good idea!  What a beautiful setting!

 I had practiced drawing sketches of Egrets before I went to Florida, thinking I would add them into paintings. I never did until this guy walked by as I was painting this scene....A perfect focal point and soooooo Florida!


Although it was great to visit Florida again and we had a fun time visiting friends and family it's also good to come home .....and recoup for the next adventure!   Thanks for tagging along on the blog!
Have fun out there!!

Coming up next will be city paintings produced for a featured artist exhibit at the Michael Birawer Gallery in Seattle!  =]

"View from the Square Grouper" Florida plein air painting by Robin Weiss

"View from the Square Grouper"  9x12 oil on panel   Sold

Weather forcast; thunder storms with heavy rain...It happens in Florida in March a lot!  During a plein air event it can set you back in getting work done unless you plan for it. I knew this storm was coming and planned to set up in a covered, outdoor Tiki bar called the Square Grouper. No one but the staff shows up before noon and the owner is cool with artists painting in the mornings..Perfect!

I did the one above in the morning as the storm began to roll in. The one below after the storm as the sun began to warm things up again.  

"The Castaways Marina"  9x12 oil on panel   $600

"Riverbend Palmettos" Florida plein air painting by Robin Weiss

"Riverbend Palmettos"  10x10  Sold

I ran into Ralph Papa again at Riverbend Park. This time he was with his gallery mate and painting buddy, Shawn Escott. While I was quickly trying to get in one more painting, Shawn was painting me and Ralph....painting...

"Moonrise over Riverbend Park" plein air oil painting by Robin Weiss

"Moonrise over Riverbend"  20x10, oil     Sold

During each plein air event I try to do one painting that is my "Magnum Opus" .  I went back to Riverbend Park where I did my best painting last year. (see it HERE) I went early in the morning following my strategy of getting to a location early and then spending the day completing as many paintings as possible thus avoiding too much wasted time driving around looking for subject matter..

As I was walking around with my coffee trying to match the idea of a composition I envisioned in my head with what I was seeing, I noticed the moon rising above this group of palms. I loved the way the early light was creating shadow patterns on the trunks ..and the moon was a bonus.  Realizing this effect would not last long I immediately ran for my gear and set up to render the scene. It was very quiet, very beautiful and no one was around to distract me. I was really enjoying the moment!!

Wrapped Floater frame

Painting a moon into a scene like this is trickier than it would seem. I did a lot of "pushing and pulling of the paint to get it to fade into the sky like I was seeing it and not just pasted onto the surface. It must be as perfectly round as you can make it.....and that in itself can be a challenge.

I also made sure to pack some tall skinny panels because I knew that there would be tall palms I would want to paint. This panel was pre-mounted in a black "floater" frame. The frame part was then covered in brown paper allowing me to make the painting and then remove the paper....Shazaam! ...A completed, ready to hang, hopefully, winner painting....It didn't win any awards but it did sell..

Hopefully this will encourage you to get out and paint your "Winner" too!  

Have fun out there!  =]

"View from Duboise Park" plein air Florida landscape by Robin Weiss

"View from Duboise Park"  12x8 oil   

Collection of Victor Lohman

This was the last painting completed at Duboise Park during the 5th Annual Plein Air Festival. It is a similar composition to one that I did last year.   There was a perfect focal point in the foreground when I set up but unfortunately they packed up and came over to see what I was painting....Such are the challenges of painting on location!!.....Maybe someday I'll get good enough...or brave enough to add in to a plein air painting, complex elements from memory.

"The Jetty" plein air marinescape painting by Robin Weiss

"The Jetty" 6x10 oil on panel    Sold

After laboring over a larger painting of the Florida coast at Duboise Park during the 5th Annual Plein Air Festival (see last post) and being somewhat frustrated that I couldn't translate the feel of the ocean,sky misty mix of atmosphere...I turned my easel in another direction and painted a smaller,quicker more immediate study...On this one I was working more on close observation of value and movement and then laying down brush strokes reflecting those visuals and letting them stand.  I was more satisfied with this result and so was the collector who bought it...but it doesn't always work out that way when you paint in this manner. The risks are higher but so are the rewards!

Have fun out there!!!  =]

"Coastal Clouds"  10x12 oil on panel    $600