Musings on Art

City Beach Revised ~

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

Decided to repaint a scene that I painted plein air last year, after visiting the beach a few weeks ago during our strange hot spell. Was never very happy with the first one and like this version much better~

"City Beach" revised

"11x14" oil on canvas

Have a new painting on the easel now, and will share soon.
~ More Art Musings another day. ~

♥♥♥

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New Work ~ Daffodils

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:05:00 +0000

"Daffodils"

11"x14" oil on canvas

Flower detail

Flower detail

"The Daffodils came and went.
So short is their life,
in which they grace our gardens."

A little Haiku poem for Friday.

Have a great weekend!

♥ ♥ Thanks for stopping by. ♥ ♥

Wine Bottle Triptych

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Sun, 05 May 2013 07:30:00 +0000

Last month I showed you the main canvas for the wine bottle Triptych I had finished, so now I'm back to share with you, the finished companion pieces. ☺

To refresh your memory, here's the main canvas:

"Wine Bottle with Glass and Grapes"

11"x14" oil on canvas

Painted a 5"x7" canvas of the wine glass. The wine glass and grapes are not exactly like the one above, but that's okay, as it's difficult to paint the same thing the same way twice.

"Wine Glass"

5"x7" oil on canvas

"Grapes"

4"x5" oil on canvas

Painted the sides black, even though I have a frame for the larger canvas already. If I can't find matching frames for the little ones, the grouping will hang without frames.

Anyway, here's what it will look like on the wall (without frames):

Have a super day, thanks for your time.

More Musings another day! ♥

Spring Buds

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Thu, 02 May 2013 07:30:00 +0000

With all the trees budding and springing forth lovely flowers, I was inspired to paint the buds on the wild rose bush in our yard. Later, I will attempt painting some of it's dainty little pink flowers when they bloom.

I did this on 4 - square 5"x5" by 2" deep canvases. Taped them together on the back and when it's dry, they will be separated and hung as a grouping. (Those of you who are Facebook fans saw this just after I posted it from my easel last week).

"Spring Buds"

oil on canvas

Painted the sides of the canvas with black pearl acrylic paint so it will look finished when hanging.

Here are a couple of detail shots:

Love working on these fat little canvases! They make a statement of their own, and if you're running out of wall space, you can always find a place to hang one of these smaller paintings.

Working on some Daffodils now....here's a sneak peak:

Hope you are well. Thanks for stopping by....more Musings later ~ ♥♥♥

Fog on the Lake

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 07:30:00 +0000

In full on painting mode over here. ☺

This one is a small oil.

Trying out some new techniques and having fun.

"Fog on the Lake"

14"x11" oil on canvas

Currently working on some companion pieces

to my wine bottle painting,

which will be hung as a grouping.

Will share those soon.

Hoping to get outside with the easel soon.

♥ Thanks for stopping by. ♥

"Celebrate Spring" ~ Mixed Media Art Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:19:00 +0000

"Celebrate Spring" is finished...

Wanted this to be whimsical and happy in spirit,
and mostly, colorful.

The size is 16"x20".

The little sign above the birdhouse door was made using balsa wood, hemp twine, a brad and the computer. Every house needs a welcome sign on the front door...don't you agree?

Left the clouds unquilted to give it the puffiness.

Using extra thick batting helped in the creating the 3D look.

The whimsical bird was stamped with one of my handcarved stamps,

using fabric paint, and satin stitching around the perimeter.

Added little bee embellishments here and

there for another layer of texture.

The flowers were given extra attention with details like edge stitching, buttons and Swarovski crystals. They were also stamped using my carved stamps with fabric paint. Really like how they turned out. ☺

This was a big project, with many levels of work. Learned a lot about what worked and what didn't, for the next quilt. It is all entirely original, made without commercial patterns or visual inspirations. I just adore spring - the flowers, the birds, the butterflies and the new baby animals and wanted to celebrate the season. ♥

Thanks for stopping by. Been unplugged from technology and it feels really good! Now it's time to make some oil paintings outside.

Art Quilting ~ Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 08:00:00 +0000

I have been working on a spring themed art quilt all this

month and using different techniques

for a mixed media piece.

Here's a sneak peek:

This is what it looked like before I began to stamp.

You can see the stamps I carved in the background.

Carving stamps was a fun project itself.

A little birdie with my signature singing "bird lips". ☺

Loving how these flowers are coming along.

The little white flowers will be outlined in yellow thread.

This is the background behind the fence and won't be stitched out.

Clouds after they were stitched out.

There will be 3d embellishments added to complete

the mixed media effect after all the stitching is completed.

After it's finished it will hang on the wall, and I'll post it for you to see.

Thanks for stopping by....more Musings later ~ ♥

Happy Spring!

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:20:00 +0000

Love is in the air~ The daffodils are up and the robins and birds everywhere are singing their hearts out. Although it's cold and snowing in some parts, remember.. seasons gently overlap and unfold, just like the buds on flowers and trees. Happy Spring!

Studio update ~ still life oil painting

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:47:00 +0000

Wine bottle with glass and grapes still life is complete. I am really happy with how it turned out, especially the fab texture on the background, the bunch of grapes and the color palette. I used an autumnal palette to evoke a feeling of warmth.

"wine bottle with glass and grapes"

11"x14" original oil on canvas

(watermark not on original)

Here's a few detail shots:

I'm packing the gear box for my next outdoor paint out because the weather is warming up and the snow is gone for good....hopefully. I can't wait! I've been scoping out some spots to paint, and may just start off in the backyard to get my painting "muscles" warmed up. Thinking of doing some detail studies of spring buds.

Took some photos of my current art quilt project and will show you in a few days. Thanks for popping in. Hope your week is going well. ♥ More Musings another time. ☺

Wormy and Wormelia Visit Yosemite ~ Book 3

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:57:00 +0000

Wormy and Wormelia Visit Yosemite

On sale for a limited time only!

Ebook available too.☺

More Musings another day!

Wormy and Wormelia go to Yosemite Revision....

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:41:00 +0000

What have I been up to? Well, I finally finished the revision of Wormy and Wormelia go to Yosemite. Uploaded it to the publisher and am awaiting the delivery of the book for review before it goes public. There's always mistakes even when I think I've crossed every t and dotted every i.

Here's a couple of previews:

Wormelia sits by the campfire sipping hot chocolate.

Where's Wormy?

Don't worry, he's around.

He promised not to tell ghost stories.

Will Wormy catch that huge fish?

What's Wormy taking photos of?

Would you do this?

I wouldn't!!!

I will let you know when the book is live.
Maybe there will be a giveaway!!!!

In the mean time, I'm working on a new art quilt.
Will share that in a few days....

Thanks for stopping by.

More Musings later. ♥ ☻

New Work in Progress...

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 22:25:00 +0000

I have been working on a new oil painting trying out a new technique. Would you like a peek?

Loving the warm juicy rich colors and the palette knife texture.

Have you figured out what it is? No peeking till it's done!

I have to let the paint dry down a bit and then will be adding more. Will share with you when I'm there....until then....more Musings another day~ Cheers! ♥

Winter

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:14:00 +0000

"Winter" oil on canvas is complete and I can finally share it with you. ♥

I bundled up back in December and took the easel outside to paint the winter scene. It was great! Painted for three hours and had a little space heater by my feet on our deck. It helped a bit, but I was still froze to the bones when finished. It was so worth it!

Here's a closeup of the little birdie. Even though Cardinals aren't native to our area, I decided to take some artistic license and add him for a pop of color.

Loving how the tree trunk and little grasses in the snow turned out.

Here's a detail of the shoreline.
The water was like glass that day
and the reflections were stunning.

I apologize for the lack of posts, but I've been spending less time on the computer and more time in the studio. My new mantra for this year: create more, enjoy more, stress less, act on inspiration when it occurs. If you would like to be notified when I do post, please sign up for email notifications on the lower right side bar.

More Musings another day! ♥ ♥ ☻

Sunflowers to make you happy...

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:32:00 +0000

Sunflowers make me happy. How about you? In the doldrums of winter it's the perfect thing to pick you up. My new Sunflower art quilt was featured in this latest collection curated by Luvncrafts on ArtFire.

Be sure and check out their store and see all the great items. Lots of beautiful artisan items made in the U.S.A. and their shop has been certified by ArtFire to contain authentic handmade goods.

The Sunflower

Curated By: luvncrafts

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts

Sunflower Art Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 21:01:00 +0000

I am finished with my art quilt, another sunflower. This time I didn't erase the images from my camera...yay me! The size is 16"x23" and sewn with cotton/polyester fabrics. I've embellished it with some three dimensional bits and pieces for another layer of texture.

The ladybug is about an inch by an inch and enameled with red and black. The three big flowers are paper and the smaller flowers at the bottom are fabric with glass inspired leaves attached. The quilt hangs on a cafe rod. (Please click continue to read the post)

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING *********

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:01:00 +0000

I've been awol for a bit. It's the winter blahs....what else can I say? Nothing much going on but sub freezing temps, iced over roads, fog and dreariness.

But, I have added two new cards for Valentine's Day in my shop:

Be my Valentine?

Candy Hearts

I'm just about finished with my art quilt and winter oil painting. Hope to get those uploaded soon.

Other than that, all is well. Hope you are too. ♥

Studio update...

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 20:17:00 +0000

Working on various projects. ~

The first item on my list of W.I.P. is the plein air snow scene I began a few weeks back. It was 35 degrees outside. It had snowed and looked like this:

It was a wet heavy snow that didn't stick around long as the temps. warmed up. I had received a very lovely email from my blog friend Annette of Netty's Craftings and she inspired me to bundle up and go outside and paint the snow scene. I managed to stay out for three hours and was froze to the toes when I came inside, but it was so very worth it. It was quiet, except for some chirping birds and a breeze now and then. Here are a few of the details:

Detail of background ~ distant trees

I'm planning on darkening up the water

so it will give more contrast to the snow.

Detail of foreground tree ~

I'm toying with the idea of painting in a Cardinal on one of the branches.

Even though they aren't native to the area,

I think it would add a nice pop of color.

Love the way the foreground came out.

Thinking about placing a squirrel on the tree stump and

maybe mounding up some more snow in back of it.

No peeking till it's finished!!!!

I've started my next pictorial art quilt

to work on while the oil paint dries down.

Here's some details of my W.I.P.;

Still have to add the details and the stitching.

I'm mulling over ideas on what to use to suggest blades of grass.

Maybe I will stitch them with the sewing machine,

or maybe hand embroider or maybe even couch in something.

This one will have paper flowers too, like the other one.

♥ I will show you when it's finished. ♥

It snowed again but it's rapidly melting as the temps are in the mid 40's.

But if the streets don't dry off in a few days, completely,

it's going to be a skating rink around here, as the low temp,

for Friday is supposed to be 5 degrees!

Brrrrrrr!

Snow is so lovely. It's too bad it is slippery when it melts!

Thanks for stopping by. More Musings another day. ♥

Valentinte's Day is on it's way!

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 03:53:00 +0000

Happy New Year! I hope 2013 will be a year filled with good things, good health, good food, good friends and Love for you.

Speaking of Love, that special day to celebrate will be here in the blink of an eye. Here's some cool finds to give your ideas a jump start:

Creative Hearts

Curated By: CandyAppleCra...

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts

This wonderful ArtFire collection was curated by Candy Apple Crafts .
Stop by and see all the cool things in their shop.

I was lucky enough to be included in the collection with my
Love Valentine's Day card.

My Valentine's Day card is reproduced from my original mixed media.

I used acrylic paints, tissue paper and ink with stamps. The inside reads:

"On Valentine's Day I want you to know, I love you dearly."

The card is professionally printed and ships from the printing company.

Please allow 5 to 7 days for delivery.

I'm back in the studio with lots of projects after spending some down time with DH over in Bellingham, WA. What a lovely place!
We did some shopping, some sight seeing and sampling of restaurants
in between the rain showers and had lots of fun.

Now that I'm back to working in the studio...
will be finishing the plein air snow scene painting

I started before Christmas and share that soon.

I'm also starting a new painted pictorial quilt and will share as it develops.
The one I made before Christmas I was telling you about
in a previous post, can't be shown, as I accidentally erased the
images in the camera before downloading them to my computer.
Typical me. Geesh! I've asked the recipient to send me a photo of it.
But not to worry as I'm making another one of the same.

Here are a few photos that did make it from the camera:

Adding the texture in the middle with French Knots...

Sunflower petals...

Little flowers at the bottom in the grass for texture...

Big paper flowers for fun!

The quilt was inspired by my Sunflower oil painting:

That's all for now....more Musings another day ~

Until then, less computer time and more studio time,

acting upon inspiration as soon as it strikes,

is my mantra for 2013!

Watercolors on ArtFire...

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:13:00 +0000

I am honored that my Pink Bed and Breakfast watercolor made it into a collection on ArtFire. This lovely collection was curated by Dusty Pixie Creations. Stop by and check out their shop while you are perusing the collection and see all their great stylized wine glasses and etched mirrors, plus other items like photography. Art makes a great addition to your home decor!

Watercolors

Curated By: DustyPixiesCr...

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts

Wishing you a Christmas full of Blessings from above!

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 08:30:00 +0000

"And she brought forth her firstborn Son and

wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger,

because there was no room at the inn." Luke 2:7

Thank you to all who have followed me on my artistic journey

and left such warm and encouraging comments.

I wish for you a Blessed Christmas and a prosperous and healthy 2013.

All I want for Christmas.....

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 18:11:00 +0000

"is Peace, Love and Joy for all."

Sharing with you, another one of the Christmas cards I've been working on. I have one more to share and then I'm off for the rest of the year. This one was done with watercolors and then digitized with Adobe Illustrator.

Have a fabulous day! Thanks for stopping by.

May Peace be with you....

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:00:00 +0000

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

Luke 2:14

In the quiet of the snowfall...

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 08:30:00 +0000

May you be greatly Blessed during this holiday season!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:31:00 +0000

Taking December off from painting. Been creating some new Christmas cards for next year and making some art quilts. Will share in the coming days.

Hope your holiday shopping days are going well! Merry Christmas :-) ♥

Santa Kitty says have a Meowy Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Roban Studio) — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 08:30:00 +0000

Ho Ho Ho!

Santa Kitty says Meowy Christmas!

Are you having a good time gathering presents?