Lately my commissons have been a co-creating experience.  The client wanted something that would stand the test of time for her husband. He loves ... I mean really loves MUSIC and plays the guitar - this is how he unwinds in his 'mans cave'.  So we came up with a close up of a guitar with some special meaning obscured in the center plus his birth date.  The verdict... he can't stop talking about it.....

 

The QUESTION:  What do you get for your beloved after fourteen years of marriage? 

THE ANSWER? 

A painting of the ceremony of marriage. 

THE RESULT?   She said: "He held it forever and repeated over and over again ...it's awesome... you really got me!

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THE QUESTION:  What do you get for your mother turning 70 who has everything she could possibly need.... loves flowers and hues of blue and purple?

THE ANSWER?  A handmade large scarf that she can wear or hand of lavender flowers inspired by Monet's garden. 

THE RESULT?  Happy mamma - happy daughter.

 

Julia Cameron has written many books which help cultivate creativity.  Yes - a blank canvas is still exhilarating and scary - until I begin... and then it's ok.  All ok.

Looking over some questions from her book Walking in This World which I answered in 2007, I was once again reassurred that I am doing what I believe I was called to do.

Here are some of the questions: 

1.  When I was a small child, I dreamed of growing up to be  ..... artist
2.  In my childhood , my interest in what art was encouraged? .... painting/ drawing
3.  In my childhood, my interest in what art was discouraged? .....none
4.  If I had had more encouragement, I would have probably tried .... not applicable
5.  The teacher who helped me see my gifts was ......Mrs. Hand and Peter Cox
6.  The childhood friend who helped me see my gifts was .... Beth

Nina Davidowitz won a solo show at the Hope Horn Gallery in the current Bi-Annual Show for 2015 --- Here is Nina with one of her many beautiful works.....
Yay Nina !

                                   Besty Fulton - "Seascape" - AFA Gallery - (above)




There is some great art to be seen in Northeastern Pa - If you are able to get out and about this weekend - super shows at Afa and Art Works and the Hope Horn Gallery at University of Scranton as well as the Lindner Gallery at Marywood.  All part of the biannual show - here are some pieces that piqued my interest -

The space is amazing - the food divine and  it was a real treat to see the Eiffel Towers out of the studio and up on the walls - I am looking forward to future lunches and dinners there - and perhaps even a weekend brunch.  

              Mural for Norhteastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic Hanover Street , Wilkes Barre, Pa 
When I ring the Singing Bowl my aunt and uncle gave me, I realize the power of that sound.   Somehow the sound permeates the walls and joins another vibe in the universe which grounds me to the present moment.  I recently did this mural for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic.  The image reminds me of the crossing of the senses which often is heightened through and by art. 
       

                                                            Today
                                                 

                                                 Yesterday

After and Before.....   Market Street Murals for Allstate and  A Shoe Boutique by Arch Comfort......
Last week was a perfect week to be painting the murals  on Market Street Kingston, Pa.
The idea started when Ivan and Cheri of 'Shoe Boutique' wanted to put their shop on the map.   They have great shoes- what makes  them 'great' is they are comfortable and cool.   Now when people are driving by - they will take note of two businesses that were otherwise fading into the background.   Like my dad always said " it's amazing what a little paint can do..... !" 

                                              detail of 'Fully Supported" acrylic on canvas


                                    "Fully Supported" 50"x36" acrylic on canvas
Mary Therese of the Times Leader newspaper wrote a super article giving the flavor of the Moldova experience I had with fellow artist Sharon Bowar. 
http://www.timesleader.com/news/features/688912/Local-creativity-goes-global?template=art_smartphone

I am painting with two artists from Romania- one from Moldova - and twenty from Turkey. We are being sponsored by Summa company and by Pittson, PA based Linde International, Inc. The images are of us painting in a mall - Mall Dova - in Moldova. We each have a big canvas to create whatever we want which will be sold to help a local art school.

Yesterday Aylin from Turkey remarked that people looked like their paintings – and she's right!

                         summaArt USA Painters Campus 2005 Wilkes University Wilkes Barre Pa

In 2005 I was invited along with seven other American artists to paint with eight Turkish Artists at Wilkes University, Pa. This amazing opportunity was sponsored by Linde Enterprises Inc which is affliated with SUMMA- an internationall contruction company based in Turkey.   The head of SUMMA- Mete Bora -  loves artists and providing opportunites  for artists to gather, paint, and exchange ideas.   Scott Linde recently (I mean really recently) asked if I would like to participate in a Summa Art seven day painting excursion in Mondolva - and I said .... YES!!  So tomorrow I go - every so often the stars line up - thank you Scott, thank you Mete Bora.......  - Mondolva- ..... here I come!

Art stimulates and helps us to see our surrounding in a different light - what was at one time mundane, becomes tantalizing.  This proved true in a recent walk in nyc where skyscrapers were the inspiration for   "an eye-popping array of 10 sleek, streamlined, steel sculptures of buildings ranging from the Empire State to the Flatiron, will line Park Avenue from 54th Street to 67th Street, creating a zany, futuristic cityscape that could have been assembled from a Brobdingnagian erector set."  Here are some examples:







Follow this link for more information.

Julia Cameron's book The Artists Way  suggests doing three things:

1.  Write three pages long hand as soon as you wake up.
2.  Walk daily to tap into your higher self.
3.  Take yourself and yourself only on an 'artists date'.

The first two, I do daily however taking the time to take myself on an artist's date - whether it be going to a rug store to look at the color and weave of an oriental, to a movie, to an art exhibit or .... a store that showcases local artisans..... takes some conscious scheduling on my part.

Last week I finally walked into Earth and Wears on 68 Main Street in Dallas, Pa.   What an uplifting experience - seeing works by friends Kim Cappellini, Jean Adams and Skip Skenbach  -meeting owner and potter extrodinaire Lyn Carey made me think... what took me so long?  And to top it all off Lyn asked to carry some of my works - I'm in good company. 

I recently collaborated with my sister who just launched her website gROwWithRobin.com - we co-created with her logo and home page.  Pretty neat to do projects with my sisters - actually, it's pretty neat to do anything with my sisters......

Here is juxtaposition - my most favorite four legged friend getting snowed upon outside my studio while I paint fish and turtles of Grand Cayman for one very lucky person to hand deliver to Kennedy Gallery......




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It's a new year - I'm in a new studio... and I have lots and lots of empty canvases and surfaces waiting ..... this is the hardest part of the process - there is a whole ritual of ridiculous behavior which goes on before settling down and looking at that blank surface square in the face and ... beginning.  My Molskine journals pave the way... always.

He said " I want to give her something beyond the ordinary for Christmas this year..."  - The solution? -    A portrait of their son done in pencil.  Did it work?  Yep......

When I was asked to do this commission years ago, I didn't grasp the concept of working as a team to get to a higher ground.  In a peloton, one leads for awhile and then when tired another biker rides up to take the on wind  for the good of the group.  I understand more and more the idea of sharing life with others, of asking for help when needed as opposed to doing it all alone.  So many people help me on a daily basis and I am so grateful.  This season when it's dark and cold the light we share with one another is, to me, what the season is all about.

E.H.Shepard illustrated the original Winnie the Pooh book.  Today I finished a mural for the nursery of the soon to be Anna Katherine who will be arriving on the scene in February.  While painting her mural I was able to look out the window and see the similar colors Shepard used - although Winnie, Eeyore, Piglet, Kanga, Roo, Kanga, Tigger and good ol, Christopher weren't included... .they're there in spirit and I have a feeling will be presented in other ways in her room.