“Dancing Crane” (18 X 24 in)

This painting was inspired by our local Sandhill Crane Festival. The fine art show attracts local artists and being “local” and an “artist”, I decided to enter the competition. I wanted the image to portray a sense of joy and alive-ness (which I think the “mating dance” does for most species.) The exuberance of the moment without the distraction of a background seems to have been captured (at least that was my intention) The plumage is loosely defined with subdued washes and some hard edges.

Robin Vander Hamm

I specialize in watercolors that are inspired by my world travels. My subject matter ranges from South American landscapes to the flora of California. The use of bright colors, original designs and exotic settings are components I bring to my paintings. The incredible range of transparent watercolor allows me to capture the fragile beauty of a single flower or the somber mood of a gray day. For me, an artist is only limited by their imagination and technical skill. The elements of control and spontaneity make it a challenging endeavor. The thought of ever mastering the medium becomes more and more elusive and perhaps a goal never to be fully achieved.

I find the process of creating watercolors very satisfying and it also provides many side benefits…the greatest of these is the ability to see beauty everywhere.

So please wander through these images. There is some text beneath each. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did creating them.