“STILL LIFE WITH ROSE” (18 X 24 in.)

The perspective of this painting is somewhat unusual, looking down instead of out and across. Everything is backlit with the strong sunlight coming from behind. This allows the light to illuminate the subject but it is indirect (except for the light coming off the horizontal surfaces). The glass objects are perfect for capturing the intense light, allowing them to sparkle and come to life. The leaves of the rose came out nicely giving the image a realistic element. If one looks closely enough, you can see many things happening in the wine glass. The hardwood floor background with its diagonal lines is a nice contrast to the rounded shapes of the vase, apple and wine glass. Its dark shadows also provide an opportunity for the rest of the objects to pop out in the light.

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.