“BROWN EYED BETTY” (5 X 11 in.)

This small painting was made in an afternoon. The flower was growing in the back yard and made for a perfect subject. The vase had an interesting shape, round at the top and oblong at the bottom. The texture of the vase also added to the composition. It partially obscured the stem but gave it a more rounded shape. The brown center of the flower surrounded by curving petals popped out even more against the intense blue background.

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.