“Fruit Still-life” (22×30)

What caught my eye in this painting is the morning sun light that was pouring in through the window. I wanted to capture that intensity so I positioned various fruit in a crystal bowl and set it against the hardwood floor. The colors of the fruit as well as the textures were enhanced by the strong light. The balance between light and shadow works very well. I tried to even push the colors in the shadows so even where there was no direct light it is still interesting to see where the light is being reflected and bounced around. I was also pleased with the color of the floor and the pattern of the background it provides. The strong straight lines of the floor are complementary to the roundness/curves of the fruit and bowl.

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.