“MEXICAN POTTERY- OAXACA” (11 x14 in.)

When I travel I often find myself visiting the local markets. They are often the center of the culture and offer many fascinating and colorful subjects to the eye of an artist. These terra cotta containers were set up in a triangular way that made an interesting composition. The high horizon, looking down into the openings of the lower ones and just being able to see into the upper ones, caught my attention. The light coming from the right casts a shadow on each container as well as the ground . To capture light and shadow successfully is always a challenge. The various blues in the shadows make for a more visual contrast to the earth tones of the pottery. In the background you find more pottery and a woman who is walking out of the scene.

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.