“Sachsahuman- Cuzco, Peru” (17×24)

The Incas were fabulous architects and masons. These ruins are at an elevation of more than 10,000 feet. Every stone is individually cut with some stones having 11 different corners and weighing 200 tons. Every stone is held in place purely by friction and yet the joints are so precise you cannot put a knife blade between any stones. All these stones were quarried miles away and hauled by a technology that did not have the wheel. Such a sustained effort must have involved some divine inspiration.
The quality of light at this elevation is quite amazing. The granite almost seems to glow in the thin air and intense sunlight. The way the light catches the stones shows their texture and gives definition to the arch. One is mysteriously led into the arch and beyond. What secrets do the ancient Incas want to share with you as you wander through this awesome ruin?

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.