“STILL LIFE WITH FRUIT” (11 X 14 in.)

With this early still life I was experimenting with technique, composition and use of color. I tried to arrange the fruit, bowl and lamp in a way that moves your eye around the painting. The only straight edge is the base of the porcelain lamp…every else is curved (it keeps you coming “round”…get it?) The texture and color of the fruit was a challenge. I wanted them to have a vitality that almost brought them to life. The strong light from above and the highlights on the fruit work reasonably well…it helps give more dimension and depth. The reflection of the fruit in the bottom of the lamp adds a little something (just exactly what I don’t know). The black corners provide some contrast and help to “frame” the painting (also to keep your eyes in the image)

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.