“Zucchini Blossom” (18×24)

Summer in California offers tremendous diversity in fresh vegetables. Many people have their own garden in the back yard and that is where this image comes from. The intense morning sun light is what give this zucchini blossom its vitality. The parts of the flower that are in direct light have a quality of aliveness that makes it almost jump off the paper. Of course this is achieved by pushing back the color in the shaded areas of the flower. Also the structure of the flower itself lures the eye down to the center. Surround all this with an even darker shade of green (which is also hidden in the shadows) and it makes the whole flower become real. The darkest areas also play a role. I tried to make them a little more interesting by adding more color to them…otherwise they can loose their freshness.

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.