Expressive Brush of Robin Baratta

Saturday, November 6, 2021

October 2021

 October 2021 issue

What's On Robin's Easel This Month?

Turkeys 


Ok not literal turkeys, but paintings that for what ever reason just didn't live up to their promise.
If they're honest every artist has a few, or more than a few... the idea seemed good, but the execution failed somewhere.
After the two solo's and the big commission, I took a week off, which somehow stretched into a month filled with the myriad of stuff that had gone undone in the last few months as I pushed to the finish line. One of those things was pulling out a stack of not quite successful paintings and  seeing if they could be rescued.

Who knew how addictive rescue work could be!

One of the stashed is 'Back From The Beach'. In May of 2018 I had an accident that resulted in a concussion. Being the stubborn impatient person that I am, I tried to go back to the studio too soon and made a mess, which got stored with the other turkeys.
The post concussion version 'Coming Home From The Beach' has found it's forever home, yay! and I feel the time has come to retackle the original in a looser style that has been simmering in my brain and hands, that's a sliver of it to the left of this picture. 

With the (fingers crossed) waning of Covid, shows are starting to come back, most with online options like Westland's Square Foot Show, November 24th to December 30th.
My submissions are: 
      
Where The Sidewalk Ends       Posted            Going Around The Bend

Also STEPAC has their Annual Miniature Show and Sale on November 13th to December 23rd.
My submissions are:
   
     Tree Line                  Swirls                Junction              Elgin Spring

I wish you all the best of late fall, and fingers crossed we have a good winter, though it's coming way faster than I for one would like, sigh.

Until next month
Robin

Monday, October 4, 2021

Spt 21

 s: https://mailchi.mp/e18940d6fb8f/b3c036xg3v.

What's On Robin's Easel This Month?

What's UNDER Robin's Easel 


A very tired dog! 
We took a much needed vacation this week, the family joined us on Saturday to help celebrate Bill's 75th  birthday, and in our family dogs are people too, so Oak had all of his extended pack to play with...tired pup lol.  

My solo at STEPAC has wound up, the love from the area art community was overwhelming, and much appreciated, also Along Old Vic found a new home, that's news that always makes me smile :)

 

Next up for me, I have the 'big wall' at Art With Panache, October 12-28th. the gallery is located in Talbot Centre, 140 Fullarton St. in downtown London. 
I know some people who were unable to make it to St Thomas, will find this easier to get to, the selection of work will be a bit different too, with some smaller work available this time. Usually there would be an opening reception but Covid has made openings a thing of an other time,  however if a guided tour sounds appealing drop me a line, and we'll work out a time to meet.  

The 'big one' is officially called Autumn Splendour, and will be delivered later this week, here it is...

And a couple of detail shots

   

I would like to thank my client Barbara, you've been a joy to work with on this project. 

In the meanwhile I have work ready for the Westland Squarefoot Show coming in November, I'm actively looking for more galleries to carry my work, and hopefully art shows will return sometime in the new year, in one format or another.

No time for idle brushes!
 

Until next month
Robin

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Friday, August 27, 2021

August 2021

08/27/2021 - What's On Robin's Easel This Month?

What's On Robin's Easel This Month?

It's A Big One!

This is the underpainting for my large sized commission, It's actually quite a bit further along then this and by next update, barring catastrophe it should be done.
We are exactly a year after the tornado that damaged our sunroom etc, so I don't use the word catastrophe lightly!  After several false starts they SAY we should finally be getting the sunroom fixed starting this week, the gazebo only just finally went up. Some of that is Covid delays, but mostly it's just misadventure, AKA bad luck.
Usually I do these big paintings in the sunroom so having to move it now is causing a bit of muddling, but no fear, I've used the dinning room on more that one occasion. My friend Sue Garrington calls her dinning room table her axillary studio, so the precedent is set lol. 

My exhibition at Stepac at 301 Talbot in St Thomas is in it's final week.
I'd like to thank everyone who's come out to see my long anticipated show, especially everyone who posted such rave reviews, and to those wonderful supporters who purchased work a million thanks! Putting our work out into the world is always a bit nerve racking, seeing it bring joy to peoples lives makes it all so worth while.


Last update I was experimenting with mediums, one was immediately trashed but the other two survived, we had some fun on my instagram  @robinbarattaartist, and facebook Robin L Baratta Artist with suggestions for painting names. and they are:

Swirls

Swirls

Across undulating hills the tractors dance, in their wake the soil swirls, lines and rhythms to catch the artists eye, patterns in the earth, visual music. 
6x6, glazed acrylic, on cradled wooden panel, ready to hang

Click to purchase

Treeline

Treeline

A gentle separation, of field and field, crop and crop, properties, a treeline waves. Far friendlier than a fence, and a place for the wildlings to travel to, from and along, poplars, maple, sometimes evergreen. Green punctuation marks upon the landscape.  

6x6, glazed acrylic, cradled wooden board, ready to hang
click to purchase


Until next month
Robin

















proud mama 
congratulations to my son and daughter in heart

 

Monday, July 26, 2021

July 21

 to view or subscribe https://mailchi.mp/6002cf679764/9rr08l40fd


What's On Robin's Easel This Month?

Experimenting With Mediums  


As some of you know, the manufacturer  significantly changed the medium I use most.
I have a stash of it ( I went around the city buying up all I could find of the 'old' version) but as I'm about to start a large commission I don't want to run the risk of running out and not knowing what my alternative might be....
so, I'm experimenting. 
These littles are about half done, and I seem to have a clear winner, Whew THAT's  relief. 
The crazy thing is this is the second time this has happened, It makes you wonder what the heck manufactures are thinking!

The rest of the sketches  I had ready to go are on hold as I do the prep steps for the 60"x24" commission I'm working up.

So, what are the steps?

1, mine in situ sketches and photo references for something that speaks to me
2, do thumbnails to work up the bones (design)
3, do a full size pastel sketch to further tweak and work out any 'bugs'
4, cut the terraskin, and mount it on plascore
5, do background colour AKA sky 
6, transfer sketch
7, underpaint with rich colour
8, outline with black
9, build first texture
10. do first glaze
repeat 9 & 10 until satisfied, there are at lest 3 layers of texture, and dozens of layers of glaze
11, prep cradled board, and mount almost finished painting
12, finish layers
13, top coat
14, wire for hanging
15, deliver!!

Speaking of delivery... 
Gibbons Gate, 6x6
  Elgin Spring, 6x6
Summer Days 6x6
Have all been delivered to Art With Panache  140 Fullerton St, London, they're having a 'small art' show and sale July 30-August 27, there's going to be some stunning work by area artists in this show!

AND

I delivered my work to STEPAC for my solo in Gallery Three on Thursday. After 3 postponements, it's finally happening, crossed fingers toes and everything else!!!!!
STEPAC has put a lovely bit on their website,

301 Talbot St. St Thomas,ON, CA, N5P1B5
Phone: 519-631-4040
Hours of Operation

Monday-Closed
Tuesday-12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Wednesday-12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Thursday-12:00 pm - 04:00 pm
Friday-12:00pm - 04:00 pm
Saturday-12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Sunday-Closed
for a map go here

and a big thank you to my friends at Learners for their support and shout out

Also you'll be happy to know that. Artist's Whimsy, Beach Breeze and Van Gough Sky all found forever homes this month, thank you Art Emporium!


Until next month
Robin

June 21

 to view or subscribe June 21issue

What's On Robin's Easel This Month?

Exhibition Announcements!

Ok so this is not what's on my easel...but how exciting is this, they're here!
Thank you to Laura Woermke for hand delivering them to me, now we just have to get to stage three, so that the STEP Art Centre can be open to the public! click on the link to see my show announcement on their page :)  
August 7-September 4, 201, Gallery Three St Thomas Elgin Public art Centre, baring a miracle we won't be able to have an opening, but maybe an artist talk, fingers crossed. 

So what's REALLY on my easel?  a bunch of skies at the moment...already to have the sketches I have ready transferred, so I can start painting.


My favourite texture building medium has been changed radically by the manufacturer, (again) so I've been experimenting with different  mediums, trying to figure out what's going to work best for me, and where. Lets just say that I'm a tad frustrated with the manufactures... Ok so artists are supposed to be creative, and able to rise to new challenges, but really this is twice they've done this, in just over a year grrrr.

Just finished...with different mediums.

Tor
Tor, Celtic hill fort, an ancient place of safety, now a place of peace and dreams, surrounded by fields of wild daffodils, and grazing sheep.  If only all battle grounds could be this way. 

16x12, glazed acrylic, on cradled wooden panel, ready to hang, 

$255.00 do you have the perfect spot for this, if so you can  buy now

Thank you to my amazing Welsh cousin Deb Tilley for the reference photo see more of her art and  photography here


Where The Sidewalk Ends
This quite literally is where the sidewalk ends on our morning walk. The end of the street is still a field with a view, but not for long, subdivisions are fast gobbling up the surrounding lands.
12x12, glazed acrylic, on cradled wooden panel, ready to hang.
$225.00. If it's still here, this will go to the Westland Square Foot Show in November, but why wait when you can buy now ?

Have  GREAT MONTH, and see you at my show! 

Until next month
Robin

Saturday, May 29, 2021

May 2021

 to view or subscribe 05/29/2021 - What's On Robin's Easel This Month?


What's On Robin's Easel This Month?

Tools And Potions 


Which are way more interesting to look at then the two first stage sky backgrounds that actually are on my easel lol.

I like to keep my sky's quite, to help balance the power of the textured and painted areas of my work. Not that I don't work at them, but they are muted, and a teeny bit unexciting at the first stage of life. 

My garden is a passion a short few months of each year. If you follow my Facebook and Instagram (both are @robinbarattaartist) you've seen some pictures, studio dog stars in a few too lol.

I've got to  be honest, it's hard to be adult when the sun is shining and the garden is calling, and do the less interesting bit's of being a professional artist, like posting work on social media, and updating websites.

Thankfully, the studio never loses it's draw, and as a result the 'proofing wall' is full. I've probably mentioned before, how I hang paintings up and look at them for a week or two before I put the final protective top coat on. Like a baker proofing bread dough, the results are better if the work rests before the final step. 



The three 12x12"s are potentially for the Westland Squarefoot show, how ever, as of yet there is no sign of this year's show on their website, so I'm not sure if it's going the happen.

 The first is Row On Row, I'm not 100% sure it's done yet, so no web link yet, Going Around The Bend is in the middle the web page is all set for you to look at.

 The last needs a name....any ideas? You come up with the best names!!

Just reply to this email if you have a suggestion :) 


Across The Field
Distant silos beckon the weary farmer home, not just  storage, but a beacon too, tall amongst the trees and crops a guide at the end on a long hard day. 
12x6 is a new size for me, I like the horizontal format in a smaller size.
Glazed Acrylic, on cradled wooden panel, ready to hang.
$160.00. If this one is calling your name, you can buy now


Bruce's Bluff,  a weather worn cabin sit's on the edge of the bluff, overlooking a fallow field, a place for quite reflection.12x16 glazed acrylic on cradled wooden panel, ready to hang
$255.00 If you have the perfect home in your home for this one buy now
 Road To The Lake was in last months newsletter, and I just didn't take it down lol

Countdown to Solo Show

10 WEEKS
 
 
God and Covid willing, fingers crossed, no more postponements please.....

St Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre 

Until next month
Robin


April 2021

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What's On Robin's Easel This Month?

 

Who's Messy Studio???

Mine...oops


I usually try to keep the chaos to a minimum, but I've got six pieces on the go and  things have gotten a tad out of hand lol.  The two upright 12x12's on my tilt table are under-painted, awaiting texture, the flat two are at the background and line stage, Square Foot Shows will be coming soon and I need to be ready!

To the right on the big bench is   
 
an almost complete, as yet unnamed 12x16, suggestions??? along a country back road (between Dorchester and 401) a ditch bisected a field, the contrast between the uncultivated green and ready to plant soil caught my eye. I love these green highways, safe havens once the crops grow, for the wildlings that use them to traverse a dangerous world.


Working Title: Road To The Lake, 12x36.
Taking the back roads to catch the Chi-cheemaun in Tobermory all roads lead to the lake, for many Ontarians the memories of these road trips are intrinsically entwined with summer.

These two, will be completed soon, and then I'll get them up on my website 
 
The current lockdown, (3rd) is playing havoc with schedules everywhere, so the Art With Panache 6x6 show is rescheduled to May 31st-June 30-fingers crossed! I plan to have work in that.

The Lambeth Art Association has launched a website in lieu of our annual show which would usually run this weekend. My work will be up on that site, however after everything that was going on last month I submitted late, so it's not up there yet. 
 
Also my solo show at STEPAC has been postponed again. I'm still up, but now I open August 7th.
Good news/bad news that gives me two extra weeks to have my very best work ready, but the show is two weeks shorter, sigh.

I'm also looking at other venues for shows, there are a few I'm applying to and I'll hopefully have news soon, but it's a process that takes time. 
Meanwhile, I've been working at posting more regularly on my Facebook professional page Robin L Baratta Artist, and my Instagram @robinbarattaartist feed's there too, so if you're interested give it a follow.

As always I love feedback, so drop me a line, I promise to respond in a timely manner
 
 

Until next month
Robin

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