Robie Benve Art

Modern Day Passion 5”x7” Acrylic on canvas panel Click here to purchase a print of this painting. In this Lent period, I wonder: How would Jesus’ teaching be different if he lived in today’s world? What parables would he use to talk to our hearts and engage our souls? We are all tangled in unnecessary problems, due to the constant effort to reach something we don’t have – yet. And when we reach it, we are  happy only for a moment, then we find a new thing we “need” to achieve, buy, or learn. Everyone is engaged in an illusory pursuit of happiness that seems to go in many directions but a truly fulfilling one.  My mind goes to one thought:  Simplify.  Wouldn’t be wonderful if we could live simply,  without all the surplus and the possessions?  I started this painting as the representation of a martyr of today’s deceptive reality, that could live a nice life in blue, but it’s trapped in the gray tentacles of present society’s expectati

          8”x10” Acrylic on canvas panel Ah, how I love the sound of great music unexpectedly filling the air! It’s a gift, a spiritual lift offered by volunteer musicians spreading love through their instruments. Lee A. Brown, a professional photographer and artist, took the reference picture and posted it in his ADNW web site for a monthly painting challenge. Apparently the saxophonist in the painting plays nearly every day in the same spot at Central Park. A quick research online uncovered his name: Ralph U. Williams. It really makes me want to take a trip to Manhattan, sit nearby him and let the Jazzy Love sink in!

  8"x10"   Acrylic on Canvas Panel  Donated to mankind by the kaki, a tree that has been cultivated for more than 2000 years in China, the persimmon could be the symbol for patience. If you try to eat it before it’s ripen, you’d sure regret it, but if you manage to wait until the right time comes, it’s so sweet and juicy that you’ll love it for life! The painting is from a photo posted by artist Lela Stankovic, for the Paint And Draw Together challenge.  I straggled a little with values and brushwork, but overall it has been a fun ride and I learned a lot on the way. :)

                                                                5"x7"  Acrylic on canvas panel I’m very excited about my latest purchase: acrylic medium to create texture and body, and painting knifes. “Perched” is my first attempt using both things. I had the picture of this little bird resting on the pink flower stem for years, in my reference binder, probably collected from a magazine – I’m glad the day when I got to paint it finally came!  :-) The extra texture and body in the acrylic paint introduced by the medium, make me like much acrylics, that by nature are rather flat. Can't wait to use it again!  

A Night Like This - by Caro Emerald I love this song so much! Every time I hear it I can't resist, I just have to get up and dance.  I'm posting it in the blog to share it with you and, more selfishly, so I have it click-handy every time I feel like dancing. :)  Ciao!