Robie Benve Art

I am so happy, I can barely believe it! In the last few months I entered my paintings in a few judged exhibitions, and I have brought home several ribbons - which stand for awards received. It's amazing to me! Every time that I am deciding what to enter in a show I get attacked by hundreds of self-doubting dilemmas, and usually I ponder not entering at all. "54 S. High St." by Robie Benve. I was very nervous about this painting, done at the Dublin Paint Out, on a cold and rainy day, while I was very busy being the chair of the event. I was also intimidated by the caliber of the other artists that participated. Yet, I got an Honorable Mention award. :D So grateful! What if my work is the worst of the show? What if it's hung next of a wonderfully executed piece and all the flaws are even more evident? When it comes to expose my work to the public viewing, I become hyper sensitive. I look at pieces that I enjoyed painting and see things that I could have...

This is one of those serendipity events in my life that I can't keep from bragging about. I am very proud of it. I was contacted by Gabriella Moreno, LCSW director of the Path Program at UCSF, and she kindly asked me if they could use the image of one of my painting for they brochure. I was thrilled and honored. I'm in amazement that they found my painting in the universe of images on the web!I'm very happy that they liked it and it fit so well the meaning of the Program. The title I picked for the image is absolutely perfect, and that is where the true serendipity takes place. The original title of the painting was "Hope", as simple as that. When I posted it on FAA, where I have my art available for prints, I changed the title to "Hope - Path to Tomorrow", to make it more searchable, and that made all the difference. The effect of enriching the title with more keywords really made the magic of making it "searchable". Note ...

"Bright Rainy Day" 9"x12" Oil on board, unframed What do you do when you get a gray, rainy day? I try to make it colorful. This was my intent with this painting. It was such a dull day that I took it upon myself to put some color into it. I started by toning the board red, and that really gave a popping start to the composition. I also kept the greens brighter than what I saw. Overall I think that I succeeded making it look like there was no sun, but without the typical grayish colors of an overcast day. Some days that's exactly what we need to do.  Keep the smile on our lips and the love in our hearts, even if life is not smiling back at us. I painted this at Scioto Park in Dublin, OH, which happens to be one of my favorite outdoors painting locations. It's right on the banks of the Scioto river, and that offers so many opportunities for painting inspirations. I do prefer when it's sunny, though, when I can get out from under the sh...

"Bright Rainy Day" 9"x12" Oil on board, unframed What do you do when you get a gray, rainy day? I try to make it colorful. This was my intent with this painting. It was such a dull day that I took it upon myself to put some color into it. I started by toning the board red, and that really gave a popping start to the composition. I also kept the greens brighter than what I saw. Overall I think that I succeeded making it look like there was no sun, but without the typical grayish colors of an overcast day. Some days that's exactly what we need to do.  Keep the smile on our lips and the love in our hearts, even if life is not smiling back at us. I painted this at Scioto Park in Dublin, OH, which happens to be one of my favorite outdoors painting locations. It's right on the banks of the Scioto river, and that offers so many opportunities for painting inspirations. I do prefer when it's sunny, though, when I can get out from under the shelt...

"These Clouds Too Shall Pass" 8"x10" Oil on board Some days start as a nuisance from the beginning. You can just tell. The only way to survive and keep good things coming your way is to realize that no matter what, things are deemed to get better. The clouds are only temporary, the sun will shine again. Have faith. Think positive. Expect only the best to happen. Good times will come. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,  by prayer and petition,  with thanksgiving,  present your requests to God.  Philippians 4:6 I painted this picture at a local park, specifically Walnut Woods Metro park, in Groveport, OH. It was a windy day, and the clouds kept coming and then moving out, just for more clouds to come. The light was changing quickly from sunny to cloudy, one of the typical challenges for plein air painters, you've got to learn to stick with the impression you want to render and avoid "chasing the light...