Robie Benve Art

 I'm Loving My Newly Found Freedom! After 14 months of avoiding close contacts, crowds, meals with friends, gatherings, and more, I am finally vaccinated for Covid19 and I am back to doing a few things that I was greatly missing. Yay!! I Went to Art Class I've been going to the Open Studio painting class at the Columbus Cultural Arts Center since 2011, and during the pandemic it was closed, then it reopened at limited capacity, then it closed again, and finally reopened again in March. I missed it, but I was not feeling comfortable attending until this session. The session started two weeks after my second shot, perfect timing!  I eagerly signed up, afraid that with the limited capacity it would get full before I had the chance to join, and last Thursday was the first class.  Being back felt like seeing family again. I love the place, the people, and the energy in the studio. Ahhhh, so nice! I Went to an Art Opening A local gallery had an art opening in person, and two of the t

My painting Xmas Time at the Ohio Theater is one of those that for some reason resonate with a lot of people at a deeper level. Not only I received great feedback from viewers, but it also got accepted into two juried shows: the 2020 Ohio Art League Fall Juried Show and the 2021 Bryn Du Art Show. Moreover, a few weeks ago,  Brenda Layman, a talented writer, surprised me with an email telling me that she was inspired by my painting to write a beautiful poem! When I read it, I felt so honored and humbled that I started thinking on how we could present them together. I ended up creating a video featuring both images of my painting and Brenda's voice reciting the poem. Below is the link to the video. Brenda Layman and I are both members of the National League of American Pen Women, a wonderful group of professional writers, composers, choreographers, and visual artists. You can learn more about our NLAPW Central Ohio Branch on the website NLAPW Central Ohio Branch Click on the image