Robie Benve Art

Another piece experimenting mixed media with the last layers applied with oil pastels. How fun! "Rainbow Dove Study" 10"x15" Mixed Media on paper Quick sketching, abstract patterns, bold colors, peaceful message... I loved all parts of this study. I used ink, acrylic paint, markers, and oil pastels. Note to self: I need to remember the feeling of freedom and expression that I had while making this, and the lack of fear. Adding layers of colors and shapes without worrying about the outcome paradoxically lead to an outcome that I really like. It could be a start for something new in my style. Let's see what happens on the future paintings. I expect more color, for sure. :)

"See You Later" 24"x24" Oil on Canvas $650 Inniswood Gardens is a wonderful Park in Westerville, Ohio. I love to go there and walk around, on my own, with friends, and also with my kids. The park has several different areas, with specific habitats, and environments, and nice areas for kids to play, including a great tree house. Anyway, this painting features the boardwalk in the wooded area, and a barred owl, a bird that can actually be seen in the park. On a personal level, I am very attached to the park because they gave me the opportunity to have my solo show in the Innis house last fall. I had several of my landscapes in the show, and the reception was well attended, thanks to the terrific support from the staff and the patrons. Can't wait for the fall colors to be back, that's my favorite season in any park! "See You Soon" will be in the show "Reflexion from the WAAL", the fall show for Worthington Area Art League Me...

"Free Spirit" 30"x48" Oil on Canvas SOLD I love skies paintings. After I started adding birds to the skies, I love them even more. This painting in particular has a lot of significance to me; I liked it so much that used it on my business cards and artist statement. Something about the many layers of meaning of a white dove flying with spread wings just captures me completely. I had it hanging at the opening reception at the High Road Gallery and Studios on Sunday, and I got a lot of great feedback about this painting in particular. To add to the happiness, I sold it! Free Spirit is going to a nice condo in Florida, home of a wonderful gentleman that I had the pleasure to meet last week. Now I am even more inspired to paint skies and birds! Feeling thankful. :) 

I entered two paintings in the Spring Solace art show by the Dublin Area Art League members. Last night was the award ceremony and I was happily surprised to hear that I received an Honorable Mention award in the fine art category for my painting "Shine Your Light". Me next to my awarded painting. Can you see the "happily surprised" expression? lol The Judge of the competition was Vivian Ripley, artist. This is her comment on the award:  "Shine Your Light" holds my attention with its excellent design depicting a specific time of day using complimentary colors."   Thanks Vivian!  "Shine Your Light" Oil on Canvas 20"x24" (51 x 61 cm) Available The Spring Solace show will be up at the Dublin Recreation Center until May 14th, 2016. 5600 Post Road, Dublin, OH. Free entrance. The show includes a great variety of paintings, drawings, mixed media, digital art, and photography. If you are in the area,...

"Shine Your Light" 20"x24" Oil on Canvas $460 Sunshine, ocean shore, and flying seagull. What says relaxation and freedom more than that? :) OK, you may have guessed it, this painting is not a "daily painting", meaning that I couldn't have done it in one day only. However, I did finish it today, so it counts as today's painting posting, even though it took several sessions to complete. :) Sides are 1.5 " deep and painted dark, so technically it does not need a frame.

 5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)  Acrylic on canvas panel Once upon a bird, there was a black one who liked to live in open grassy areas, but one day he flew to a marsh in the middle of the forest…. What happened then?  No one seems to know. Rumors say he met a cute mate and started a family that loved to live in the shady forest; others state he missed the grassy landscape so much he soon flew back to his flock and had an adventurous life. I am so lucky that I got to paint him in the exact moment when a life-changing thought stroke his mind… even if I don’t know what that thought was, that reflection brought to the decision that determined his future. One thing is sure: he never regretted his choice and he lived happily and singing ever after. This painting was submitted to the DAPT panting challenge. It should soon appear on Lela Stankovic’s web site . A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. Chinese Proverb

                                                                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!