Robie Benve Art

"Pink Delight" 6"x6" Oil on board, unframed Available It was a cloudy day at the Frankin Park today and I really did not feel like painting a sun-less landscape, I was not very inspired to paint en plein air, until I saw this rose. It was near the sidewalk, perfect distance to be seen up-close, and it smelled delicious! So I decided to paint the rose. Now, painting roses is not easy, it is actually quite intimidating. Many times I ended up overworking the rose and trying to fix it, to the point that you could not even tell it was a rose anymore. With this pink beauty I have to admit I am quite pleased: after I was done it clearly looked like a rose, which is a big success on its own. After I was done with it I had 40 minutes left before I had to head back home, so I decided to use the paint left on the palette to do a quick and fun landscape. After all I have some catching up to do to complete 30 paintings in 30 days! Because the landscape was painted...

"Serene" 6"x6" Oil on Gessobord Available Some days end with a placid and serene feeling to them, and those evenings make you want to look at the day's happenings with an inner smile. Every episode, even the parts of the day that seemed so hard to live, takes a different meaning under this light of serenity. It's not a sunset. It's a feeling. I love those evenings when I can truly see the positive in all things. Have a good and serene night. :) Here is how the painting looks framed:

"Wide Open" 8" x 10" Oil on canvas panel On Sunday I bought some beautiful roses at a great price. They opened up so beautifully, every time I see them I smile. Ah, the little joys of life! I thought that painting them would be a fabulous idea, so I set up a simple still life using the prettiest rose.I have to admit it gave me some challenges. I so admire artists that can paint roses making it seem like a simple task!  My tendency is to overwork them. When I thought I was done I took a photo and loaded into my computer. As soon as I saw it on the screen I realized there were things I need to fix. It's amazing how on the screen you see things with fresher eyes!  So I went back and added some darks, and here it is. My Monday daily painting. :) Have a Happy and Creative day! :) R

                                          5” x 7”  Acrylic on canvas panel This is my second painting using an old photo I clipped from a magazine long time ago. In the original there was only one bird, but I liked the idea to have a fuzzy couple perched on the flower stem, looking in the same direction. I’m trying to loosen up my brushstrokes, but I get caught in the details... a lot! I guess practice is the only medicine. :) I decided to post on the blog each painting I complete, not only my best ones. I guess the reasoning behind that is that with each piece I learn a little or a lot, depends on the case, and even if it is not stunning, and I’m not totally satisfied with the result, I’m sure it’s been important that I did it. (I even found the perfect Gandhi quot...

                                                                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!  

Butterfly painting for my daughter's bedroom 16"x12"  Acrylic on canvas                                           I painted this for my daughter's bedroom, inspired by a similar one I saw in a store. Many times, my whole life, I have been thinking "I could do this, copy it just the same." when I saw an artwork. This time it was my girl that saw an artwork that she wanted for her room, and I said "Honey, I can do that for you, and we can savev the money." It was one of those life changing moments. Because it was kind of a promise to my daughter, I actually did it. I broke the ice, got an old canvas I had in the house, on which my son had doodled with some paint, and I painted it pink, then I drew and painted the butterfly, grass, and ladybugs. I added some sparkles f...