Robie Benve Art

"Revitalized Short North" Oil on canvas 18"x24" SOLD The Short North, the Columbus Arts District, gets better and better. Every time I visit there something new going on, and I'm not only talking about the never-ending constructions, lol. I have painted quite a few versions of the iconic arches with the glowing lights. This one it's a little bigger than the other arch paintings that I have completed so far; the bigger size allowed me to get more details in, though still trying to keep it loose. I really like how it turned out. Thanks a lot to the collector that purchased it from the Marcia Evans Gallery, in the Columbus Short North Arts District.

"Short North Lit Up" 8"x10" Oil on linen $200 Available through Marcia Evans Gallery I've been fascinated by the Columbus Short North arches and evening lights for a while. I love walking there - even now that there is quite a mess with major constructions everywhere, lol. It's a beautiful part of the city that feels very lively and it's full of restaurants and art galleries. Every first Saturday of the month there is a Gallery Hop, and when I went to the September one I took a bunch of photos for reference. This is one more painting from those images, this time in oil. Marcia Evans Gallery 8 E Lincoln St Columbus, OH

"Switch On" Acrylic, paper, and fibers on canvas 8"x10" $140 Another image of the Short North Arts District in Columbus, Ohio. Every first Saturday of the month there is the Gallery Hop. I missed the September one, but at the August Gallery Hop I took lots of pictures, that means I have a lot of different views of the Arts District to work from. Just a hint to let you know what might be coming from my easel in the near future, lol. I used to be scared of painting cars, they are a hard subject, now I'm actually learning to embrace the challenge. I think I'm liking the progress, they look like cars in traffic, right? :) Available at Marcia Evans Gallery 8 E Lincoln St, Columbus, OH 43215

I've been having fun experimenting with mixed media recently. As a matter of fact, I found out that I love mixed media! Last February my 30 in 30 challenge was focused on mixed media, and that's when it all started. Recently I worked on three pieces (to be posted soon) using acrylics, tissue paper, fabric, markers, and stencils, and I had a blast making them! This small cityscape is also created with all those materials, and with fun. :) "Ready to Go" 6"x6" Acrylic, paper, and fibers on canvas. SOLD Part of the fun was making my own stencils with an X-acto knife. I really enjoyed turning one of my favorite views in Columbus, the Short North Arts District, into an abstract and colorful image. Another one is on my easel already! :)

I almost forgot to join the 30 in 30 challenge this year, thanks a lot Leslie Saeta for the reminder email! I have been doing the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge for a few years now, I believe this is my sixth year - wow! Hard to believe! I love it because it makes me push the "painting every day" thing, and, believe me, the extra motivation to finish a piece is truly needed some days. Yes, the posting part demands quite a bit of extra time and energy, but it's all worth it. In fact , after I complete a daily painting, I have to take a photo, crop and make some basic edits, created a blog post, and finally post a link on the challenge site. Here is the link to the 30 in 30 challenge site , if you want to see all the other entries. My first painting  for this month is a scene of the Columbus, OH Short North Arts District and its lovely arches. This was commissioned to me from nonetheless than my lovely husband, as farewell gift to one of his postdocs. ...