Robie Benve Art

"Joyful Sunset" 6"x6" Oil on Gessoboard SOLD I really enjoy painting these small sunsets. Most of them are from photos that some of my friends took by chance (lucky!). Sunsets make me smile, and I love to see them framed too. This one is currently at UOF Art Gallery in the Columbus, OH Short North in an exhibit with 150 small paintings by local artists. If you are in the area check it out! :)

Thumb Box Exhibition, all art 6x6 or smaller Me at the opening Many galleries organize shows of small artwork for the Holidays. Small usually means affordable and provides a great selling opportunity as original gift. This year for the first time I am participating in two galleries that do this, and today was the opening of one exhibit, the Annual Thumb Box Show by the Ohio Art League. Vibrant Tree I - SOLD Each artist could submit up to three pieces, and I entered three of my vibrant trees, all acrylic on canvas. I attended the opening tonight and got to enjoy all the interesting art, so much great creativity and skills in such a small size art! The good news surprise was that when I got there one of my paintings had a red dot already. Neat! The exhibit will be up until the 28th of December.

For the months of December 2013 and January 2014 I'll have some of my art on show at Edward Jones Investments in Dublin, OH. Isn't it wonderful when businesses welcome and support local artists? Some businesses in Dublin, OH open their doors and lent their walls to members of the Dublin Area Art League. We all take turns showing our creations in these great locations. Being over the Holidays I get two months in a row.  Awesome! If you walk by when the offices are closed you can still peak in, and one of my paintings (View of Tulum) is right by the window, as you can see on the left.

"November Sunset" 6"x6", Oil on Gessoboard SOLD I don't do a small painting every day, but when I do I really enjoy it! This one I did it in one session, no breaks, and it took me a little longer than an hour. I painted it with my friend Lynda Guenther, in her studio. It's nice to meet and paint together, we work on different things, but the creative energy seems to multiply. It must be the chatting in between strokes that helps. :) I like painting alone too, but rarely in silence: I listen to music - Most of the times singing along and dancing to the rhythm - or some radio program like the Artists Helping Artists podcasts (so inspiring!). I enjoy company when I paint, as long as it's not someone standing by me just watching what I'm doing. That makes me too self conscious, takes away spontaneity, and it's very distracting, as my family know pretty well by now.  #leavemealoneplease   :) ______  __  ______   Are you receiving m...

"Line Dancing on the Scioto" got third place at the DAAL Fall Show 2013 18"x24" Oil on canvas $540 I am very proud to announce my first painting award. I got third place at the Dublin Area Art League Fall Show! I surely did not expect it because there is a lot of great art in the show I would not have hoped to get an award. I've got an honorable mention before at a plein air competition, but this is the first time a qualify in the first three.  The judge was Jim Glover, very talented impressionist painter. His comments made me so happy, Here is what he said about my painting. "Like its title suggests, this painting takes the eye dancing from one red/orange sphere to the next, pulling back into the depth of the picture plane. The blue-green/orange/red complementary colors create a subtle vibration for the retina, adding visual interest to the piece. The hillside is believable, the tree line in the background is varied and organic and the ba...

"The Journey is the Reward" 6"x6", Oil on Gessoboard SOLD “The journey is the reward”, a classic Chinese Proverb, that's what this painting tells me. What matters is not where we are heading, but where we are and what we do now. So true if you want to live a meaningful life. I try to enjoy the positive things that are happening today, be thankful for what is here now, not wasting too much energy waiting for what I don't have yet. We need to live the moment, don't postpone. Our children grow up too quickly, our loved ones may not be here tomorrow, as may the blessings we enjoy each day and we may give for granted. Only a now well lived makes a promising tomorrow possible. I choose to savor each moment.  :)

"Cielo - Clouds at Sea" 6x6, Oil on Gessoboard SOLD I don't know if I am just more attentive to the sky in this period, or if the clouds are really more spectacular this time of the year, but over the fall I seem to have developed an obsession for watching clouds, how they change shape and color. My family is probably tired of hearing excited comments about the atmosphere. What can I say, I love sunshine, but cloudy skies are much more interesting, and I make sure I share with whom is around me. :) Sunsets without clouds are not as fascinating. Strangely I never realized that until painting became a main part of my life. If you asked me a few years ago I would have said that I loved sunsets and sunrises, period. Now every time I see a beautiful sky I think of how I would paint it, and this extra attention made me realized that I love cloudy skies better. The things you learn! :) Happy cloud watching!  :)