Robie Benve Art

"Clouds on Blue" 8"x10, Oil on board Sold How on Earth Do You Paint Clouds? I used to find clouds very challenging and intimidating to paint. Then, one day, in 2013, I jumped right in, during a painting workshop, I asked the teacher - Kim Casebeer, a very talented plein air painter - to help me paint clouds, she gave me one of the million photos she took of Kansas skies and lands and advised me to start from that. I started, I made mistakes, I corrected them, and I only asked her for advice a few times, but knowing I had her available if I got stuck made me braver, and I broke the ice with painting clouds. Well, technically, I had painted clouds before, but with effort and doubtful results. Look at me now: skyscapes are among my favorite subject! Between sunsets, sunrises, and cloudy skies, that's a big part of my body of work. This is the reference photo for the painting above. I took it at the soccer stadium while waiting for the Crew game to ...

"Evening Snow at Thompson Park" 8"x10" Oil on panel Framed Available at High Road Gallery & Studios I love how loose and impressionistic this winter scene came out, with the light snow that lets the ground peak through. I painted fairly quickly over a start of a different landscape painting that was not heading the right direction. The colors that were already on the canvas really did a great job as under-tone for the new one. The scene if a local park, near my house. I wanted to sit on the bench and look at the sunset, but it was too cold and wet for my taste, so I stood there briefly, took a photo, and then kept enjoying my walk on the path. :) Come see it at High Road Gallery & Studios, 12 E Stafford Ave, Worthington, OH. Open Fri & Sat 12-4 pm. Special receptions on Sat Dec 8, 12-4 pm, and Sunday Dec 9, 2-5 pm.

I really like the impressionistic look I get when I paint a landscape on location. "Walking the Dog at Schiller Park" 12"x12" Oil on panel Available I kept this painting very loose but at the same time detailed enough to know exactly what you are seeing, and there are quite a few things that I like about it. My favorite detail is probably the person walking the dog, the moment he walked by I just had to capture that red shirt and its reflection on the water. Just what all that green needed!

"Schiller Park Bridge" 9"x12" Oil on panel Sold   Plein air painting is all about immersing yourself in the landscape during the painting process, and fully enjoying the experience . After many spring outings with awful weather, this day was really beautiful. Sunny and breezy. I finally truly enjoyed every second of it. Sometimes I add a few final touches to the plain air paintings in the studio, after I get home. That's because: 1. Two hours are usually not enough (at least for me) to complete a painting and also add final details. 2. Back in my studio I can look at the painting with fresh eyes, and notice right away some things or changes that are needed. But this time I did not touch it any more. This is true 100% done on location, with no come-backs. Some areas are a little unresolved, but I like that. In my learning curve of painting skills and techniques, I am at the point where I try to stop while I am ahead. Too often I end up over-wor...

"Heading South" 18"x24" oil on canvas, framed Available Several months ago my friend Rene Nitsche posted a beautiful sunset photo on facebook and I was immediately inspired to paint it. It took me a while, but here is the finished piece. I took some artistic liberty and added a flock of birds at the horizon. I think it adds a nice touch, and it also inspired the title. I love the warmth and the sense of serenity that comes out of this scene. : )     Blessings, Robie

  Once again, being a student at the Columbus Cultural Arts Center, I get the opportunity to participate in the Annual Columbus Recreation and Parks Department’s Studio Sale.  This year it's moving to a new location, bigger and with lots of free parking. There will be 50+ artists selling their creations from all mediums: ceramic, jewelry, fiber art, printing, fashion, painting, and more. I have been blessed to be chosen as the featured artist to be interviewed by the news about the sale. Thanks a lot to Gary Seman for this wonderful interview! (link) Below is the short video that Gary took during the interview with me inviting people to come to the event. I think this is my fourth year participating in the studio sale, or maybe the fifth? I lost count! lol It's a two days event full of smiles and awesome feelings, I love being a part of it! I'm bringing several of my paintings, including several oils and some from the new series of ...

"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.