Richard Robinson's Blog (229)

Breaking OUT with acrylics!

Underpainting in acrylic. 24x30" - about 30 minutes in the studio.

There's something to be said for waiting a long time to be able to paint - something like a prisoner (innocent of course) finally released to…

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Added by Richard Robinson on June 29, 2010 at 16:12 — 15 Comments

Painting Dart Valley and Ruakaka Beach

Painting in the Dart Valley, Glenorchy.

Back home now but here's some pictures from my last day painting down south last Friday in the auspicious company of Ben Ho, Mary Mai and John Crump. To get to some of these places it's really a matter of who…

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Added by Richard Robinson on June 13, 2010 at 15:51 — 3 Comments

Painting outdoors day 10

"Sleepy Hollow", oil on canvas, 10x8"

Returned to the same spot to finish this one off today - another beautiful day above the clouds. I wonder if anybody down in the…

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Added by Richard Robinson on June 3, 2010 at 22:33 — 9 Comments

Painting Day# 9 - Crown Range

Another fantastic day - what did I do to… Continue

Added by Richard Robinson on June 2, 2010 at 19:40 — No Comments

Plein Air Painting - Crown Range

Clearing mist, top of the Crown Range.

Wow what an awesome day painting! Joined forces with Ben Ho and Mary Mai (2 great local artists) to paint above the clouds on the Crown Range - best…

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Added by Richard Robinson on June 1, 2010 at 19:38 — 2 Comments

Outdoor Painting

"Last Light, Cardrona Valley", Oil on Canvasboard, 10x8"

Thank God for the internet is all I can say...

The weather…

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Added by Richard Robinson on May 31, 2010 at 19:52 — No Comments

Painting the Rippon Vineyard

Again very gray weather today and very cold - they reckon snow’s on the way for this weekend so probably won’t be teaching an outdoor class unfortunately. Definitely felt like snow was coming today - F-Reeeezing…

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Added by Richard Robinson on May 20, 2010 at 18:43 — 1 Comment

Breaking through into free painting

I’ve learned so much over the past 4 days…

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Added by Richard Robinson on May 19, 2010 at 7:30 — 15 Comments

Plein Air Painting in Wanaka

First day painting today on this 3 week adventure. It started out rainy and totally grayed out, but began to clear at 11am so I hopped in the truck and followed my nose down the road. Had no idea where I was going - just turned left then left again and straight on till I found my spot. The hard part was just stopping…

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Added by Richard Robinson on May 13, 2010 at 20:11 — 3 Comments

Finding your own painting style

Had an interesting question from someone today about finding their own style. Thought you might like to read some thoughts on it...

QUESTION:

"Hi Richard, I'm an artist living and working in London. I have been hoping to 'find my own style' recently. Yet I've been frightened to 'let go' as it were. Do you have any advice with this?"

ANSWER:

"Your question's a tricky one - better discussed over a coffee in front of the easel I think. Everyone's different so I can only… Continue

Added by Richard Robinson on April 21, 2010 at 10:29 — 1 Comment

Letter to the Student of Painting

I just came across this letter from painter Charles Philip Brooks who runs a

teaching studio in North Carolina. He focuses on the American Tonalist

and Impressionist schools of painting. Recently he sent a letter he'd

written for his student Laurie Gayle to Artist Robert Genn, who released

it on his blog today. It is so beautiful and inspiring I thought you might

like to read it too...

"Letter to the Student of Painting"

"Your day contains a great… Continue

Added by Richard Robinson on April 10, 2010 at 15:00 — 1 Comment

Workshop in Wanaka coming soon

Hi All, will be heading down to Wanaka for a few weeks in May for lots of outdoor painting (OH YEAH!!!) and am starting to organize a workshop down there. Here's the page with the info:

http://www.livepaintinglessons.com/workshop_wanaka.php

Let me know asap if you can join me - there's a limit of 12 people.

Oh and if you hadn't heard yet, chapter… Continue

Added by Richard Robinson on April 9, 2010 at 11:03 — No Comments

Squinting and Defocusing

Hi All,

Just got one of those funny emails people send around. Usually I don't bother with them because I'm so busy, but this one actually caught my eye because...

... the email said "When you look at this picture you see it's Albert Einstein....But if you stand 15 feet away it will become Marilyn Monroe."

Being an artist who already knows the… Continue

Added by Richard Robinson on April 5, 2010 at 19:34 — No Comments

Life Drawing

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Added by Richard Robinson on February 25, 2010 at 9:11 — 4 Comments

Plein air painting

Summer Fields - 7x9" Oil on Canvas Board

$100US Click here to buy now >>…

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Added by Richard Robinson on February 15, 2010 at 19:00 — No Comments

Mastering Color - Chapter 6 "Manipulating Color"

Took a while to get this one just right, but I'm pretty happy with it now.

It includes 77 pages of lesson notes with the 21 minute video.

Covers things like...

How can you create a mood with color?

The 3 Keys to creating true vibrancy.

What makes color 'sing'?

Value segments and powerful halftones.

Compressing… Continue

Added by Richard Robinson on January 23, 2010 at 10:16 — 2 Comments

Plein air painting

Got out painting last night from 6:30pm till 9pm just down the road in the Ruakaka estuary trying to get a better handle on this plein air painting business. Turns out it's really tricky - even after quite a bit of practice. The light wasn't quite right to continue with my previous painting so I turned around into the… Continue

Added by Richard Robinson on January 6, 2010 at 16:57 — No Comments

Hey I'm famous!

One of our painting members Brandon Nixon is going great with the Mastering Color course - he's going the whole hog, making his own color cubes and everything. When he sent me this video he made about what he's doing with the course I was really chuffed - it's like being featured on tv he's done such a good job of it.

Check out Brandon's site here:… Continue

Added by Richard Robinson on January 4, 2010 at 15:11 — No Comments

My first oil painting

My first oil painting at age 14 - "Crap no.1" - 6x8"

Thought you might like to see this and be encouraged - I often wonder how great artist's first paintings looked. I'm not saying I'm a great artist, but I can certainly see the improvement that practice has made. This painting was made from copying an old black and… Continue

Added by Richard Robinson on December 28, 2009 at 11:59 — 4 Comments

How do you make it glow?

Hi All, just got this interesting question from Robin in Hawaii...

Hi, I just ordered your cd's and I am very excited. I have been painting for about 12 years and I am still trying to get that glow of light. Do you under paint your canvas? What color and do you leave an area white where you want the light? Thanks for your time.

Aloha, Robin… Continue

Added by Richard Robinson on December 22, 2009 at 9:47 — 2 Comments