30 Days of Painting- Birds, Japanese Gardens and beyond

Lately I've been painting a lot, preparing for local holiday shows including the Big 500 and Wild Arts Fair! In the next month, I will be posting new pieces as I finish them, with behind the scenes/progress photos exclusively here on the RPS blog. If you're in Portland, follow RPS on Facebook or Twitter, for the latest holiday show/sale news.

BIRD ART/PRINTS!

Family Tree © Robin Phillips Studio for Audubon Wild Arts Fair

My original painting, Family Tree, will be available in the 6x6 Art Sale at the Wild Arts Fair November 22-23 as a benefit for the Portland Audubon Society. 100% of the painting sales go to Audubon. Come early, the paintings sell fast!   

Family Tree prints are also now available in the RPS gift shop, and I will also donate 20% of each print sale to Audubon. This is a show I've participated in for five years now, and the previous years  prints are also available in the shop. Each print is 6x6, and these make a nice gift for a bird/animal lover.  Browse all bird art prints!

In the studio, making Family Tree...

The theme of the Wild Arts 6x6 show this year is yard birds, which prompted me to think of home and family. I chose the concept 'family tree' to symbolize how birds often flock together and tend to their nests. Much like a traditional family tree chart, this piece illustrates three generations of various Jay family members including the Stellar Jay, Blue Jay and Scrub Jay. Blue Jays are one of my parent's favorites, and I often see the male or female when I'm about to hear from them! So, this piece has a personal meaning for me as well. :)

I start each canvas by sketching an outline that I have drawn out on paper. Next, I add in washes of the background colors. Finally, I begin layering on the shadows, highlights and details.

JAPANESE GARDENS/PONDS:

Here's a sneak peak at a series of 10 paintings I have started for the Big 500 show opening December 13! Each piece is 8x8, and the originals will be available exclusively at the show. Prints will also be available in the RPS shop, stay tuned for updates!

The initial inspiration for this series came from my love for Japanese gardening and Sashiko patterns. Drawing on my background as a fiber artist as well as a painter, these pieces combine the symbolism of the patterns along with the Japanese landscape. This series also celebrates the circle of life and oneness.

Backgrounds finished for (left to right) Koi Pond 1,  Japanese Garden: Summer, and Koi Pond 2.  Next I will start the main imagery in the center....

I will be posting the complete series here on the blog as I finish each of the pieces along with the latest pictures of our Japanese garden and koi pond!

As always, I welcome you to contact me re: a small custom work of art (6x6 - 9x12) for the holidays. I love making personalized gifts for someone special to you. Place an order by Dec 1 to allow enough time for painting and delivery. :)