New Year Inspiration

Inspiration Minis series, © Robin Phillips Studio

Wise Tree © Robin Phillips Studio

I love how the new year is naturally full of promise. What are your goals this year?

This week we've been hit with record snow and my mind is full of new ideas.

As I reflect on how fast the past year went and the new branches that I have grown, this year I look forward to launching a new website and focusing more on art and illustration. If you are interested my design services, don't worry!  I will continue to offer graphic and web design services as well. With the launch of my new site, you'll be able to see my latest work, get a closer look inside the studio and hear from me more regularly on social media. Stay tuned!

And if you're not already following me,  join RPS Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. :)

“The beginning is the most important part of any work.” 
― Plato

I wish you a wonderful new year!

Xoxo,

Robin

Through the Enchanted Forest Painting

Through the Enchanted Forest, 16" x 12", Acrylic/Mixed Media © Robin Phillips Studio

I created this small piece for the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale Art Show curated by Kelly Williams, currently on display at Portland'5 Centers for the Arts through May 31. Each participating artist chose a scene from one of the Grimm's Brothers stories to illustrate. If you're in the Portland area and haven't seen it yet, do check out this magical show!

My piece is based on a scene from the story Twelve Dancing Princesses:

“Then down they all went, and at the bottom they found themselves in a most delightful grove of trees; and the leaves were all of silver, and glittered and sparkled beautifully…. Then they came to another grove of trees, where all the leaves were of gold; and afterwards to a third, where the leaves were all glittering diamonds… On the other side of the lake stood a fine illuminated castle.”

To me, this is one of the most magical scenes in the story. The princesses escape through an enchanted forest of silver, gold and diamonds to meet their princes and dance all night long. I hoped to capture a sense of excitement and wonder in this painting.

Through the Enchanted Forest prints (photo or giclee) are now available in the RPS shop! Wouldn't this print be adorable in a little girl's room? Or it would add a whimsical touch to a feminine/antique room. :)

Behind the scenes, painting in the studio...

I approached this piece with a vision of an old German book cover opening to illuminate the scene. The princesses are descending down the cellar stairs and through a doorway into the magical forest. To create the figures, I referred to images of bridal and Victorian models. One of my favorite Victorian fashion sources is the classic Godey's Lady's Book. 

For the scrollwork, I traced design templates and then filled in the filigrees with a tiny brush. 

I hand-stitched metallic-foil glass beads through the canvas to create the effect of diamonds in the trees. 

On opening night...I became a princess myself :)

Framed and hanging at the show on the 'Wall of Maidens'...  

"Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale" - Hans Christen Anderson

♥ Robin

Winter Garden- Dew Drops, Art Prints

Dew Drops © Robin Phillips Studio

It's been a warm winter here, almost like spring some days! Nonetheless, I'm still embracing the slow energy of winter- planning new business ideas and planting new seeds.

Japanese Maple, winter

Our winter rain in the Northwest brings lots of morning dew, and plants literally shimmer with a crystalline glow. Above is the Japanese Maple in our front yard on a misty, rainy day. Isn't it stunning? This gorgeous dew is the inspiration behind my Dew Drops pattern collection! This collection of 10 patterns (each print sized 8x10) is available as a printable design download in the RPS shop. Use these designs for paper crafts such as scrapbooks, cards or invites (Note: the design download is for personal use only. Licensing inquiries are welcome.)

'Winter Branches' from Dew Drops © Robin Phillips Studio

This collection is perfect for winter/early spring cards, new baby announcements or scrapbooks,  garden notebooks or whatever you envision :) Try folding a sheet in half and using it as stationery (write on the blank side). Note: I enlarged the size on some of the prints shown here up to 120% using a color copier.

Rose bush leaf

Here are some crafty ideas:

Behind the scenes, making Dew Drops in Adobe Illustrator... it's so fun to play with different colorways and layer pattern designs. Typically, I come up with several options and then narrow it down to shades of two or three colors.

Euphorbia

'Leaf Fancy' from Dew Drops © Robin Phillips Studio

And last but not least,  check out the collection of winter/nature art and designs currently in the RPS shop .... :)

From the garden...

Winter has been amazingly light this year!

Snowdrops

Lenten Roses

Daffodil shoots (already!)

Camellia (and 'Christmas Cheer' Rhododendrons too) are blooming

In the Japanese garden, the Koi are still hibernating...

Winter Fire Dogwood- love the red-orange branches...

And now is the time for lots of pruning and planting fruit trees!

PS.  RPS is now on Instagram! Follow me at @robinphillipsstudio

Hello Spring! + Decorative Pattern Designs

Time flies so fast and spring is here! While admittedly I have taken a break from the blog recently (a long hibernation!), I have planted many new seeds and I have some exciting new work to share...

In the studio, recently I have been working on developing digital art/design for licensing, crafts and beyond. A new RPS website is underway, and a series of website themes for sale are also on the horizon. More spring printables are coming soon including greeting card and invite templates. It's a digital heaven around here :)

So, I'm excited to introduce the first spring printables- digital paper packs! These fun designs are now available in the RPS Shop. Simply download and print them on a color copier or laser printer and use them for scrapbooks, handmade cards, paper collages, stationery or any personal projects you like. (These copyrighted designs are for non-commercial use only).  I plan to release these in my Spoonflower fabric shop as well. Stay tuned!

Sneak preview of the new Flowers and Rain table runner pattern!

The yard has come to life, and the first flowers are blooming everywhere. Happy robins chirping and skipping about in the yard. Love. The gardening year has officially begun. We have started a new bonsai and herb garden in the front with a bamboo fence. I planted lily bulbs under the deck trellis and soon it will be time to start basil seeds inside.

Last week I took a leisurely walk with my camera around our rustic neighborhood, taking in the sights, smells and sounds of spring all around.

An old country spring road.....

What is sweeter than a rainbow in the spring rain?

 

My grandmother's bunnies (from 1980). And I crocheted the one on the right. :)

Happy Spring!!