Welcome Maria Soto Robbins my first guest to Amalgamation!

Yes..my first guest. Yes I know Amalgamation doesn't open until May 19th at The Gallery at Avalon Island in Orlando Florida however I am excited to share my friend and wonderful artist Maria Soto Robbins is the first to respond to my proxy token invitation. Woohoo!! What fun it was to find this in my mail today!

And what a lovely piece! I must tell you more about Maria; She is a Cuban-American artist living in south Florida. Although mostly a self-taught artist she comes from a family of artists. She paints representational images with an impressionistic touch using oils. I am drawn to her work quite often. I married into a Cuban American family. In fact we were just in Miami again this past weekend enjoying not only the beach but the fabulous Cuban food and culture. Pictured below is a favorite of our whole family, Pastelito De Guayaba (guava pastry) and cafe con leche. Ohhh was this delish!!

 Maria paints scenes from her native Cuba, as well as scenes of south Florida. She truly captures the culture and flavor of sunny Florida and Cubano influences.
Click here to see her painting of Cafe Con Leche and Pastelito de Guava

Stop by Maria Soto Robbins' Etsy Shop

BLOG- http://artbymsr.blogspot.com/

Invitation to attend via proxy token

 

 

Many of you who live far away have shared how you would love to attend my exhibits. I have an idea for some fun! I am inviting those who cannot be here for Amalgamation to attend via a proxy token; send an ACEO, photo, postcard, or note that is something small (no larger than 4" x 6") to me Robin Pedrero P.O. Box 521231 Longwood, Florida 32752 . Your token WILL NOT be returned. The token will attend the exhibit May 19, 2011, in the way too cool building below, The Gallery at Avalon Island,  in a presentation I will devise as the tokens arrive.  DEADLINE to send a token is May 12, 2011. Let's have some fun I cannot wait to see you or what you send to represent you! I will document and share the images.

 

 

 

  May 19 - June 10, 2011

 Robin Maria Pedrero and Aurora Rincon and in Guinevere's cafe Ekatherina Savtchenko

   





Step into Spring

Stepping into Spring with new floral filled pieces. And doesn't everyone remember getting new spring shoes! Yesterday we planted all kinds of flowers to brighten up our home, giving curb appeal and also a great view for us inside seen in front of our windows. I love to watch the butterflies, birds and lizards play in the colorful flowers. The original of "Step into Spring" is an 8 x 8" acrylic, if interested just ask however,  Prints are available in my etsy shop

 

Well aren't they just gorgeous! ...I will have lots of inspiration! I thought this photo was so cool with the water droplets I made it available as a print on HeyU a little shop of family prints which I am very slowly building.  Gerber Daisy with Water Droplets

 

 

Goals 2011

Well it's already the first day of spring! I am so glad! I am taking in and letting out a deep breath and moving forward to finally write out a list of goals. I shared goals of Abundance, to be Creative and Healthy and Organized in this year's posts. A quick thought passes through my mind that abundance and being organized can be seem to conflict yet I think a key is to always keep things flowing. I am still not sure about a few arenas of exploration so since I haven't figured them out they are not on the list... yet. My goal  list includes building on my accomplishments last year as I continue to take action for 2011. 

1. Fine Tune my artistic voice
2. Apply for shows
3. Maintain present Galleries;  Celebrations Gallery, CT,Gallery 17.92, FL, Juxtapose, NJ, Galeria Tonatazin, CA,Wolfe Gallery, FL. . Expand to new territory in other states (exhibits, shows, art centers, galleries, museums) . Exhibit at additional Galleries and venues in Florida - presently in 2011 I have 4 exhibitions lined up. 
4. Create and document 80 new pieces of work.
5. Continue to market work online and in products and increase sales.
6. Prepare EARLY for the Holidays and Promotions
7. Organize and back up data - this includes weekly bookkeeping which is one of the best things I did for my business last year.
8. Continue my positive practices; blogging, social network medias, newsletters, postcards, mailing lists, and attending exhibits.
9. Inspire, share, mentor and give
10. Maintain present Museum Gift Shops - Orlando Museum Of Art, Maitland Art Center, Florida Museum of Art, Florida Museum for Women Artists gift shop. And apply for more.
11. Make art video

"Reaching Higher" 24 x 24" acrylic by Robin Maria Pedrero

Collaboration Complete for Celebrations Gallery

              
 The collaborations are complete for the Celebrations Gallery exhibition in Connecticut. I began to share the process with you in this first post, where you can see the beginning of both pieces. Collaboration         

I started "We Stick Together" and when it returned back to me from Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson it  had 2 more beautiful  birds and branches and the little ones were beautifully collaged.  I continued to build the composition with flowers, an orange and there's even a home in the backgound until it developed into the final piece in the top photo.

My original concept was to do a grid and utilize every other rectangle. Elizabeth thought a cake would be a great idea, And it was! She collaged the whole panel and had painted the entire piece so when I got it I made a drawing with pastel and charcoal in every other rectangle over the collage that Elizabeth created. Going every other rectangle worked very well for the vine branches with the one branch in the far left extending into her rectangle below a bit. I played with color using the pastels and decided it would be way too busy if I completely went in another color scheme so I nixed using a solid purple turquoise combo and left hints of it.

I added some flowers to my branches in the left rectangle, and the butterfly and swirls in the right top rectangle. The mid section of the cake I painted keeping the design elements of the cake. The birds to the left and right and the cake slices are all painted in acrylic. I mimicked some of the collage patterns in the 3rd stripe in on each side to keep continuity. In the bottom piece I did the same thing to finish rounding off the cake, and I layered in colors on the table and background in the bottom center rectangle.  I just LOVE both of these pieces and it was fun to work with my friend Elizabeth on a project again.

              

Fighting Human Trafficking

 

You can bid on my art piece "Safe Circles" a 6" x 6" acrylic painting created for fighting human trafficking.

Tonight Wed -  Life Preservers Art Collective- International Artists Event
at RS POP Shop 501 Lexington Avenue New York, NY
Here's the Event on Facebook Link

"Safe Circles" is also available as a limited edition.

Arrival

 

 "Arrival" has arrived! I have been working on this piece since November. I am very pleased with the final outcome. I had shared an image previously here on my blog when the background was a bit lavender. I just love using swirls and layers that move like wind or have depth like cotton or nests. The honeysuckle pink flower has a contemporary shape, not indicative of a specific flower. Although whimsical I feel like the background also carries a classic sense. Overall I like everything about this painting. Here is a view of it on the wall, to give a sense of size. It is 24" x 24" acrylic and india ink.

FLY little bird FLY

whatever your mountains...

real or imagined "Fly" little bird Fly!

My family, friends and fans encourage me and I am filled with gratitude. I hope this new painting encourages you. There's no shipping fee in USA.. This piece and several new originals are listed in my etsy shop

http://www.etsy.com/shop/RobinMariaPedrero

Today I also met Carmen Michele who has a fun contemporary video I'd like to share with you

http://carmenmichelephotoshop.posterous.com/belief-dance

ENJOY!

YOU CAN DO IT!

(I keep telling myself this)

Above is "Fly" 8" x 8" acrylic painting

 

Artists Fighting Against Cancer

Matt LeBlanc is an artist on a mission to help find a cure for cancer. He invited me and other artists to be a part of his video to kick off his campaign where he raised an impressive $38,000 last year. Please take a moment to go to his site and read more and help him raise the funds to fight cancer. This is March, and my father would have had his birthday had we not lost him to cancer a few years ago. Many of you who follow me were with me in my journey through his last few months with us. Participating in the video was a little difficult for me, I was a bit melancholy and not feeling too great, but I knew I  needed to put aside myself and do things for the most good. And this campaign is good. I am honored to be a part of this and to be working with this incredible group of artists.

http://www.mattleblancart.com/en/art-for-life/

Whimsy in the Park

 

I like to walk in the woods, or parks. Especially ones filled with flowers and trees.  It's one of my most very favorite things. I am greatly inspired by natural elements. I like to take my experiences and add a little whimsy when I paint. And before ya know it the bird I drew in ink is wearing a party princess hat! This eight by eight inch painting could be a symbolic way to celebrate the zest in life, a birthday, or a fairytale.

Presently there are multiple blooming plants and trees here in Florida. Here's a recent inspiration filled pink, white and fuschia azaleas. I gathering materials to fill my artistic well which pours forth on to my canvases.

 

 

Purse of Plenty

 

Abundance.

Prosperity in all parts of our lives.

Although many of us desire simplicity we wish to create that simpler life from our abundance. It is my deepest desire to be able to share of the gifts I receive. Gifts, prosperity and abundance come in many forms. Perhaps a "Purse of Plenty" as I painted... filled with your dreams, some cash, pictures of loved ones, lip balm, and sunglasses.

"Whatever we are waiting for - peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance - it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart." - Sarah Ban Breathnach

"out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."Matthew 12:34

"Flowers are varied/ Some pink faced with corn silk hair /Love in abundance." Dorothy Holmes

Today I celebrate abundance in gratitude as a featured Power Artist. Please take a moment to read the interview Lori McNee posted with me. Power Artist Interview

And my March Newsletter is out! .... more gratitude...with an abundance of exhibitions!

Psst...Goal Keyword Abundance.

 

Swing, Bike, Blueberries and Picasso

“All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” - Pablo Picasso

In the initiative to be more healthy I have seen the aspect of play encouraged more and more. And for kids like me who love to ride bike and swing us adults can indulge our childlike spirits and play outside as well as inside the studio.

Opening up to being more childlike opens us to be more creative,

imaginative, innovative and joyous.

Why? Children engage in the senses, they play freely, with usually less inhibitions, and often don't even know if there is a creative rule they are breaking.

One of my most spiritual experiences as a child was while swinging with not a person or car in sight in the midst of nature, I'll never forget it. I also like to ride bike not race, but more of an exploratory excursion with lots of coasting downhill.

Remember making concoctions in the kitchen, mine often involved chocolate chip cookies, fluff, and peanut butter either refrigerated or put in the toaster oven. I am busy but I want to eat healthy. My most frequent meals are sliced veggies fixed in a multitude of ways. Here's what I recently tossed together.

Saute -fresh green beans, onion, green onion, red peppers,
orange peppers, sliced tomatoes, olive oil, lemon juice

And Cajun seasoning, minced garlic

then Blueberries... and lastly add walnuts till warm.

yeah...notice too busy to take the stems off before cooking lol

 My Goal this year to be Creative and Healthy.