Robin knew at a young age that art, sparkly things, and bright colors were for her, but it took until her 40s to realize that artistic endeavors feed her soul. Without a good creative project, she finds herself looking for that brain exercise and relished satisfaction that results from artistic creation. Somewhere between dressing up in all of Grandma's jewelry and doodling with chalk on her neighborhood streets, she progressed to painting. Her employment as a graphic designer for Advertising companies taught her the ins and outs of color correcting, image editing and preparing digital pictures for print or web use (she is a self-employed freelancer with a business dubbed "Design Chocolate"). But her illustration and painting skills come self-taught and are constantly progressing. Her style tips somewhere between realism and impressionism, with close-up or simple compositions, giving just enough detail to reveal her subject and allow color combinations to 'zing'. "I squeeze the paint straight from tube to brush, getting the most color possible and minimizing waste. I don't set up a palette; I mix right on the canvas and I let my gut tell me which color is next. I hardly use any water at all to spread the paint, so the colors maintain intensity. As a kid I coveted that big Crayola 64 crayon box - the one with the integrated sharpener. Somewhere in my psyche I'm probably trying to make up for never having had it, so the number of paint tubes I have is staggering because I always want another color." Her subjects cover a wide range. Two of her largest collections focus on Maine-themed images, and farmers market style fruit and vegetable presentations. "Nature makes the best colors and I want to use them all," she says. Her love of horses and anything Western will eventually result in a collection she calls "Cowgirl At Heart." She appreciates the timeless design qualities of antique cars and has started painting a small collection of old classics. Until recently, she hadn't delved into abstract works, but has begun a new collection of whimsical plaids that she feels imply a sense of place or personality. She's still working on the name of the collection because she wants the name to impart the sense of purpose these new pieces have. "It's a fun break from what I've been painting for the past several years and it provides an option for art buyers who enjoy my bright colors but like art that prompts more curiosity, discussion, and possibly humor. There's more to a person than just their current body of work, and that work should continue to evolve. I realize that viewers & buyers enjoy being able to recognize a particular style of the artists they've come to know or follow, because i get that same feeling when I can pick out work by a favorite artist. Yet I know that the need for personal growth will take me in different directions—whether that be in topics or style—and I hope that exploration will only add to the interest level people may have in my art as time goes on."
Robin Swennes
Available Work
Blushing Blues
Bushels of Blues
Cocky
Fire in the Sky
From the Field
Shy Guy
The Castle and the Kingdom
Violet Beauregarde's Demise
Where is Everybody?
Five Star Blues
Artists Statement
