Oct 20 2011
Last night I dreamed that I was a new apprentice to some sort of spiritual shaman. Though I cannot remember many details, one of the few things I do remember is looking at animals and seeing the energy transmitted between us through a web of pulsing light. In particular, I recall staring into a bird’s [...]
Jul 19 2011
My mixed media painting class ended it’s 8 week reign just last Tuesday, and I’m finally getting around to posting some photos of the students’ progress. These first photos are of Linda Nagy, who really impressed me with her ability to integrate her poured and splattered acrylic paint backgrounds with her chosen photo transfer images. [...]
Oct 05 2010
Alas, I have been neglecting my blog for far too long, and a good number of things have come to pass or are currently emerging… to the extent that I’ve been more than a little overwhelmed and have little time to write about it. To prevent myself from further procrastination, I’ll start with an outline [...]
Apr 30 2010
My recent move to a new residence took the wind out of my sails for a bit, especially since I fell prey to a cold almost immediately following my landing. The necessity of making the bills always prevails, so there’s been more time catching up with web clients and planning classes than in the studio [...]
Mar 12 2010
It’s been a while since I’ve created any updates… not because I don’t have anything going on, mind you. More likely, I have TOO much going on, and not enough time to write about it. First of all, I finally decided I’d had enough of trying to get anything done in my dreary basement studio, [...]
Aug 16 2009
(my discoveries at art camp) For the past month, my energy has been consumed by creating websites, teaching classes, and cranking out jewelry and reproductions for art fairs. In the first week of August alone, I did 3 fairs (in Portland, Sellwood, and on the Oregon coast, in Yachats). Summer is the time for this and [...]
Apr 18 2009
My blog entries have been a bit sparse lately. I went through a period of being overly busy with creating websites, then with planning classes, now I’m building walls in my basement studio, and won’t be getting much done in there until the building and re-organization is through. When I find myself overwhelmed with clutter, [...]
Jan 17 2009
Transferring images can be done with photocopies, some magazine images, inkjet or laser prints. I suggest using a high contrast laser image for your first efforts because I think the results are more reliable, but the options are open for trying practically anything. In regards to imagery, try whatever you have a strong connection to. [...]
Dec 15 2008
The image above is a painting created by Jutta Reichardt. It illustrates the use of an acrylic image transfer, acrylic surface techniques, and stenciled gold leaf that I introduced to my Mixed Media class, taught through Portland Community College last semester. Jutta produced some really amazing work during the class, and I wish my camera [...]
Nov 18 2008
Last Friday, I attended the opening a show at the Launch Pad Gallery in Portland. I was inspired by the quality of the art as well as the appropriateness of the message. Rebecca Shelly’s theme is one that fits our current economic struggles, suggesting that growing our own food can help lead to more independence [...]
Nov 03 2008
For some time, I have been interested in ideas related to mixing abstract elements of pattern with more realistic interpretations of subjects. Perhaps the most famous artist to be successful at this idea is Gustav Klimt. Almost any appreciator of art will be familiar with his iconic painting, “The Kiss”. For a more contemporary inspiration, [...]
Oct 28 2008
Tonight I’m inspired to use the example of a friends’ collages as the basis for an exercise for a student project. The following exploration of Color, Space, and Pattern can benefit students from the approach of Color Theory, Painting, as well as Mixed Media applications. All of the textile-based collages represented on this post are [...]
I'm Robin Urton, an artist based in Portland, Oregon... who paints surreal images, often incorporating images of women, birds and the natural world. I also teach art to adult students. I’m creating this blog as a means of externalizing my thoughts regarding the creative process, and documenting some of the life experiences that feed my work. It’s also a way to reach out to other creative people, as a means of establishing a dialogue.
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