“Northern Cardinal-Adult Female” (7.5 X 9.5 in)

Once again I find myself attracted to the colorful plumage of a bird. This female, set against coldness of a snowy autumn day, seems full of life ready to brave another day. Her colors are more subtle than the male’s but I was pleased with how they blended. The colorful crown, beak and observant eye all draw the observer into the painting. The texture of the bark of the limb was created with several washes and many brush strokes giving a sense of solidity for the bird to rest on.

Robin Vander Hamm

I specialize in watercolors that are inspired by my world travels. My subject matter ranges from South American landscapes to the flora of California. The use of bright colors, original designs and exotic settings are components I bring to my paintings. The incredible range of transparent watercolor allows me to capture the fragile beauty of a single flower or the somber mood of a gray day. For me, an artist is only limited by their imagination and technical skill. The elements of control and spontaneity make it a challenging endeavor. The thought of ever mastering the medium becomes more and more elusive and perhaps a goal never to be fully achieved.

I find the process of creating watercolors very satisfying and it also provides many side benefits…the greatest of these is the ability to see beauty everywhere.

So please wander through these images. There is some text beneath each. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did creating them.