Blog Posts - Robyn ANN Crawford

Robyn ANN Crawford

Oil Spill, China Sea, Study Piece..

1/24/2018

For the last few weeks I have been focused on Sea/Landscape studies, to be followed up by large format oil once I move and set up a functional studio space.
For the year I have lived at my present rental, I have had no regular place to work, on this occasion I set up a work station on my kitchen table, the piece before in my bedroom on my lap, before then on my bedroom floor, very frustrating, with annoying cleaning up to do on completion, storing my products back in the box I packed them back in November 2017 thinking I would be moved by now.
Anyhow back to my little studies, most are figments of my imagination, but I'm just as attracted to painting real life events like this massive oil spill in the China Sea recently.
Attracted to the dark scene in sea/land as I do in my portraits and often animal works.
Loving the drama <3

Ship Sirius, The Day After Arrival, Sydney Cove, 1788.

1/15/2018

Been over 6 months since my last blog entry. Many paintings and drawings failed to make it to the blog, so I will start with what I have been working on this New Year 2018, all land or seascapes, what you say, landscape? yes, an area for most of my painting life I have shown no interest, until a few years back when I attempted a seascape, that I have since painted over, nevertheless, it remained in the back of my mind, one day I will concentrate on seascape for at least some time, see where it takes me, as it is the case with my art.. In the process I have discovered how satisfying it is to paint seascape, not in a realistic style but a loose style even a little abstract in technique, more Turner than Constable. I took to it like a duck to water, without reference I have managed to turn out a number of study pieces, of a dark theme, except for the one below and another, the exploration exciting and fulfilling.
On my mind these last weeks is the process of printing, so as to make more available to buyers from differing economical backgrounds, I have been looking at processes for printing and also framing, looking for a price friendly way to frame my own prints. I decided it best to frame my own prints and originals, to ensure their protection, instead of depending on the customer to do the framing themselves. Without the means to employ an expert, I have the tools, know how to matt up, Still in seed form, looking at my options. Then sell framed pieces from my shop on this website as well as elsewhere. Maybe I may even over time be able to afford to hire someone to do the work for me.

Emily Kame Kngwarreye with Emilys Dreaming.

7/6/2017

Last two days work, this piece came together easily enough initially, I'm working to maintain a true alliance with contemporary semi abstract portraits in the style of Expressionism, though once I capture a true likeness from a photo I become anxious of slipping back into a photorealistic style, it best I work fast, without restricting myself to too much detail, and that is the process I use for this piece using a peculiar combination of ink and acrylic. I started by laying in strong angular heavy black lines, remaining mindful not to focus on too much detail. I don't mind combining the two different styles, as in one element photorealism in combination with mostly contemporary expressionism/abstract, which I find highly satisfying and exciting, I started experimenting with integrating the two way back in 2009.
The expressive face of Australian artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye was my subject for this piece, I decided to represent in the background a loose impression of one of her paintings "Emilys Dreaming.

Get a Grip 2

7/2/2017

I was up with the crows working on Get a Grip, freezing cold after -1 degree night, frost on the ground and cars etc.
I am very happy about this piece it is expressive and contemporary, the photo a little brighter than the original, just a little, but I'm heading in the right direction, feel no need to diverge now, the old eclectic call has been silenced, I have varied subject matter that with hold my interest without the need to switch styles. Expressionism was always where I was at, but it took many years to see the light, my attachment to realism and surrealism confused me. I have let go of mirror images copied from photos, phew, what a relief, I never really felt good about copy even as a child, I use to be asked how did you get such a good likeness, did you use a photo, I use to be embarrassed to say yes I did, in those days copy was frowned on, unlike today, with the immergence of photorealism and it's popularity, people don't appear to mind that the artist sit and reproduced an imaged that is not original and a copy of the work of a photographer, it never sat with me, but still I spent hours in practise, it is popular with folk and for commissions for portrait a valuable skill. These days most of my portraits are of no one particular, faces that appear from a conglomerate of paint an emergence from the depths of my psyche.

Get A Grip.

7/2/2017

Arrived somewhere near where I want to be with this piece I conjured up this afternoon.

Self and Camera with Nothing on but my Undies

6/25/2017

A little piece I came up with yesterday, another of my self nudes, though in this case I have on my tradies and singlet top.
In no time working small scale I had this little gem on paper, using mixed media, mixed media is usually a collaboration of at least three different medium, from acrylic to ink. I don't hesitate combining what I would not have done back a few years, being a stickler for traditional rules and working mostly with oil.
I took a stack of photos of myself in my bedroom one morning half asleep after the idea came to me on waking, seeing myself recorded looking not my best, I thought WT you are too stressed my dear, anyhow on looking at them yesterday I thought hey they are not too bad, thinking we are our worse critic, it was a case of selecting which image to start to reproduce in paint etc , decided I will most likely paint them all lets start with this one. I love it, Looking forward to doing the next one, with improvement... .

Chic With A Pixie Cut.

6/23/2017

One of three pieces I produced this week while still recovering from a sprained arm.
I was happy with this piece on completion, it was fun to paint, and my experience as a contemporary painter of portraits is bearing fruit, at least that is how I see it.
Another head I conjured up from the depths of my psyche, or is it just that I have painted so many, whatever it came easily, plonking on paint as freely as I pleased, something I have not always been able to do due to lack of finances and unable to be as generous with paint.

The Agony and the Ecstasy

6/9/2017

Been out of action with a sprained shoulder, nevertheless, I was able to accomplish a few pieces, in a loose style.
This is my latest, a beauty I believe, more akin to the style of contemporary portrait I prefer to paint back in 2013 when contemporary portrait had become a major part of my work.
This one was executed with difficulty due to the pain in my right arm, my main arm, still the restriction allowed this piece to evolve unhindered by too much fiddling.
A perfect representation of my physical condition, attempting to paint while in pain..... The Agony and the Ecstasy.

Retro Abstracted Nude With Kurt Cobain Sunglasses

5/25/2017

"And the Walls Came Tumbling Down 2" from the series Self and Hand.

10/22/2016

Hot off the board, this my latest painting, the second of two in this series of self portraits. Influenced by my feelings connected to where I have been living the last two years, a one bedroom unit in Drummoyne NSW. We tenants given till January to vacate 2017 due to developers demolishing the present building to make way for upmarket units for those who are rich enough to buy them. The issues of those who have and those who have not, affordable housing making way for those who can afford to live on the shore of the peninsula, have confronted me with issues I hadn't given much thought to till now.