Monday, February 8, 2010

The Rhythm of Success by Emilio Estefan



I've truly enjoyed reading Emilio Estefan's book. It's not only a very interesting biography but also his own personal account of how he has succeeded in this country. He shares many of his guiding principles that he feels, have helped him reach success in his own terms. He tells us that certain habits, like being highly organized, and always being prompt, having a positive outlook, devoting yourself to your family, and planning for your future, are paramount to his success.

He explains that if you follow his example, you will have time and energy to come up with great ideas for your life and your business endeavors, what ever they might be. These disciplines, if you will, have helped him succeed in his life and business and served him well and of course, will help anyone who is willing to sacrifice, as he has.

Truly inspiring account for anyone, not only for the recent immigrants but for those who desire to better themselves and who enjoy an interesting story about one of the most successful music industry moguls and his famous and lovely wife, Gloria. Can you tell I loved it?

Friday, February 5, 2010

Purple Hyacinth Oil ACEO


Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins


ACEO stands for Art Card Edition Original, miniature original paintings or prints, a mere 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches in size. They are affordable works of art that can be framed, kept in albums, in your wallet, used as a bookmark, or anywhere you like! ACEO's are a wonderful way to build a collection of art miniatures from a wide range of artists at a fraction of the price of a large-scale original.

This Original Art ACEO's is an original painting. My friend gave me a lovely potted hyacinth and in researching different images, I discovered they come, not only in blues and purples, but yellow, orange and pink as well. They're such a pretty flower!


Size: 2.5x3.5
Media: Oils
Support: Masonite


Please click here to see Purple Hyacinth Original Oil ACEO

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Jose & Deja






Michele sent me this picture of her lovely daughter and husband so that I could do a practice portrait of them. Jose, is from Guatemala and Deja is a precocious 8 year old going on 20, she tells me! The picture she sent was taken at a soccer game at Gillette Stadium in Attleboro, Maine. I thought these two would make an interesting, impressionistic painting, with his bushy moustache and her cute glasses!



Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Cafe con Leche and Pastelito de Guayaba


Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins



Another in a limited series of Cuban themes. This one is one of my all-time favorite Cuban foods. A fresh-baked guava “pastelito” with lots of guava fruit oozing out of the sides. Guavas have many health benefits including five times the vitamin C of oranges and are also rich in vitamins A and B1. Of course when they’re processed with sugar as a marmalade and then baked inside a puff pastry, I think they might loose some of their nutritional value! In spite of that, a guava pastelito along with a delicious cup of Cuban coffee with milk (latte for those folks who can’t get real, fresh brewed, Bustelo) is wonderful! I can almost smell it!

Lightly varnished to protect it from dust.

Dimension: 8x10x.75 gallery wrap canvas

Media: Oils

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Cafe Cubano & Lime


Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins


Another in a series of Cuban coffee painting~~

This impressionistic painting was done with brushes and palette knives and shows a demitasse full of Cuban coffee together with the typical steaming Italian espresso coffee maker and cut lime. Thick, impasto foam on the coffee!


Dimension: 8x10 gallery wrapped canvas


Media: Oils


Visit my ebay store to purchase Cafe Cubano & Lime

Monday, February 1, 2010

"Dinkie"


Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins


This sweet little pup is Dinkie. He belongs to Deb, whom I blogged about last week.



She tells me that "Dinkie is such a sweetie. He has his own blog at: MisterDinkie.info. We rescued him August 4th, 2009. He is well-mannered and such an angel. We call his little white spot on his head his "kissing spot". We also say that it is where his halo is. It is a wonderful painting of Dinkie!"


I'm so pleased, Deb, that you liked my little painting of "Dinkie"!








Thursday, January 28, 2010

Iglesia Parroquial de la Santísima Trinidad


Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins




I was asked, by a patron, to paint a famous tower from the city of Trinidad, Cuba. As I was doing my research, I discovered Trinidad to be a very picturesque colonial city about 200 miles from Havana. This scene shows the tower of the "Iglesia Parroquial de la Santísima Trinidad" which happens to be the largest church in the entire country, constructed in the 1800's. Trinidad in general, is dominated by moorish, neo-classical and baroque architecture. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. My impressionistic painting has gently textured impasto and shows the view of the tower with the surrounding rooftops.

Lightly damar varnished to protect it from dust.

Dimension: 8x10x.75 gallery wrap

Media: Oils

Please click here to see more about Trinidad Church, Cuba

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Deb-Practice Portrait




Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins




This pretty lady is Deb from my online ebay yahoo group. She took me up on my offer to do an oil painting portrait. I don't really know too much about her but she seemed to me to be an outdoorsy-California-girl type! She has a warm smile and lovely eyes, so those were some of the thoughts crossing my mind as I was painting her!






Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Red Geraniums in Clay Pot


Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins


I love red geraniums! They remind me of my aunt's house in Spain. I planted these in a big clay pot a couple of years ago and I really liked the cast shadow, and although they are long gone, they live on in this little lovely painting. This impressionistic painting was done in oil impasto with palette knive and brushes. The petals are done in thick, rich impasto!


Damar varnished to protect it from dust and ensure longevity


Dimension: 8x10 canvas panel

Media: Oils


Please go to my ebay auction to check out Red Geraniums in Clay Pot


Friday, January 22, 2010

Practice Portraits~Patron's Comment




Although I've been selling my paintings a short time, I've had the pleasure of connecting with a number of wonderful people, via my art. One of these is a patron who appreciates my work tremendously and I appreciate him for his kind comments each time he's purchased each of my paintings (6 so far!).

I've been doing Practice Portraits and I painted him from a photo he sent me. Here is a part of his note:

"I just wanted to let you know that I received your painting and I really love it! I think you did such a fantastic job with it that I have decided to place it in my living room in a nice spot for all to see. I think you did such a great job with the colors. I really love that pink sweater that I have and I must say it came out AWESOME in the painting. You did a GREAT job on it. I can't thank you enough for taking the time to create this beautiful piece of art for me. I know you mentioned that you wanted the practice for self portraits but I really want you to know that I really am VERY appreciative your work. I really cannot thank you enough for this.

I was looking at my Avalon picture today (everyday) and wanted to tell you again that I really love that one. That piece is awesome as well. I jog on South Beach from time to time and always stop in front of the Avalon and think of my picture. I will probably do the same thing again tomorrow when I am down that way.
In any case, thank you so very much again Maria. Your art has been such a great addition to my home, life, and well being and I thank you for it!"




Isn't he great? :)




Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Cuban Tinajon Original Impasto Oil


Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins


Another in a series of Cuban nostalgic themes. This one is an impressionistic painting which was done in oils with palette knife and brushes and it shows a traditional Cuban earthen water jar used in the province of Camaguey. It's a historical, Cuban tradition of the region. The little red flowers have a raised, thick, impasto finish. It's almost three dimensional.

Lightly damar varnished to protect it from dust and ensure longevity.



Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Practice Portraits








I have been following Carol Nelson's painting challenge, 100 Portraits in 100 Days. Frankly, I don't know how she does it since she's not only very good but a very fast painter. Even though I paint landscapes in one sitting on occasion, my oils need time to set and that sometimes takes days! But anyway, each time I paint something I learn something new, most artists will agree. So, in my effort to become a better (portrait) painter, and finding inspiration in Carol's efforts, I'm going to do something similar but with no time constraints. The object is for me to improve my painting skills in general, and my portrait skills, in particular. So it's not quite the same challenge as hers, since I won't be under the gun to do a certain amount of paintings in a certain number of days. I'll take it as it comes.

This is my plan. I've posted my first painting. My cousin in Spain sent me this picture of her daughter, Eva, some time back and always thought it would make a good painting. She's sooo cute!

Anyway, if you would like a painting of yourself or someone you love, please email me a digital image of the person's face from the shoulders up as you see in Eva's picture. If there is a strong light on one side of the face so that a shadow is cast, that would be even better. Carol talks about this in her blog and it is better for the overall outcome of the painting. This is a totally gratis effort for you. If you would like to receive the painting after I've completed it, please pay for the shipping (USPS) and nothing more. You give me the right to publish your painting in my blog. That is all. If I get more requests than I can handle...well, I would love the practice!

If you are interested in being my subject, please send me your digital photo to:




Thank you!