FineArtAmerica Flower Prints

Now that the weather is getting a little bit dryer in south Florida, I've been able to go out and enjoy these two varieties of flowers that pretty much bloom year round. Although the originals have gone on to their new homes, prints and cards can be found here. You can also click the FineArtAmerica image.

Embeleso Oil Painting 2012 by Maria Soto Robbins

Ixora Oil Painting by Maria Soto Robbins

Thank you for stopping by.

 cariños,
 Maria Soto Robbins http://www.artbymsr.etsy.com http://www.art-by-msr.com http://www.artbymsr.blogspot.com http://twitter.com/msotorobbins http://www.facebook.com/mariasotorobbins http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maria-Soto-Robbins-Artist/152244918166135

Red Geranium Original Oil Painting

Red Geraniums Impasto copyright 2012 Maria Soto Robbins

These impressionistic Red Geraniums were painted with thick, rich buttery oil impasto strokes. They always remind me of my mother. Having been born in Spain, it was one of her favorite flowers. And as a way of thanking you for reading my newsletters and blog, and being my friend on Facebook, I'm auctioning off this lovely 8x10 gallery wrap canvas for $1.00 on Ebay, with free Priority Shipping! Please click here to check out the auction!  

It will bring a smile to your mom's face for years to come!

I'm also having a sale on my Etsy shop.Click here for some freshly painted flowers that are all 10% off with Free Shipping. Use code  MAY10PERCENTOFF when you check-out in my shop. Everything is 10% off! Remember, I am always happy to personalize the back of the painting for you.

Sunflower Sunshine

This 8x10 oil painting started out as a study for a bigger sunflower painting I recently worked on. You may remember this commission. Anyway, the contrast of red, yellows and the brown center was very pleasing to my eye, so I went with it. 


When initially doing a study, of course, it's usually rough and you might not even apply enough paint. You'll maybe do one layer, or rough sketch, just to see how you'll approach the subject.  After I finished with this initial study, I decided to give it a couple of more layers of the oil paints, and really thickened up the center of the flower. It kind of painted itself! I'm very happy that my little study didn't get discarded after its intended purpose was accomplished!  

Sunflower Sunshine is available here.

Plumbago or Embeleso Original Oil painting

Plumbago auriculata is native to South Africa, and is a popular ornamental plant in subtropical gardens in Florida, Cuba and other warm-winter climates across the world. My friend has a huge brick planter in front of her house with this plant and I've been meaning to paint an "embeleso" or plumbago for some time now.  They remind me of Cuba. When I was little, my mom showed me how to string them together to make leis. What a fun way to keep a little one busy!

Sold~Thank you!


For more flowers, please click here.

Spring Flowers

One of my Cuban art collectors recently asked me why I paint so many flowers since he prefers to see my Cuba-related themes the most. At the time, my response was that "I like flowers!" Lame, right?

It's true that creating art is an expression of who we are and what we know and love and as I thought more about it, I would have explained to him that nature (and flowers in particular) have a tremendous impact in how I view the world. And flowers, for me, connect me with so many important memories on a deeper level. The geraniums that I love, remind me of my Spanish heritage, and the stories of long-ago when my parents and brothers lived in the north of Spain. The hedychium coronarium or Mariposa Blanca, is the Cuban National Flower. My birth place. With its wonderful fragrance, I'm reminded of the sweet smelling air when we sat in our front porch, in the beach town of Santa Fe, when I was little. The hibiscus, bromeliads and birds of paradise are quite common in south Florida. These lovely flowers represent my adult self. Putting down roots in a new land. Tending my garden and cultivating a relatively new-found passion, fine art painting.

So, thank you for letting me share my connection to the world of flowers and in honor of spring, I'm including some new ones in my etsy shop. Use coupon code Maysale10 to receive 10% off any item in my store!

cariños,

Maria Soto Robbins

Purple Hyacinth Impasto oil painting

Purple Hyacinth Impasto oil painting

My friend gave me a lovely hyacinth plant for my birthday and I was inspired to paint her! I can still smell that awesome fragrance! Thanks, Tere!

Dimenson: 14x7x.75" gallery wrap canvas 

Media: Oils 

To see Purple Hyacinth in my etsy shop, click here.

Bird of Paradise 2 Oil Painting

Bird of Paradise II

Another lovely Bird of Paradise flower. We have these in south Florida but it reminds me, nevertheless of some exotic island in the Caribbean.

Dimension:
14x11x 1 & 1/2" gallery wrapped canvas painted black on the sides 

Media: Oils 

Click here to see Bird of Paradise in my etsy shop.

Bird of Paradise Oil

Bird of Paradise III

This impressionistic painting was inspired by my love of the bird of paradise flower. It's so modern looking and minimalist, if you can say that about a flower!

It has gently textured leaves. I used oils and this lovely flower doesn't need a frame since it's staple free and painted black on the chunky one and one-half inch sides to display without a frame. Varnished to protect it from dust and ensure longevity. 


Click here to see this Bird of Paradise in my etsy store.


Dimension:
14x11x 1 & 1/2" gallery wrapped canvas 

Media: Oils 

Geranium Bloom 2

 Geranium Bloom 2 

My set up for Geranium Bloom 2

Here is another geranium.  I'll be painting a few more of these. I just love this flower.

To see Geranium Bloom 2 in my etsy shop, click here.

Geranium Bloom

Geranium Bloom

Geraniums are everywhere right now in south Florida. They won't last long since once the heat cranks up, they shrivel up and die. At least, I'm confident that those that belong to me, will! I think I kill them with too much love (or over watering).  So, in the meantime, I wanted to paint some closeup views. They're such a pretty plant and they remind me of Spain, and of balconies full of geraniums so common over there. And they remind me of my mother, who loved them as well.  I think I'll paint some more.

To see Geranium Bloom in my etsy shop, go here.

Easter Wishes

Best wishes for a very Happy Easter!

To see this little Easter Lilly in my etsy shop, click here.

White Sepia Rose

Copyright 2011 Maria Soto Robbins

This impressionistic painting was inspired by my love of roses. 

It has gently textured impasto and I used oils and this lovely flower doesn't need a frame since it's staple free and painted brown on the sides to display without a frame. Varnished to protect it from dust and ensure longevity. 



Dimension: 8x10x.75" gallery wrapped canvas 

Media: Oils 

Poinsettia Closeup

Poinsettia Closeup by Maria Soto Robbins 

This is the quintessential Christmas plant. I explained about my poinsettia inspiration here and this is the first painting I've done as a result of that. I've been working and sketching a couple of others and I'll try to finish those before Christmas, I hope. There is so much going on!

Did you know that poinsettias are native to Mexico? That they represent over 85 percent of the potted plant sales during the holiday season? And you can tell if a poinsettia is fresh when they have little or no yellow pollen showing on the flower clusters in the center of the bracts. I love poinsettias and wanted to do this one in an impressionistic style and to show the bracts in raised impasto. Hope you like it!

Click here for purchase information in my etsy store.

Bromeliad Vriesea

Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins

This bromeliad caught my eye because it was so unusual! It looks like the stems of the flowers were purposefully bent down. It was the only one like it and the tag only said that it was a bromeliad, not what TYPE of bromeliad. So, I went to forum.bsi.org -The place to discuss bromeliads- and found that it’s a Vriesea Bromeliad and not quiet as common as the others. It’s pretty, don’t you think?

Dimension: 11x14

Media: Oils on canvas panel and gently textured impasto 

Click ebay here for discounted price and information on Bromeliad Vriesea

Red Hibiscus Bloom

Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins

This impressionistic painting was inspired by my love of the hibiscus flower. I have several of these bushes in my garden but since the cold snap we've been having in south Florida, all the blooms are gone! They'll come back though and in the meantime, I have this one to remind me of what they will look like soon enough! I can't wait for spring!

Dimension: 8x8x.75" gallery wrap canvas with staples in the back
Media: Oils

Lightly varnished to protect it from dust and ensure longevity.

Please visit my ebay to see more information about Red Hibiscus Bloom

msr107@gmail.com

Fill me up, Buttercup!

Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins

I have yellow buttercups that have sprouted all over my yard, thanks to my "papi" who brought some from his yard, to share. It's much like a weed but lovelier! It flowers year round in south Florida and it's a totally maintenance-free plant. Just my type! Now that he's gone, I think of him, when I see them bloom.

This impressionistic oil painting has gently textured impasto and looks very cute on an easel! Would make a special gift for the "Buttercup" in your life!

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.

Dimension: 2.5x3.5 masonite panel

Media: Oils

Click here to see my Buttercup Oil Painting ACEO

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