Cuban Coffee & Lime Red

Cuban Coffee & Lime Red (R)

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


Dimension: 8x10x.75 inches gallery wrap canvas 
Media: Oils 


Click here to see Cuban Coffee and Lime Red in my Etsy shop.

Red Hibiscus

Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins

A few years ago when we first moved to our house in Miami, we planted different colors of hibiscus all in a row. There were the yellow ones like the Hawaii State Flower. We also had the light and dark pink variety, even an orange one. When they were in bloom, usually at mid-day, they were spectacular! However, over the years, the only ones that remain are the common bright red and these deep pink magenta ones. The others have disappeared. This impressionistic painting was inspired by one of these lovely blooms.

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Maria Soto Robbins
msr107@gmail.com

Varadero Beach

It's always such a thrill for another Etsian to view your work and have them like it enough to include in their treasury. This is what happened this morning. Lilsoutherngirl of Three Little Monkees, put together this lovely treasury with the title of White Sand & Blue Skies~love this theme! She has a wonderful shop with lots of beautiful items and she says "I offer a great selection of baby and children items. All items are handmade by me and I take great pride in my products. I love to make customs so if you don't see what you are looking for let me know I would love to work with you to create that special item!"

Thank you, Three Little Monkees!

Spanish Shawl and Fringe Original Oil

Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins

This is the entry for "Fringe". K.Madison Moore's May Challenge from Daily Painters International Art Gallery.

I received this Spanish shawl or "manton" from a cousin in Spain, a few years ago, when she visited us in Miami. I think it's beautiful and because of it's fringe and the fact that I love it, I decided to paint it! Thanks Madison for your creative inspiration!

(Did you know that the Spanish shawl or Manton de Manila, as the Spanish call the shawl, originally came from the Far East, in China? Read more about it's history here in the New Embroidery Group Blog. )

Dimension:
8x10x.75" gallery wrap canvas with staples in the back

Media:Oils

Please go to my Etsy store to purchase Spanish Shawl and Fringe

Dr. Jennifer

Copyright 2010 by Maria Soto Robbins

My practice portraits continue, so much so that, I’m not accepting any more requests for the time being. This photo was a very interesting one sent from one of my collectors. A very nice lady whose daughter graduated recently, she sent me her image in hopes that I’d be able to paint her. I immediately liked her warm smile and the cap and gown made it all the more appealing.

Once my impressionistic oil painting was finished, and I sent the picture to Mom, she wrote back saying:

“Thank you! I love the portrait! I particularly like how you captured her expressive eyes. My daughter is Dr. Jennifer B. and she received her Ph.D. in biological anthropology from the State University of New York December, 2009. Her area of interest is skeletal analysis and forensics (think of the TV show Bones....). She hopes to teach anthropology at the university level and is currently teaching part time at Tufts University in Massachussetts.”

I can detect a very proud Momma!

Thank you, Deb, I'm so pleased that you liked it, too!

msr107@gmail.com

Palms at Deering Estate

Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins

This impressionistic, vibrant, painting was done in oils with palette knife and brushes and it shows a stately palm among the mangroves on the bayfront grounds of the Deering Estate in Cutler, Florida. The palms are reflected on the water and the bench is waiting for it's next visitor. The Deering family had their winter home here and it's a lovely setting for artists and nature lovers alike. A great place to visit next time you're in south Florida!

It has raised, thick, impasto throughout.

Dimension: 11x14x.75 gallery wrapped canvas

Media: Oils

Click here for more information about Palm at Deering Estate.

Pink Phalaenopsis Orchid

Copyright 2010 Maria Soto Robbins

My cousin Anna posted her photo on Facebook of one of my favorite varieties of orchids and I couldn't help myself-I had to paint it! The flowers of this species of phalaenopsis supposedly resemble moths in flight. For this reason, the species are sometimes called Moth orchids.

This one is painted in an impressionistic style with gently textured impasto.
Lightly damar varnished to protect it from dust and ensure longevity.

Dimension: 9x12 inches gallery wrapped canvas

Media: Oils

Please go to my Etsy store for information about Pink Phalaenopsis

Coconut Lime Oil Painting

Copyright 2009 Maria Soto Robbins

About the painting:
This impressionistic painting was done in thick oil impasto with palette knive and brushes and it shows a coconut cut in half a long side a cut lime.

Dimension:8x10 canvas panel

Media: Oils

Varnished to protect it from dust and ensure longevity.

Please click here for more information about Coconut Lime Original Oil Painting


Maria Soto Robbins
Miami, Fl



msr107@gmail.com

Princeville Illinois Akron Townhouse School

This impressionistic painting was inspired by a little school house in the tiny town of Princeville, Illinois. It sits out in a field with few buildings around except the nearby Tractor Museum. It's part of the Princeville Heritage Museum. You could say that it’s located right smack in the middle of the corn belt. This is where my husband’s siblings live and where we visit each summer. It’s such a lovely, peaceful place!

Dimension: 9x12 gallery wrapped canvas

Media: Oils

Visit my ebay store to see Illinois Akron Townhouse School

Las Olas Art Fair

This past Saturday we attended the 22nd Annual Las Olas Art Fair in Ft. Lauderdale. Except for a little sprinkle while we were there, the weather was beautiful and we saw a wonderful array of art. Actually about 150 juried artists displayed their work along Las Olas Blvd. This is a popular street that has fine boutiques, great restaurants and wonderful city atmosphere.

I found a couple of artists that I have long admired and I discovered some new favorites. Among the new ones are Vincent Perez Mendez who is a master painter. When you look at his work, it is like you are looking at a Renaissance artist of old. He is awesome. Unfortunately he doesn’t have a web site and I’m unable to share his work here. Humberto Benitez does have a great site and his work is different yet incredible as well. He describes his art as being “about memories, feelings and emotions formed while living in his native Cuba”. The vibrant colors he uses and the movement in his paintings are spectacular. Please take a moment and check him out!

Cityscape

This painting was done from a photograph provided on the blog Different Strokes From Different Folks, where artists are encouraged to paint or draw their own interpretations. This is the second time I try this and it was definately a fun challenge although cityscapes are not my favorite subject to paint!

Leave a comment here and let me know what you think!

Dimension: 9x12 canvas panel

Media: Oils

Visit my Etsy store to purchase Different Strokes Cityscape

Miami Beach Sunrise

I've just recently completed Miami Beach Sunrise Original Oil Painting. This is somewhat of a different style for me but I was inspired by an early morning walk on the Boardwalk on Miami Beach and decided to approach this one in a more classic, painterly style. It has many layers of paint and a lot of depth. I hope you like it!

Dimention: 12x16 canvas panel
Media: Oils

Visit my Etsy store to purchase Miami Beach Sunrise

Varadero

Varadero Oil Painting

I love Varadero! Varadero is probably Cuba's most famous beach with more than 12 miles of white sandy seashore. The first tourists visited Varadero as early as the 1870s, and for years it was considered an elite resort. It’s still a must-see for visitors to the island.

Lightly varnished to protect if from dust and ensure longevity.

Dimension: 8x10 inches gallery wrapped canvas
Media: Oils

Visit my Etsy store to purchase Varadero Original Oil Painting

“Tinajón” (Water Jars) & Purple Bougainvilla Flowers

Another in a limited series of Cuban tinajon paintings. This one 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 purple, flowers have a raised, thick, impasto finish. It's almost three dimensional!

Dimension:8x10
Media: Oils
Price: $45.00

Available for purchase on Etsy.

Cafe con Leche and Pastelito de Guayaba

Café con Leche and Pastelito de Guayaba

One of my all-time favorite Cuban foods has to be 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!

8" x 10"
Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
Available for Purchase on Etsy
$55.00, plus shipping

Cafe Cubano

Cafe Cubano

I really enjoy reading "arrozyfrijoles" blog and today there was a great post about making Cuban coffee. I couldn't have said it any better, Jose.

Thank you for the shot!

Crab Claw Heliconia

Crab Claw Heliconia
8x10
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Bromeliad Original Oil

Bromeliad Original Oil
11x14
Available on Etsy

Mandevilla Oil

Mandevilla Mystery Oil
12x12
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Miami Beach Seagulls

Miami Beach Seagulls
Oil on canvas with thick, rich, impasto waves
11x14
Available here: www.art-by-msr.com