Source: 2016 Abstract Paintings/Stories
Please click on the link above to read about this painting titled ‘For One’s Well-being’ which was inspired by groups of people I have brought into my life through activities such as Art Therapy and Creative Writing provided by Mind Australia; and also via my volunteering and paid work that I do with Road Trauma Support Services Victoria.
Written by Karen Robinson Feb 2016
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Painting No. 44 – Title “My Melbourne” Story: This Painting was inspired by a series of photos I had taken in June 2009 consisting of different buildings/locations within the city of Melbourne (Australia). I was so inspired by the colour and architectural contrasts Melbourne shows off! After living in Melbourne now for over 40 years, the development of Melbourne has been amazing. Melbourne – Australia has so much to offer and very easy to get around to see. Each time I go into the city of Melbourne I find it has something new to share!
Below is a photo showing how I used blue tape to assist with my arts practise. It takes many months to complete one abstract painting such as this painting. Each colour I leave to dry thoroughly before commencing on with the next. I apply three layers of acrylic paint to give the colour a rich look!
Use of Scotch-Blue Painters tape to define lines within Painting No. 44 Titled “My Melbourne” by Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson NB: All images are protected by copyright laws!
Below are the set of photos I had taken and used as a source of inspiration for this particular painting. NB: Please hover over the photo to view details of the image!
I guess this painting really was/is about the love I have for Melbourne – my home, where I fell in love with a dear and great human being, married that person and now my husband for over 30 plus years; had two children, one daughter whom we cherish and my son, who so sadly was killed in a single vehicle crash in 2009. His loss broke our hearts. Melbourne holds many, many memories that are dear to me and this painting is a tribute to the joys I have experienced whilst living here…
Whilst you are here – please check out my home page! My Art Therapy Journey – A window into the soul of an Abstract Artist through art therapy and storytelling…by Karen Robinson
While you are here – please check out my home page!
In June, 2014 I was the recipient of a Hume City Council Arts Award for ‘Professional Development Grant” in the category of Established Visual Artists (Melbourne, Australia).
Hume stated that in “2014 Hume Arts Awards received a significant number of applications, signifying the breadth and quality of artistic endeavours being undertaken throughout the municipality, especially among young people. The Awards not only provide an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the talent of local artists, but contribute to community strengthening by encouraging artists to articulate the value of their work and develop a future vision. The Awards likewise assist in promoting the profile of the arts in Hume and supports the building of Hume’s identity and sense of place, contributing to the important development of civic pride” (Hume City Council. June, 20).
It was a proud moment for me and my family and friends. I am very grateful to Hume City Council for this award and hope to be part of Hume community art programs to come!
Karen Robinson’s Hume City Council Arts 2014 Award NB All images are protected by copyright laws!
The abstract paintings below consists of the “Support Material” that I submitted with my application for a Professional Development Program grant.
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A good part of my art therapy journey has involved taking photos, which are part of my visual diary process that I use for inspiration, to create my abstract paintings and abstract digital photo paintings. During a of Melbourne – Australia’s famous racing season, I had the good fortune to be able to attend my sister’s Derby Day marquee function at Flemington Race Course 2008. Victoria Derby is a thoroughbred race and is the oldest classic race in Australia, it ran first in 1855 (Derby Day. 2014). Melbourne, once again, turned on a beautiful day with a clear blue sky! During this day, I took many photos of interesting people, in great outfits.
The photo below was taken of a site, in a section called “The Rails” that is located right next to Flemington’s race track and is adjacent the finishing line. If you are lucky enough to be here, you can see the horses close up and their jockeys in colourful silks.
‘Derby Day’ at Flemington Racecourse 2008 – Melbourne, Australia Photo taken by Karen Robinson – Abstract Artist NB All images are protected by copyright laws!
This photo below features a young lady who was on the site next to ours and she was wearing this fabulous red hat with a bright yellow flower and a delightful personality.
A young race-goer in a fabulous red hat with a yellow flower at ‘Derby Day’ Flemington Racecourse 2008 Melbourne, Australia. Photo taken by Karen Robinson – Abstract Artist NB All images
This photo below was a photo of her vibrantly coloured tartan silk skirt. I loved the texture and style! Her whole outfit was bright and cheery and really reflected the celebratory feeling of the day.
A Digitally enhanced close up of the tartan skirt worn by the young racegoer at ‘Derby Day’ 2008. Photo taken by Karen Robinson – Abstract Artist NB All images are protected by copyright
Below is the portrait abstract painting I did from the photo inspirations of that day. It is one of four that I painted for the 2008 Melbourne Racing Carnival. They consisted of this Painting No. 32 featured below and Paintings Nos. 33, 34 & 35 – please click here to view!
Painting No. 32 – Title “On the Rails & Youthfulness” Jan/Feb 2009
– by Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson All images are protected by copyright laws!
Painting 32 – Title “On the Rails & Youthfulness” Jan/Feb 2009 – Acrylic on Canvas
60cms Length x 60cms Wide x 3cms Deep
Painting Story: Whilst attending my sister’s racing day function on Derby Day during Melbourne’s famous racing season. I helped her prepare the food and entertain her friends. During the day I took many photos of interesting people in great outfits. This was of a young lady called Joey whom was on the site next to ours. She was in this fabulous outfit with a tartan skirt and red hat with yellow flowers. I loved the combination of colours and the way she had put together her outfit. Joey was having a great time with her friends and enjoying being part of one of Melbourne’s greatest Sporting Events – “Derby Day”.
Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson
NB: All images are protected by copyright laws!
Abstract Digital Photo Painting No. 1A – “Derby Day – Tartan Skirt” 2008 by Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson NB: All images are protected by copyright laws!
The above single digital photo painting is a digitally manipulated photo of the tartan skirt.
Collage Digital Photo Painting ‘Tartan Skirt’ by Karen Robinson – Abstract Artist 2008. NB All images are protected by copyright laws!
The above collage digital photo paintings is a digitally manipulated photo of the tartan skirt.
Abstract Digital Photo Painting No. 1B – “Derby Day – Tartan Skirt” 2008 by Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson NB: All images are protected by copyright laws!
The above single digital photo painting is another version of the digitally manipulated photo of the tartan skirt.
Collage Digital Photo Painting ‘Tartan Skirt’ by Karen Robinson – Abstract Artist 2008. NB All images are protected by copyright laws!
The above collage digital photo paintings is another version of the digitally manipulated photo of the tartan skirt.
Whilst you are here – please check out my home page! My Art Therapy Journey – A window into the soul of an Abstract Artist through art therapy and storytelling…by Karen Robinson
Reference
Victoria Derby. (2014). Victoria Derby History. Retrieved June 6, 2014 from http://www.victoriaderby.com.au/history/
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A colouring book and a set of colouring pencils as a child, I found very therapeutic. Any parent that has children would probably know that on a rainy day, they come in very handy to help occupy restless children. When I was a child, some time ago now, my most prized possession was a box of Derwent Pencils. They were/are the “finest pencil in the world” (Derwent. 2014).
Derwent Colour Pencils in a tin box! (Derwent 2014)
Derwent has been inspiring artists worldwide for many years (Derwent. 2014) and as a child I just loved them! I usually owned a tin box of colours and with a limited number of colour pencils, but dreamed about having the large range of colours! I loved colour as a child and this has not changed over the years which can be clearly illustrated now in my abstract paintings and abstract digital photo paintings.
It is just amazing where technology has taken us! In today’s world children and adults’ find their time being consumed in the use of electronic devices. So getting a child to look at pencils and a colouring book, as I did as a child, might seem a little arcade to them. But we now have a Pen that can draw every single colour in the world (Bratskeir. 2014). For me, this is just so exciting that we can create any colour in the world, with a tip of a pen and will never be limited to what’s in a box of colour pencils!
Then, after the pen analyzed the specific orange of this particular orange, you could take the tint to paper (Scribble. 2014)
“The device is called “Scribble” and it “is the first coloring device of its kind that can take the world of colour around you and transfer it directly to either paper or your favourite mobile device. The Scribble pen and stylus pairs with Scribble+ mobile app to instantly sync every colour you scan directly onto your iPhone, iPad or Android mobile device. Colors become more useful when they are organized, tagged, searchable and converted to various colour models” (Scribble. 2014).
Both the ink pen and the stylus are a little more than six inches, rely on bluetooth wireless technology and have a rechargeable battery (Scribble. 2014)
So…this could replace the box of colour pencils, perhaps?! It could get children to engage in creative endeavours, I think so! Doing art is very therapeutic – no matter what age you are. Think I might get me one of these pens!!! Looks like fun…
Whilst you are here – please check out my home page! My Art Therapy Journey – A window into the soul of an Abstract Artist through art therapy and storytelling…by Karen Robinson
Ref: Bratskeir. K. (2014 May, 6). Huffpost Arts & Culture. This Pen Can Draw Every Single Color In The World. Retrieved June 6, 2014 from
Ref: Derwent. (n.d.). Products. Inspiring artists worldwide. Retrieved June 6, 2014 from
http://www.pencils.co.uk/product.aspx
Ref: Scribble. (2014). Meticulously Designed. Retrieved June 6, 2014 from
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Welcome to my blog about my art therapy journey and about how others use art for therapy. My art therapy practice consists of abstract painting and what I like to call abstract digital photo painting. I have learnt that abstract painting and the act of writing an accompanying painting story for each abstract painting, has become an important form of self-expression for me. The process of making digital abstract photo paintings was just as therapeutic as painting but without the act of producing an accompanying story.
Painting No. 12 – Title “Coloured DNA” Jan/Feb 2008
– by Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson NB: All images are protected by copyright laws!
My abstract painting has proven to me, to be a very powerful way of being able to communicate deeply personal feelings which otherwise would never have been expressed. During my journey, art has become a way to examine and heal emotional quagmires; and as I looked back over my work, I found it was a window into my sole as an artist.
Abstract Digital Photo Painting No. 64A – Titled “Queenscliff Point Lonsdale ADAP” April 2010 by Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson
NB: All images are protected by copyright laws!
I am hoping that by sharing my art therapy journey, will inspire others, to take up art therapy to find their voice – in order to be able to move forward in most difficult of times. Art Therapy has brought me now to a much better place where I find myself being able to seek joy in each day. As an ongoing process, I will be blogging about my art therapy journey “moving forward” and expand on how others have used/are using art therapy to assist physical and emotional well-being. I hope you will join me!…Karen Robinson
Whilst you are here – please check out my home page! My Art Therapy Journey – A window into the soul of an Abstract Artist through art therapy and storytelling…by Karen Robinson
ido art karen robinson 