Tag Archives: calgary

New Hockey Mural!

New Hockey Mural!

I just finished this hockey mural today for a new small business  Legend Hockey & Sports in Calgary. This piece is about 6 feet by 8 feet. I wonder if any of the Calgary Flames fans can guess just which play this is?

This was an excellent study in values, being black, white and gray which also gives it a retro look, which was the idea. I have shown WIP paintings before where I began with the Grisaille technique where one paints in gray monochrome. I find this really brings out the dimensional effect of the forms. The black and white also gives a retro look. Transferring the design and painting the mural took five days to complete, not counting the preliminary design work and shopping for supplies.

You can see other murals I have done here:  Murals & Decorative Art

hockey mural full

hockey mural action

hockey mural closeup action

hockey mural goalie

Summer Plans; Be a House Concert Host

Summer Plans

house concertWhy not plan a house concert this summer? Summer started early for us in Alberta and is in full swing. I am loving the lush green leaves and blue skies. Fragrant blooms abound.

The road ahead is uncertain, yet I keep my feet steady & my eye on the prize as I move forward into the unknown.  I remind myself everything I need comes to me. So much of life consists of variables. I set intentions and try to stay in alignment to receive. Despite the plans we can make, we don’t always end up where we would expect to be.

That said, may new exciting possibilities are opening up. I am willing to venture into the unknown. Having led the gypsy life for much of my earlier years I became a homebody for a while. Once again, my feet are ready for some adventure. House Concerts are a venue I want to pursue in order to create my own niche. My summer plans include fitting in a few House Concert dates. It’s about connection and bringing your community together through music.  Anyone can be a host.

deborah robinson musician
What You Need To Be a House Concert Host

If you have ever wanted to do something that could draw your community closer together, house concerts are a great way to do just that. Invite twenty to thirty people, and bring a performer like me to you. You can include dinner, or wine &  cheese, have a potluck after the performance if you wish.

You’ll get a stellar evening of entertainment in a casual environment. You will want a seat for everyone in the room. Folding chairs, benches whatever works. It is just a matter of rearranging the furniture to accommodate the guests. Outdoor is fine too with a backup plan in case of weather issues. If you can put me up while travelling outside of Calgary, that would be awesome.

You can expect some folk, pop, blues, jazz, standards and originals. I will sing & perform on piano & guitar, bring all the equipment I need which really doesn’t take up too much space.  After the concert, as the host you will request donations to go to the performer. It’s not a set price so people can give what they wish.

I am working towards writing and recording my album. I just finished a Songwriter Course through Berklee College of Music and it has inspired me. For more information about my music:
https://www.deborah-robinson.com/music/
https://www.reverbnation.com/redgypsee/

Travel throughout Saskatchewan, Alberta & British Columbia is my focus currently. Contact me for further details if you would like to be a host! I am open to public venues along the way. Here are some images from a recent House Concert in Calgary, Alberta.

Artist Statement

Artist Statement

A self representing artist, I enjoy creating art that encompasses a wide variety of subjects. I have been working on a number of spiritual art paintings inspired by dreams and my own spiritual experiences.

I strive to create art which is a blend of realistic and magical. My art is a blend of realistic, and magical, exploring the emotion & spiritual of nature and the human condition in my painting. My focus includes landscapes, flowers, macro floral, figures and nature scenes in oils, acrylics and watercolour.

Inspiration is found in the simplest of things, a raindrop on a window, a certain glow of light, reflections & shadows. The metamorphosis never ends, as things continue to expand offering more clarity, I simplify, embellish and let the creative flow through me.

Creativity, no matter what form, is a path from the soul, and I have found that one area of expression feeds another. Raw talent, in itself, is just that. That is why I have spent years honing the craft, to achieve the desired outcome.

I am especially fascinated by colour and how it relates to sound and form. Learning to see, translating what the mind’s eye sees to brush & canvas, is a rewarding challenge.

Being in the moment of creation, the excitement I feel, as a piece nears completion, is the ultimate experience. The learning process never ends. Being an artist means a lifetime of observation and recreating little bits and pieces in my art practise and sharing them with you.

I would like to know that I have touched people somehow, through my art, and personally.

My artwork can be found in Canada, USA, Mexico, England, Europe, and the Caribbean. I reside in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

New Mural

cherry-blossom-mural-drawing

This is a sketch I did of the mural. The drawing is primarily for scale. The subject matter is organic, therefore, once I began painting I worked intuitively within the structure I had created. The wall was fourteen feet wide and eight feet high. I painted this in a master bedroom. An auspicious symbol, signing the contract on Chinese New Year was equally so. A great way to begin Year of the Horse.

cherry-blossom-tree-mural

Here is the finished mural, although you cannot really get the feeling of the presence it has while being in the same room with it. Below, you can see some close up shots of the details, including the gold accent, which glimmers in the light.

Mural painting requires large brushes and ladders, but also tiny brushes, like the ones I use for my miniatures. The subject must look good from a distance, as well as close up to the best effect. I really enjoyed designing and painting this one, and I welcome any queries regarding mural commissions.

cherry-blossom-mural-closeupcherry-blossom-mural-closeup3

Happy New Year 2014 New Story

icy-river-walk

An icy walk by the river recently while the sun was out. Calgary was one of the coldest places on earth just before the holidays and we have had lots of snow, the most in 112 years.

I am thankful for the Chinooks that lessen the strain of the winter. And today is mild bright and sunny.

Now the new year is upon us. I wrap the old year in thoughtful reflection to make way for new intentions. 2013 was a year in which I learned a lot about myself, how far I could push myself and how much tenacity I have. I worked a seasonal job while still on the lookout for something permanent. Lessons for art & music are on break until the new year.

The old story has leaving with the old year, and what I am letting go of are to be burned on paper in the fire. 2014 begins with a New Moon, a powerful time for setting intentions and the start of a new story. I am making decisions about what I will create this coming year, which is also going to be the Year of the Green Horse.

Painting has become like meditation and prayer for me. The season has been busy, selling some paintings at art fairs and here are two of my latest that I am very fond of. Had a great time painting these. Both are 6 X 6 on Gallery Wrap canvas. They are for sale. Please contact me, if you are interested.

LakshmiBuddha

Wishing you an abundant year in health, physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and financial. Let us create and prosper in 2014.

Life is a Series of Transitions

oct-memorialdrive-walkThe smell of decaying leaves nauseated me. Though decay and death is an opportunity for rebirth, it feels daunting. The nights are ever so quiet, stars brightly lighting the pathways of the galaxy.

Winter is inevitable. This is one of the last pictures I took before the snow arrived, it’s presence unwelcome and awkward as it delivered it’s harsh reality. I pass the hours practising music, working intently on my voice. I feel new songs incubating so I carry my notebook everywhere. I catch glimpses of the butterfly, yet the caterpillar is still present, not completely transformed. Life is a series of transitions and and the purpose is the journey which only exists in this moment.

I am setting up for NaNoWriMo once again for the third year in a row. I am not entirely sure what I will write about yet, being a pantser. In other words, flying by the seat of my pants in no uncertain terms. However for the last two years I have succeeded in writing 50,000 words in the month of November and I shall try for 3/3.

Would my time be better spent doing something else? Perhaps, but really, I recently read what I wrote last year, and was startled. What I had written read better after putting it aside for almost a year.


sunflower-oil

Sunflowers Oil on Canvas
16 X 20
$300 CAD

I have an abundance of paintings which I would like to move as I am trying to sustain my life form on this planet. Motivated to sell, please make me an offer if you are so inclined and feel free to share my website with your art loving friends. A great opportunity to purchase original art at very reasonable prices. If you are interested, please contact me. A deposit will hold your piece and shipping will be extra. Local pickup or delivery is available.


I began teaching at a art/music studio in NW Calgary. My first art class is two young children and I enjoy doing it. I would be pleased to find a few more students. If you are looking for a teacher for art, piano or guitar in Calgary, AB, get in touch.

On November 23, 2013, I will be at Caprice’s Fine Arts & Crafts Sale in Inglewood. Drop by and see the amazing array of artisans and musicians who will be displaying and selling work. Join the party and come by my booth at the Inglewood Community Centre on November 23, 2013 and say hello.

I will have an assortment of smaller pieces, ideal for gift giving as well as larger paintings. Live music and food-trucks will be part of the scenario. Donations will be accepted for the Calgary Humane Society at the event. Hope to see you there Calgary!

Engage

Engage

Let’s Work Together

Whether you are a solopreneur or a small enterprise, something here will indeed engage you. Whatever the reason for your visit, I want to help you to meet your goals. It is satisfying to share my talent, skills and knowledge with you.

Please look at my body of work & see my offerings.

Why Work With Me?

In fact, as a creative entrepreneur, I have a wealth of experience in owning and operating small businesses. I know how to deliver.

In all my dealings, I strive to work from a place of conscious business with respect and compassion. Clear interpersonal communication works for me, and I am highly intuitive. My references are excellent.

“All of my businesses function on the basis of integrity, quality and value.” ~ Deborah Robinson

List of My Services

Fill out the contact form below, so we can get started.

Please Note: It is impossible to give a quote or an estimate before knowing the scope of the job. My prices are derived from tangible data.

    Connect

    Connect With Me

    my business card
    Please use the contact form below for all inquiries. Feel free to send me questions if you have them. I do not take voice calls from area codes outside of Canada. Use the contact form to make a phone appointment with me if you have relevant business to discuss. Thank you for your understanding.

      A complete list of services can be found here. I hope you will find something you like.

      I look forward to hearing from you! Deborah Robinson; Calgary, Alberta, Canada

      Living Authentically

      wild hollyhocks

      These hollyhocks were found growing on a hillside in an older area of the city as I drove by. Hollyhocks do not grow wild to my knowledge. Maybe the seeds were carried by the wind or by birds, or perhaps a house once stood there.

      In my own inner garden, I have been stripping away the excess for months now, even years. My intention is to stay in clarity, because that is the only way I can make decisions. The lack of clarity had kept me stuck for a long time. Clarity requires us to stand our ground and to have a voice.

      I played jazz on the piano recently for a wedding, and it felt so good. I was really immersed, feeling the rhythm. It took me to that place within myself that is really me. I was out of touch and now that I have found it, I intend to spend stay conscious of this gift. It’s a state of mind really.

      Over time it has been increasingly difficult to fit myself into situations which are not me. Many times I have taken jobs, knowing I could do them, partly for the money and partly because of external pressures. At the time I never considered the consequences of going against the grain, not honouring my true self.

      “To thine own self be true.” ~Shakespeare

      Though I can do many things, I want to focus on that which holds the most meaning for me. For a long time I have been saying I must live my passions. It is the pathway to my authentic self and what I have always known to be true. I set that intention some time ago, and now the universe is conspiring to see that I stay on the path. Following the heart always feels right though I do feel like I am free falling.

      Leopard Mural

      Ironically my ability to make my rent this month was supported primarily by my art. And that is the first time it has happened that way, so I think progress is being made.

      This is a custom mural panel I just finished. It is acrylic on hardboard, with gold-leaf and mica flakes. The abstract portion is hard to show in a photo, but also has a beautiful smooth textured surface. It felt so good to pass on a commissioned work to its proud new owner.

      Art is a language, a form of communication. Without an audience the cycle does not complete and art does not perform its full function, nor does the artist. And it is such a feeling of fulfillment to be able to pass a piece to another. What a feeling of bliss, when one is doing what one is designed to do!

      Embracing Change

      sunset-late

      The winds of change have been blowing strong. I have a sense that I could not go back now, even if I wanted to.

      Cool night wind on my skin one evening recently did not chill me. It only served to freshen my awareness of the changing landscape.

      This magnificent sunset prompted me to pull over. Later that night the sky cleared revealing the big dipper directly above. The night sky sprinkled with sparkling mystery. Nothing could have foretold the natural disaster that followed.

      The state of emergency in Calgary was lifted two weeks after it began. Flooding has resulted in much damage and a long road to recovery lies ahead. Much has been lost but the spirit of the people has really strengthened community. I am saddest about the many parks and natural areas which have been altered dramatically.

      impressionist-sunset

      People have stepped up in a big way and magic is occurring. Basements cleared of mud and silt, ruined appliances moved out and tons of garbage removed. We know what we can do under pressure.

      Cooperation and collaboration allows us to do more than any one person could do on their own.

      I am thinking of the opportunity the flood can bring. Perhaps the cleansing will help people to start fresh. It may prompt less emphasis on external and material things. More people now understand what it is like to be displaced and the evacuations did not favour any particular economic group. Having seen the speed with which temporary housing is being created, I wonder if we could end homelessness.

      In my own life I have seen how nothing stays the same, not for a moment. And most things are temporary. I have been afraid to jump, and now that I have, I see the cause of pain and misery is resistance.

      I am beginning to understand what free-falling feels like. I am creating my own life, making it up as I go along. An art project has come my way, a small mural. I have a music gig next weekend. It’s a start. I trust the universe will send me what I need.

      Spring Rumblings

      early-spring

      It was early spring when I began this post. I love new beginnings and the fresh crisp feel of new adventures. Some adjustment is required as all of our bodies are waking up to new life. I have been doing a lot of soul searching to arrive at this point.

      Redesigning my life, as in a sculpture, what needs to remain is slowly being revealed. I leave behind that which not longer has a place in my life. The road ahead is open and freedom is at my command, though embarking is taking much longer than I had envisioned. All things happen in their own time. I am beginning to achieve clarity. The vision of what I want to create is slowly coming into focus.

      I knew all along on some level what direction this was all taking. However what was lacking was belief in myself, belief that this world could support me to do what I love to do. Some doors are closing now, so that new channels may open. I have to do what I love and was designed to do. The message from the universe is clear.

      It’s about being stuck for a very long time. The longer one is stuck, the more difficult it is to muster the confidence to pull oneself out. It feels like I have hit bottom, the bottom of this vortex I had been sucked into. I am going to move forward and I may need a bit of help.

      spring-pink

      I have exhausted my resources. I am trying to raise money for my living expenses. If you feel so inclined, please visit my website and make me an offer on one of my available paintings. I am looking for fair market value. Let’s talk! I intend to offer healing arts services, such as Reiki.

      In my path to revive my music, I played a showcase at The Nickelodeon in Calgary, AB in April. Now I am looking for paid gigs in Calgary, offering piano guitar, vocals, instrumental and am available for weddings, restaurants, lounges, and corporate gigs.

      I am working on creating my own business offering web design and social media services. I attended Calgary’s first WordCamp this past weekend, which is about WordPress, the content management system for websites. I intend to base my design services on this amazing software so that clients can update their own website, if they so desire.

      In this process I am re-branding myself which will involve integrating all of my talents under one website. Stay tuned for the launch of my new website.

      Vintage Jazz by Deborah Robinson

      my-piano-hands

      Hello all. I am excited that I am finally releasing a recording done some time ago. This song was five years in the writing, one day it finally popped out, my personal favourite. Inspired my my days of being down and out many years ago, I emerged from the lower East side of Vancouver to create a new life. Soon this will be made available for download.

      Credits:
      Deborah Robinson; Composer, keyboards, vocals | Pat Braden; Stand-up Bass | James Milligan; Saxaphone | Norm Glowach; Drums | Producer; Pat Braden