Blog

Blog Summer 2026

Wow.  What a leap forward – all with challenging enjoyment.

I had three excellent artists staying with me during Cedarburg, my hometown Plein Air event.  After painting turn in we went to Blicks -a brick and mortar art store – something not available to them, through Milwaukee’s Third Ward, past the emerging mural of Bob Ueker, and onto Milwaukee’s Calatrava building art museum.  They were thrilled to see firsthand examples of painting giants in person.  We all kept being cautioned by the guards for being too close.  How else can you see brush strokes, layering, and thicknesses of paint?  In forty years of visits I have never learned so much.  I came away with a homework list. 

Some artists create because they have to – it’s like breathing.  Peter Max told me he was like this.  I talked to several classmates of Leroy Neiman and they were disdainful of his developed quick paint style and blatant commercialism.   Some of my painting friends have an academic, explorative approach and some have an oxygen to breathe approach.  In talks with Logan Hudson I marveled at his complete absorption in his art.  His admission of losing time being lost in thought about his art made me brand myself a dilatant.  I learned a lot with this young man who does marvelous, moody work.

Success has been three-fold.  I have continued to develop my open white space style.  It includes linear brush strokes learned in my Korean painting class and small brush detailing introduced in Jessie Rebik’s portrait painting workshop.  The subjects included complicated fair scenes and miniature golf courses.  The darn people/models never stand still so some of them morph into Ghost people.  The compositions have me wondering, and although they have generated many comments so far only a few sales.

There have been two Best of Show awards – Green Lake from judge Trina May Smith and Jefferson from Mary Beth Drabiszczak and Troy Tatlock.  My joy is many paintings have new homes hopefully delivery enjoyment.  Three awards at my favorite event the Wisconsin State Fair Plein Air – Reserve Champion, First Place Quick Paint, and a theme award.  Thank you Chris Behrens, Lori Beringer, and Troy Tatlock.  A second-place nocturne at St. Charles went to my marvelous hostess Sheryl McGowan of her sunken garden at Cocoon in Geneva, IL.  Two of my entries were painted in her back yard – Neighborhood Pond and morning Dew.

I challenged myself with a solo trip to New York City to visit Paul Klee exhibition.  He is one of my favorite artists.  His cerebral writings on design and amusing paintings were much joy – and I learned about his political courage.  Six major museums and three Broadway shows had me thinking and grinning.  Imagine – multiple viewings three inches from a Van Gogh painting!  Viewings ranged from groundbreaking Marcel Duchamp descending nude to the Whitney’s Biennale. 

Having been to events where the winners were really pedantic – predictable – flat – boring they have added to the brewing controversy in this sub set of the art world.  Many of my fellow painters struggle with, “Do you paint pretty, photolike images or do you stretch your art and keep growing - learning new applications of media and challenging compositions?”  And then there were awards that were not well painted, had no compositional value, told no story, and made me seriously question why that individual was judging.   Thinking on this and Plein Air in general caused me to write a spec article for the New Yorker. 

And finally more great people and memories.  Farm painting commissions, midnight forays to street scenes (easier to find parking places after 10PM).  And meeting, teasing, and learning from new artists.

Isn’t art grand?

Update - Spring 2025:

I’ve just finished the first three Plein Air events of the season.  It was delightful to reunite with some past collectors and see painting friends.  To catch up and continue learning is very enjoyable.  And I started working through some visual struggles. 

I transported five of Troy Tatlok’s paintings and they are billeting in my lusciously lighted living room.  They are this week’s painting class.  January’s class with Steve Putrich has me very aware of grey – how they can travel around.  As that voice has been in my head I can’t wait to see Steve’ work again.

I was surprised at the use of purples and lilacs.  Provided richness of shadows and the nod to the Monet gang.  I find these cheery which is a pleasing result to me.  I wonder what form in this will continue.

To deal with frustration I made up paint games.  One picture I tried to use only vertical strokes.  It provided a layered composition with great distances.

I’m continuing this trend, but it is hard.  Strokes often create shapes, make wind blow, and dance around the canvas.  It provided a layered composition with great distances. 

I also tried a limited pallet black, white, and red.  It makes pinks!  And creates a snow like scene in the budding of spring.  Maybe it’s a candidate for a do over.

Over the winter I wrote a “loose script” on what I learned in my  first four years of painting.  I viewed Streamline’s Plein Air Live last year and learned.  In addition to my five years of discoveries I hope it conveyed the attitude necessary approach a new skill.  Have fun.  Be evaluative.  Learn from mistakes (to both avoid and exploit).  Enjoy.

I have not been doing much painting.  I’ve been busy with sculptures and traveling.  In the past year I’ve seen two of the three largest waterfalls, gawked on my first African safari, spent a night on the Sahara,  been to both the Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope, climbed on glaziers,  and explored slums and cities.     I’ve enjoyed the outdoors from 105 F heat with squalls and 20 F with 45 knot steady wind with gusts. 

I did spend a lot of time mentally mixing colors.  I often do this when driving.

This spring I spent several days watching Plein Air Live demos and classes in many medias.  Not only did I learn the program helped me clarify my art growth and set my areas to pay attention to and play in this year. 

Last summer I worked a lot with open corners with images fading in the corners.  This spring I’ve started spreading into pallet knife use – an excellent way to show color shifts and contrasts.  So now with my architectural, detailed, watercolorish style I’ve got an arsenal for a successful summer season.  I’m excited.      

Smiling,       Margaret

Finished - Open - Unfinished

I’ve been wondering why my current style is producing unpainted canvas show throughs. The answer is multifaceted.  One - few things in life are completely finish although are somewhat balanced at the moment.  Two - I have always had attention distraction wanderings and difficulty finishing projects once the problem solving is complete.  And Three - it often makes for a pleasing composition.

Sometimes the exploration of why is useful – sometimes not.  Maybe it’s better just to note the phenomenon and enjoy.      Best.

Happy New Year 2023

Here’s a catch up.  To make it more useful/targeted/tailored to you it is by section – in no particular order.

RECAP

I had a very disappointing year painting 2021.  Nothing seemed to work.  So I went on hiatus…playing in sculpture, in the garden, and in thinking. 

In a management seminar I heard a story about a prisoner of war, perhaps from the Hanoi Hilton, who liked to play golf.  When he was repatriated and during his first round of golf at his home club he took many strokes off his best score. All were astounded.   Every day during his captivity he played 18 holes in his mind practicing shots, getting out of trouble.  Even though the big muscles weren’t playing the game the most important one was.

CLASSES                            LEARN – TRY – PLAY - FAIL – REPEAT until it clicks

In early spring 2022 I took a class at MIAD – Milwaukee Instituted of Art and Design from Todd Morowski, a great printmaker.  The class worked in many different mediums.  I was re-energized working in conte crayon.  On Facebook can you guess which are the pictures of my back yard?

In 2021 I spent an enjoyable weekend at the Chicken Coop farm and teaching venue. Wisconsin artist Kyle Martin named the colors as he mixed the paints.  Now as I drive I often look at colors and mix them in my head. It is great practice.

We also did a side-by-side painting of a pear under radically different lights.  This sits in my kitchen and reminds me of color temperature.  His work is bright and joyful.

The best demonstration I ever have witnessed was in a spring 2022 workshop by Tom Nachmier.    Working with a limited pallet for color mixing I finally learned to mix good greys, blacks, and decent greens.  I see a more homogeneous result. 

This weekend I heard myself repeating Mama Bear, Baby Bear, Papa Bear while putting in various shapes.  I watched me checking the layout paying attention to the grid quadrant lines of three to document where the interest usually lies.  And I checked my corners to make certain they were all different.

Steve Puttrick taught me many things in a very well organized class in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

            Work fast.  Steve sculpts intricate, layered works with high contrasts that often changes radically from beginning to end.  Each stage is a WOW but his pictures mutate and emerge anew and with intricoes.

            80 – 20 rule in painting.  In business it is often said 80% of your business comes from 20% of your customers.  So too in painting.  “Where’s the hero?”  What is the center of interest?  What can I peripherally fade out?

            At the Dubuque, Iowa Bluff Strokes event he talked about how he learns from the works of others.  “What is interesting?  What draws me in?  What doesn’t work?”  In short, what lessons can I learn from every painting?  Another tool for my improvement.

How to mix a great green – Cerulean Turquoise and Indian Yellow – WOW – why have I been struggling so much?  Another formula from the internet is Prussian Blue and Yellow Ocher.

Moving – Updating

As I sat in the street in Mineral Point, Wisconsin painting a lovely porch quick paint a lady started talking with me.  Nothing unusual until she told me where I lived.  Flabbergasted I asked her how she knew.  “I read.” 

You never know. 

That’s when I knew it was way past time to update.  I had moved two and a half years ago.

I went down in my old basement to paint.  The overhead pipes and crummy lighting said, “This is not fun”.  So I called a relator and asked for Great Lakes water, one story, and a studio room.  Three weeks and two showings later I had a signed contract.

Now I live eight miles away in suburban Milwaukee with floor to ceiling windows overlooking my backyard to the North.  I have gardens, a golf course, and the Milwaukee River.  Spectacular.

SUCCESSES in 2022

This year I discovered screaming orange at Kekoinga Plein Air in Fort Wayne.  Two of my quick paints won awards with color jumping off the page.  At the Dexter, Michigan Plein Air the quick paint winner color was bright chartreus lime green.  The patio umbrellas at Erratic Ale Company begged, “Paint me!”  so I did – twice.  And their local brews were great too.

GROWTH

I received a great, thought-provoking complement from the judge at Steelville. MO Plein Air event.  “This picture has complete chaos underlaid with structure.”  The calm duck on top frantically paddling underneath feels like a lot of my life.  What a gift.  Now I’m being called that chaos girl!

Surprise of surprise – I won Artist Choice at that event.  It’s almost a triptych.  I finally am developing a style and saw it several times during the 2022 season.  It’s loose and free not much like the photorealistic leaning pictures frequently seen.  My mantra has been “Art to Enjoy”. 

NEXT

For the first time I am graduating from travel pen and inks to gouache paintings during this year’s snowbird journey.  My guess is North Africa with be a riot of browns, umbers, and rusts.  We’ll see what comes.

And maybe this year I can be more organized.  After all painting is most joyful – in the creation and in the picture appreciation.

Best,       Smiles,       Margaret

I'm a procrastinator!  There is always something more interesting than paperwork - and teaching myself how to edit a web site is below that!  But as I was painting a pourch at Mineral Point's Wisconsin Plein Air event a web site reader stopped by to chat.  She knew where I was from. however, two and a half years ago I moved to a new home so I could have an adequate studio - story to follow.  

So there are some new works posted.  I need to get on the road to Dexter, Michigan's event.  In the solitary evenings of joy and exhaustion after painting I vow to tackle organization - a foe of some creatives.  More very soon.        Margaret

Blog:

April 2020

I gave myself four years to play with paints.  WOW – What an interesting journey.  I’ve taken some classes, I’m reading books, I have a developed website, and I’m ready to get as serious as I can because creating and viewing art is often pure enjoyment.

I needed somewhere to paint other than the dark, low overhead basement.  Three weeks after giving my three-pronged requirements to a realtor the paperwork was signed.   Serendipity!  I’ve arrived at Camp Margaret, a sanctuary of old trees, rolling lawns, blooming surprises – perfect for sequestering and creativity.

Three months later many of the boxes are unpacked, some of the pictures are hung, and I am ready to begin.  My yard dead falls have started a sculpture series called “Tree Huggers”.  More later.

ORGANIZATION:

In the beginning there will be a section of DO OVERS – THEN and NOWS.  I cannot believe what growth there has been, and what I have yet to discover. 

I am exploring portraiture – WHO ARE THEY?  A self portrait from high school helped me earn a Scholastic Art Scholarship.  Time to look in the mirror again – and to explore the incredible shapes, sizes, colorations, and spirits individuals display.

NIMB   I’ve had the good fortune to recently visit all seven continents so I’ve started a NOT IN MY BACKYARD travel inspired section.

2204 will be Camp Margaret entries.

PA are Plein Air pieces including favorites and winners.  I’ve truly enjoyed traveling in the Midwest and Ireland to Plein Air events.  What an opportunity to meet artists and patrons and explore towns and countryside and painting styles. 

Enjoy

Margaret

MERobinson 

SORRY - just realized I can't add pictures here.  Email me at [email protected] if you would like an illustrated version of this posting.  

Dublin’s Plein Air

Joined a lovely group of artists in this third-year event.  Irish artist Paul D’Arcy and his family did an excellent job organizing a great event….including the weather!  Only had to get the rain slickers out once – in Skerries, a seaside town with large tides, fishing boats, and great sea food.

 I did not attend any of the workshops, but still picked up ideas and improved my craft.  I explored different underpainting (see the warmth of the Farmleigh gardens painting) and a played with vermillion tones which add vibrancy.

There are great photos of the event on the Dublin Plein Air Facebook page.  I feel like a star.  Perhaps my painting outfits crafted over the years and a yellow flower in my hat help me be photogenic while concentrating on painting.  My favourite is the two-umbrella style honed at the 12^th Lock Blanchardstown.  SORRY - just realized I can't add pictures here.  Email me at [email protected] if you would like an illustrated version of this posting.

I bought aluminum panels to try.  They are slippery.  One gentleman sands and primes with gesso like wood panels.  More experimentation is needed but I was happy with the 8” x 8” at the lock and 12” x 12” Donate Surf painting.  Both have some of the silver showing through adding a light quality.

Our painting sites were varied and lovely.  Not only have the Irish people been charming, they have been most helpful.  I have toured enjoying the crazy driving in the country side.

Soon it is on to Wexford – billed as the largest Plein Air event in Europe. 

Smiles,    Margaret