Robin's content... :)

This Blog has Moved

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 06:33:20 GMT

I've been painting up a storm lately and I'm frustrated that I can't post all of my images on Windows Live Spaces. The site's code of conduct doesn't permit me to post artwork with nude figures which comprises the majority of my work. You can read my story here if you're interested or go to the homepage of my new blog at robintroy.typepad.com to see my latest work.

I also ported over some of my old Spaces blog entries that dealt with fine art. As I dug back into my old Spaces posts, I noticed that there are some missing images. Some are missing because I was told to delete them but others seem to have vanished from Spaces' servers due to a technical glitch. You get what you pay for, folks.

See you at typepad.
RT

I live for the weekends

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 07:53:00 GMT

J and I headed into this weekend thinking that we were going to need to be nursed back into health by my 17 and 8 year old kids. We felt like we were coming down with something vile but felt fine by Sunday. That ended up being a great day. In the morning, Elliot and I headed out for our weekend ritual. (Pix above.) At the end of our hike, he and I raced back to the house. As far as he knew it was a game (that made my heart feel like it was going to burst!!) but it was really because his sister had called me from a gas station -- her car was on e and she needed some $ on her debit card. Oy!

Later J and I took our first scooter ride of 2008. AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHhh..... gad! that is so much fun! It was a beautiful, sunny, crisp day. We headed toward downtown Bellevue and found some twisty-turny roads with skylines in one direction, and water views in the other. Gorgeous. Stumbled upon some parks that I want to go back to with E (if I can find them again.) Those rich people know how to build their parks! The thing about tooling around on two wheels: you are completely immersed in the environment. I smelled flowers. Flowers! Spring is near. And there were a ton of people out walking and they were ALL smiling. (I love when folks on the street talk to me -- "that looks like fun!" is a common comment.) It's impossible to feel anything but happy when you're driving a Vespa. (Trust me: Flush your Prozac and buy a scooter or motorcycle instead.)

We topped off the evening off with a lovely dinner: beef stroganoff with asparagus, rosemary bread and red wine. Lovely, yes -- but it wasn't without drama. A potholder caught fire while I was browning the beef. Flames, back door thrust open, once trusted but now reviled implement hurled into the cold darkness... this *is* excitement in the 'burbs, my friend! Whew!

Two Girls and a Motorcycle

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:31:29 GMT

(And the Google search hits keep coming...)

I'm only a few hours in to this painting so its pretty rough but I like where its going:

The background needs to change dramatically. The figures and bike are coming along nicely and will just keep getting more refined.

Ribbon Painting: Nearly done

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 20:00:53 GMT

I made more progress on my ribbon painting on Saturday. I could work on this for an eternity but I think I'll clean up the edges, add some more depth to some colors and then abandon it so that I can move on to the next incarnation. I'd like to tackle another one but make a change in my approach. I am going to start the next one with no under-drawing. Instead of planning out the design in advance, I'd like to see what emerges if I paint one ribbon at a time and see where it takes me. It's riskier but could have a bigger pay off (such is life, eh?)

When it's complete I'll write about the inspiration for the piece and the reason I am pursuing this particular exploration.

Hopefully I'll have another start of a painting to post later today. I'm starting a new piece as an assignment for a painting class I'm taking. I have been studying with Barbara Fugate for some time now and she offered me and another long time student some additional mentorship. She is giving us assignments to work on outside of class and will be giving us feedback along the way. Today's assignment: "What is Red?" Stay tuned...

Best Weight Loss Plan -- plus increased creativity and less depression!

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 08:06:52 GMT

I'm taking a tip from Jim's crossword blog and using a title for this entry that is sure to increase my hits on Google! It's not all a ruse. Read on...

I've been a little concerned about my weight lately, so in addition to working out, I added a long walk to my routine every Saturday morning. It's great to get out and hike the local trails with my dogs. On the weekends that my son is with me, he is always enthusiastic to join me. Our conversations seem to be more meaningful when we're outside with fewer distractions. It's the perfect time to get to know him even more deeply and reflect back what I learn. We laugh a lot. We pause often to listen to the relative silence of nature together: a stream, a bird or nothing at all.

I always bring my camera. I really think cameras should be required equipment for Zen practitioners. Forget mediation pillows, nothing keeps me in the moment more than having my camera slung over my shoulder. It heightens my awareness of my surroundings, fine tunes my eyes and engages that place in my brain that is wired to seek and find.

Without my camera (and especially on walks when I am alone) I have a hard time not plotting, planning, worrying, regretting, yearning and dreaming. That last one is probably okay but the others can really bring me down. When I find myself being drawn into those dark places, it's such an uplifting feeling to snap myself out of it and start the visual hunt again.

For me this is the perfect weight loss plan: long walks in search of beauty. I could call it the "Best Weight Loss Plan in Many Easy Steps."

New Painting(s): One Work in Progress

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:33:43 GMT

I am making good progress on two paintings. The one below is unfolding at home -- acrylic on canvas, dark jewel tones in the background with warm orange and yellow tints on the ribbons in the foreground. The white that you see is bare canvas. I hope to have this finished in a week. I'll post a better quality photo of the final piece -- the shot below is pretty bad.

I'm working on another painting in the studio -- oil on canvas, a nude seated with her legs and arms crisscrossed and angular. Using a similar palette as the one above: orange, blues, yellow-greens. This painting will take a month to complete.

Ice walk and M's surprise party

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 06:07:45 GMT

Today I took an early morning walk with my son and the dogs...

E found some ice to slide around on...

I found some ice to take photos of...

No photos from last night...
J and I got together with friends to celebrate M's birthday. It was a surprise party at an Irish pub (and he actually was surprised!) Alas, we couldn't stay very long -- we had a babysitter to relieve -- but it reminded us of all the people we need to reconnect with. I'm looking forward to that. :-)

Talking 'bout a Resolution...

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 05:38:08 GMT

I am jumping on the band wagon to add to the 5,810,000 blog entries on the web that contain the words "New Year's Resolution" in them. Like so many other fellow bloggers, I am resolving to keep up with my blog this year. Last year I primarily wrote about plays Jim and I saw but I think I'll expand the entries to contain more "day in the life of" vignettes. I also plan on taking more photos and creating more sketches this year which I will share from time to time. I have other resolutions: no more sugar in my coffee, take more hikes with the dogs/kids, get back to painting, find an ongoing volunteer opportunity and take a power-woman-all-for-me trip alone (to some place I have yet to figure out.)

2008 is going to be a great year. Elliot is starting at a new private school that his Dad and I feel very good about. We think that the school's teaching style is well suited for him and that he'll really excel there. I'm learning that I need to be a little tougher with Elliot than comes naturally but I have been adapting and he seems to be responding well. Shay is in research mode for costuming work that she will be doing for Redmond High School Drama's production of Midsummer Night's Dream. It should be an exciting project for her and a good portfolio builder. Jim and I are settling in quite nicely. He and I are very different in many ways but our differences compliment each other well. We're learning a lot and I feel really good about where we're heading.

As I think ahead I can't help but look back. In 2007 I reached a new, very satisfying level in my artistic pursuits. For perhaps the first time, the paint brush became an extension of my arm, I mixed colors intuitively, and the things I imagined in my mind's eye would appear on canvas roughly the way I wanted them to. Another highlight of 2007 was when Jim whisked me off to Europe. We saw old and new sights, fantastic art and ate yummy, yummy food. The best part was learning that Jim and I travel well together which is a pretty good gauge for any relationship. That trip marked an important turning point. Shortly afterward we met each other's families in far off locations and celebrated his 50th birthday with an un-surprise party that was moving and entertaining all at once. In the fall, I shifted gears in my career and left a Project Management position with a design studio (fun, crazy, salesy, intense work) and took software design contract back at the big M working with a team who is full of funny, smart people. (How many teams eat lunch together everyday? It is such a great group - I really lucked out.)

Now that I feel caught up, here is a brief entry about New Year's Eve:

Jim and I saw the Seattle Symphony perform Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and it was absolutely lovely. Gorgeous singer's voices filled the hall. It was the perfect way to ring in a new year that promises to be full of much joy.

"Young Frankenstein" Paramount Theater

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 01:19:06 GMT

When the musical “Young Frankenstein” opened at the Paramount, it was a foregone conclusion that we go because the movie “Young Frankenstein" is my all time favorite film. We went this past Friday night and by intermission I was feeling disappointed. Musical numbers went on too long; locker-room jokes were belabored and far from clever. It just wasn’t the rollicking fun ride I expected. However I might be the only “Young Frankenstein” fan who thought so. The audience was so enamored with the original characters and material that they went crazy with whoops and laughter – even at times for the mere act of a performer walking onto the stage.

I think these audience members were able to do something that I couldn’t. They transposed Gene Wilder and Teri Garr’s original performances on top of the less talented comedic actors in front of us. The actors who played Igor and Frau Blucher embodied the original characters very well but the doctor and Inga made me wish that I was at home watching my DVD. I wouldn’t have minded if the characters had deviated a great deal from the ones in the film but these close but no cigar performances were simply frustrating.

The show really picked up and redeemed itself in the second act. The much anticipated “Putting on the Ritz” number was the absolute highlight of the show. It was an extended version of the original with over the top, funny choreography that was absolutely delightful. The quintessential Brooks’ make ‘em groan puns were reined in during the second half of the show and even the sexual innuendos seemed more subtle and consequently funnier. In the end I enjoyed the show and was glad to have gone. I hope that there are plans to tighten up the first act to do justice to a very entertaining classic film.

“If you're blue
and you don't know
where to go to
why don't you go
where fashion sits...
PUUUDM OM DA REETZ…!”

Penny for your thoughts

Sun, 12 Aug 2007 20:40:43 GMT

On Sundays I navigate my browser to postsecret.com to read the artful postcards people have mailed in. I have done this for the past few years fairly religiously. I own one of the post secret books. I read ps.com for a variety of reasons. Every postcard has a secret written on it. I read them out of curiosity, for the shock value, and for the occasional clever gems that crop up. Mostly I go because I want to see my secrets appear on the screen. I haven’t sent in a postcard (yet) but to see one of my secrets appear would mean that I’m not alone in my suffering, my confusion or my joy.

The creator of postsecret has created a video for the project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6rTkp1dek4.

Unfortunately this means there are no new postcards on his blog this week. Perhaps I should use this as an opportunity to create my own – or as they say in the convenience stores, “Take a penny, give a penny.”

“First Class” at Act Theater

Sat, 04 Aug 2007 05:54:45 GMT

I’m too young to have taken a poetry course with Pulitzer-prize winner Theodore Roethke at the University of Washington. He died a few years before I was born. I did not hear his inspirational talks about making music with words or what it takes to make a good poem great (and why great poetry is important.) I most certainly didn’t see the effects of his bi-polar disorder which propelled him into mad ravings and crazed phone calls to people such as the president of the University, the mayor of Seattle and governor of Washington State.

Last night however I traveled to a 1950s classroom and got glimpse into what it might have been like. We went to see “First Class” on opening night at Act Theater, a one man play that invites the audience into Roethke’s classroom and at times into his mind. John Aylward is absolutely riveting as the clever and intense poet. The show was written by David Wagoner a former student who wanted to share experiences that clearly made an indelible mark on his life – and now this play on mine. I will not forget the professor’s angst and torment – and I will remember some of his lessons, too. He taught that Shakespeare knew that “eee” sounds belong to witches. I can still see professor screeching “When shall weee threeee meeet again…?”

Well-acted, well-cast, unusual and interesting play.

Mahler's Third Symphony

Sat, 30 Jun 2007 19:26:08 GMT

This morning I find myself wishing that I have the skills to do justice to experiencing Mahler's Third Symphony at Benaroya Hall last night. I do however have an artist's heart; here is what my heart tells me to write:

A full orchestra - so many instruments. Two large golden harps -- how many French horns? How many strings...?!? The first movement - full, moody, then playful, now serene. Subsequent movements: Marching, marching - building up, multi layered. So many instruments. Loud thunderous sound and serene again. In comes "Man" in the form of an imposing mezzo-soprano. Powerful voice - hitting highs that made my nose tingle, eyes well up. Boy's choir; voices of angels as man transcends the cacophony that came before. An ending so powerful (I'm sorry but) it made me chuckle - it was too familiar (dare I say trite) in contrast to the some of the surprises throughout the performance (like the bundle of sticks beat against a bass drum.)

According to my learned friend, the French horns biffed it a little at the start -- but this was completely lost on me. At that point I was caught up in some weeping tones that sounded like what PMS feels like. Lol. Ignorance surely can be bliss. :)

Stuff Happens

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 16:54:28 GMT

We went to opening night of "Stuff Happens" at ACT last night. Whew! This is an impressive political play that dramatizes the events leading up to the Iraq war. Characters include George W. Bush, Tony Blair, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz -- much of the dialog is taken directly from press conferences, interviews and speeches stitched together with fictional (yet believable/highly probable) scenes.

This is obviously heavy stuff. It's worth seeing for the realistic portrayal of the political figures (pretty funny at times) and for the accurate retelling of this story - many POV are conveyed (it helped me finally wrap my mind around why Blair was behind the push to go to war, for example.) This is a tight, well done, well cast production. It runs until July 22nd.

https://www.acttheatre.org/TicketsPlays/Play.aspx?prod=45

Nature Photos

Sat, 23 Jun 2007 23:39:48 GMT

My Dad rocks. Check out this edited excerpt from his blog:

"In his famous essay “Nature” Emerson says that...

“Every appearance in nature corresponds to some state of the mind, and that state of the mind can only be described by presenting that natural appearance as its picture. An enraged man is a lion, a cunning man is a fox, a firm man is a rock, a learned man is a torch. A lamb is innocence; a snake is subtle spite; flowers express to us the delicate affections. Light and darkness are our familiar expression for knowledge and ignorance; and heat for love. Visible distance behind and before us, is respectively our image of memory and hope.”

So I wonder what the meaning of mushrooms is."

Read the full blog entry here along with some of his lovely photos of mushrooms:
http://frankwinters.wordpress.com/2007/06/13/the-meaning-of-mushrooms/

I like the first photo -- the 'shrooms look like a couple Hobbit homes nestled in a wee forest.
There's also another set that looks like they reside on another planet. Nifty!

West Side Story

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 07:34:23 GMT

Jim and I went to see West Side Story at the Fifth last night. It was as swanky and cool as dancing hoodlums from the 50's are apt to be -- and unfortunately thematically still relevant (gangs, race relations and violence) fifty years after its premiere.

The set was appropriately urban and industrial: a fenced in play yard, dusty concrete, metal fire escapes ('oh, wherefore art thou.... Tony?') Scenes were flooded with deep red, purple and green lights -- and oh, how I loved the fluorescent lights in the magazine shop! The singing and dancing was fantastic -- the tenor who played Tony had such a wonderfully warm voice. Needless to say, I enjoyed the show very much... but tell me, when am I going to learn that I must bring tissues when I go to the theater?!? I walked away with a tear splashed shirt and a mottled, red nose. If I had to guess I would say this was a four tissue show. I just couldn't play it cool, boy. :)

FYI: New paintings are up on RobinTroy.com

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 21:03:12 GMT

Question: How do you know when you're ready for a gallery show?

Answer: When your living room looks like this...

Time capsule

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 07:12:31 GMT

This is a quick note to my future self so I remember that June 5, 2007 was a milestone day. It started by digging deeper, trusting my instincts, and taking a leap of faith. I believe this will be a day worth celebrating in years to come.

I just hope I remember what the hell I was writing about...! ;)

Laugh at least one night in June

Tue, 29 May 2007 04:40:25 GMT

There’s a wonderful show coming in June to SecondStory Repertory in Redmond. It has a very talented cast who will undoubtedly put on an extremely entertaining show. This *is* downtown-quality theatre on the Eastside.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

“Tragedy tomorrow,” begins this crazy farce…“Comedy Tonight!”

It’s an evening of beautiful women, lecherous men, young love, mistaken identities and slapstick comedy – not to mention a delightful musical score by Stephen Sondheim.

June 1-30 Fridays and Saturdays at 8:15 pm, Sundays (June 17 & 24) at 2:15 pm
Tickets $20-$26

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE to benefit SecondStory Repertory
Delicious desserts and fine wines served during intermission -- plus a chance to mingle with the cast.

Sunday, June 10th at 5:30 pm Tickets are $45 if purchased through May 31st – or $55 after June 1st.

To RSVP call (425) 881-6777 or e-mail caitlin@secondstoryrep.org

www.SecondStoryRep.org

Memorial Day Weekend

Tue, 29 May 2007 03:18:58 GMT

I have a laundry list of simple pleasures from the weekend. An experiment with 31 paper airplanes and a ceiling fan, a lovely ride on the new Vespa with J, roller skating (dancing) with my son at Skate King, framing a painting for an upcoming student show, watching "Searching for Bobby Fischer" with my chess loving son, mowing the lawn (and trying not to sneeze.)

All nice experiences, to be sure, but none of it would matter if not for the overarching feeling throughout the weekend: peace, calm, serenity - and of course gratitude for the life I have and all I have become.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Tue, 22 May 2007 04:00:45 GMT

I have been reading The Invention of Hugo Cabret to my son at bedtime. My goodness what a wonderful book (we're enjoying it so much I was compelled to write a review on Amazon -- my first ever.)

It is a beautifully illustrated story of a young French boy in the '30s who works to fix a broken automaton while uncovering the mystery of its creation. We learn about old silent films, magicians and the automata they used on stage. The book is over 500 pages long -- partly because some sequences of the book are told simply through the illustrations. Page after page of tightly drawn black and white images (similar to a silent film, eh? :)

Here's a passage from the chapters we read tonight:

Hugo thought about his father's description of the automation. "Did you ever notice that all machines are made for some reason?" he asked Isabelle. "They are built to make you laugh, like the (wind-up) mouse here, or to tell the time, like clocks, or to fill you with wonder, like the automaton. Maybe that's why a broken machine always makes me a little sad, because it isn't able to do what it was meant to do."

Isabelle picked up the mouse, wound it again, and set it down.

"Maybe it's the same with people," Hugo continues. "If you lose your purpose... it's like you're broken."

This is not your typical children's book. I am so impressed. It is deep, visually lush and well written. I don't want it to end.

Photo Album: New York - March 2006

Tue, 06 May 2008 06:34:05 GMT

New York - March 2006

More Photos...

Photo Album: Blog Images

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:31:28 GMT

Blog Images

More Photos...

Photo Album: Misc - Fall 2007

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:25:43 GMT

Misc - Fall 2007

R & J

Elliot First Day of School

Photo Album: 1/1/2008 - Xmas/New Year's

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:03:00 GMT

1/1/2008 - Xmas/New Year's

Santa was here

The kids in front of the goofy, tacky Christmas tree

Jim and Shay

Elliot with his new bird book

New Year's Eve at Benaroya

Photo Album: Cape Cod '07

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 18:55:08 GMT

Cape Cod '07

Shay

Ebee helps pull up sea life

Elliot

Wind Speed is..?

Aurora, Maria, George

Water sample

Jack, Shay, George

Dancing Queen

eeeeg...!

Shay, Maria

More Photos...

Photo Album: Random Pix

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 07:04:03 GMT

Random Pix

RWT & E

Random acts of dog petting

Europe July '07

Cute!

RWT & E

Snoqualmie Falls

RWT

Tegan

More Photos...

Photo Album: Visit Mom: March 2005

Sat, 31 Mar 2007 03:08:57 GMT

Visit Mom: March 2005

~DSC02921

~DSC02922

~DSC02931

~DSC02933

~DSC02935

~DSC02940

~DSC02943

~DSC02947

~DSC02950

~DSC02964

More Photos...

Photo Album: Elliot and Owen's Party!

Mon, 05 Dec 2005 08:20:39 GMT

Elliot and Owen's Party!

cake

candlelight

O&E

ElliotandTurk

carolyn

owenandturk

laugh

KandShay

balloons

rabbit

More Photos...

Photo Album: May 2005

Wed, 03 Aug 2005 22:15:56 GMT

May 2005

Elliot and Buffy

Group shot

Jack, Aunt Lorraine, Dawn and Joe

Jackie, Dawn and Joe

Joe and Dawn

Jackie

Shay, Jackie and Doggies

Gotcha!

No, I got chu!

More Photos...

Photo Album: June 2005

Wed, 03 Aug 2005 22:11:27 GMT

June 2005

Shay Improv

Who is the winner?

Shay's Class won!

Robin

Art Class

Photo Album: December 2004

Wed, 03 Aug 2005 22:10:13 GMT

December 2004

E's B-day party

Shay with Buffy

Buffy

Pirate girl

Heading off to mentor the "little" 7th graders: Shay and Pal

Hero day at school: Hugs not drugs

Buffy under tree

Buffy!

Christmas decorating

Shay and Elliot waiting to see Santa

More Photos...

Photo Album: Cape Cod: July 2005

Wed, 03 Aug 2005 22:05:26 GMT

Cape Cod: July 2005

The Group (sans Dad)

Surf Club: Young Women

Surf Club: Older Women

Dune walk

Aida Gets the Shot

Robin and Aurora

Bamboo Laughs: Maria and Shay

Jack Buried by Ed and Shay

Ed and Elliot

Dad/Grandpa

More Photos...

Photo Album: Three little birds

Tue, 02 Aug 2005 06:57:43 GMT

Three little birds

Aida, Robin, Dawn

the sisters1