About My Practice
I work with watercolor, gouache, charcoal and inks, but I especially love the watercolor medium and its luminous, unpredictable quality. There is an immediacy and a feeling of freedom and improvisation. Working with watercolor is always an invitation to be in the moment with the simple materials of water, paper and pigment.
A strong influence on my work is the natural world where I live, including the coastal light and the forest habitats. My painting practice reveals what I see - the grey green mist that hangs on the hills, the violet blue nocturnes of the ocean and the soft washes of dawn. My work is a response to place and memory; the changing colors of natural phenomena, and to the weather and changing light through the days and seasons.
Additional influences on my work are from living in other cultures: the tropical bright colors of Haiti, the dawn chorus of birds and wildlife in Fiji, and the vast ochre deserts of Central Asia.
Painting is an opportunity for me to keep learning. When I pick up a brush I know my perceptions will expand. For me, painting is a way to pay tribute to the natural world, which constantly reminds us to slow down and reconnect with nature.
Teaching
Teaching is a central part of my practice as a professional artist. Along with sharing a lifelong engagement with visual art, I enjoy drawing the unique creativity out of each student. Interested in learning more about my painting workshops?
Other Influences
As an artist and designer, I have collaborated with artisan communities around the world to promote and honor the use of traditional skills and local materials. I also consult with them to help build small businesses that incorporate their artistic legacies. I have worked extensively in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, the Caribbean and the South Pacific Islands. All of these experiences have influenced my work and global outlook. Please see: mimirobinsondesign.com
My Book
My book Local Color: Seeing Place through Watercolor, published by Princeton Architectural Press, (2015), is an invitation to sharpen our powers of observation and hone our color perception in our daily lives.