Robin Kraus Wareham
Artists Statement:
Robin Kraus Wareham is an American Naturalist painter. Her vision encompasses spiritual aspiration; with expectation that the image and process of image making may evoke the sublime.
Biography:
Robin graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute with a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree. She later studied with some of the world's foremost drawing and painting instructors in Chicago and New York. In 2004 she began study with, teacher, Andrew Conklin at the Pallet and Chisel Academy of Fine Art in Chicago and then studied with artists, Michael Grimaldi and Nelson Shanks, Harvey Dinnerstein among others, at the Art Student's League of New York, between 2006-2010.Robin has taken numerous workshops, including workshops with Sarah Lamb 2015, 2016 and Dan Thompson, 2006 at the Grand Central Academy of Art.
Influence of the Work:
Robins' art has also always been influenced by great portraits, as she grew up with portraits created by acclaimed artists which hung in her ancestors summer home. While visiting her family in Nantucket, she looked upon a striking portrait done in the 1700 by John Wesley Jarvis, as well as exquisite portraits done by 19th Century French artist, Alfred Oar.
Robin’s Great-Grandfather Joseph Wilson Cochran, was head Minister of the American Church in Paris and also an armature watercolorist. The Rev. Cochran was also an avid writer of sermons, and wrote the book Friendly Adventures recounting his work to oversee the building of the Cathedral at 65 quai de’ Orsay in Paris.
Technique:
Robin brings to her work a strong foundation of technique based in both optical and Classical theory. She is thoughtful in her discipline, works from life, from plein air studies, and from memory.
Education:
Robin holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from The Kansas City Art Institute, where she majored in sculpture. She also studied ceramics and painting and studied under artists; Jim Leedy, Dale Eldred and Warren Rosser.
Robin’s love for painting has been an enduring passion. Her work has received endorsements by top artists in her field. Aaron Shikler recalled Eakens when referring to her painting, and spoke of “a strong, steady, controlled approach to doing a figure in space". Nelson Shanks has said that he believed Robin would be a major force in painting. Through Robin’s teachers Nelson Shanks Michael Grimaldi and Sarah Lamb, and their teachers, Robin can trace her lineage of fine arts training to many of the Great Masters* (see Stotz, The Flowering Staircase).
Teaching:
Robin has taught visual arts and classical painting and drawing. Her methodology combines theories of optical perception, as well as time tested methods of the Great Masters. Robin has taught through the Nantucket Community School, the New Mexico Art League and The New Mexico Public Schools.
*See: The Flowering Staircase; 500 Years of Masters and Apprentices, by Timothy Stotz,
http://timothystotz.com/flowering-staircase/