Robin Birdwell Art

12/16/2016

05/30/2016

[Art for Sale: Stressful Facebook Posts, Tiny Beach Towns, and the Resurfacing of Hope]

It's hard to start. In fact, this is one of the hardest things I've ever done. My neck is in knots while I type, as it has been for the last two days. But I'm going to do it. I'm finally putting one of my paintings up for sale to the general public.

Somehow it seems appropriate, because I painted this piece several months ago, after another really stressful period. I had been suffering quite a bit over various things I won't mention - just questioning my path, feeling like I didn’t belong, wondering how I could have let this happen AGAIN, feeling vulnerable, harried, and unable to do a damn thing about it (I thought).

My husband talked me into taking a trip to see my beloved sister in Tampa. (Yes, he had to TALK me into it, that’s how out of it I was). My neck was one giant, painful knot for the entire week leading up to this trip.

Joe, in his endless pursuit of exploration and adventure, decided we would hug the Florida coast on the way down, something we'd never done - because who would add 4 hours onto an already lengthy trip?? We would!

Of course it was absolutely glorious. We passed through tiny beach towns, drove on stretches of bridge that had water as far as we could see on both sides, stopped at quaint little public beach parks. I rode with my window all the way down, sun on my arms, staring out, breathing the sea air, feeling the warmth. I literally got a sunburn just from hanging my head out the window like a happy dog. It restored me. The sore, tense, bunched muscles in my neck began to relax, releasing me. I smiled and laughed and we played music and parked and ran out onto the sand. Just this little exposure to the coastline had me feeling like something of myself again. I felt hope resurfacing - the hope that things could be different, that the stress wasn’t going to be my reality forever, and that I had the power to do something about it.

It seems crazy how powerful this was, but anyone who's stood at the edge of the ocean knows just how massive and wonderful and magnificent it is. The blue of the sky, the sparkling waves, the water stretching out to forever, the delicious warm sand, the sun searing your skin. It revives you.

I painted this piece to capture how I feel staring out at the ocean, in honor of its magnificence. And so, in honor of this, here I go.

12/11/2014

Added some of my work to our local holiday pop-up shop today! Hand-stitched notebook and notepads!

It's a little niche full of unexpected treasures — but only for a short time.

11/22/2014

At the Montgomery Museum of Fine Art's Artist Market! Today until 4pm.

11/11/2014

11/10/2014

A recently finished book, with more in progress.

04/27/2014

Mother's Day is near! Let me make something unique & thoughtful that your mom will love, like a personalized journal or photo album of her favorite memories.

I also have a few pre-made items in case your mom happens to like, oh you know, kitties or flowers. ^_^

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtyBirdBooks

03/11/2014

Handmade photo album & story book, celebrating the brilliant little details, laughs, and memories in one family's life.

12/12/2013

This afternoon I'll be at the pop-up shop Tallapoosa St. Goods doing a little painting and stitching on a book I'm working on. Come say hi. ^_^ (200 Tallapoosa St. downtown Montgomery)

11/23/2013

Bookmaking in progress ^___^

12/04/2012

Various books I've made for friends of mine.