Piece Description

“I was so impressed with the level of art appreciation Kimray has, and how they support artists, especially Oklahoma artists,” Robin said. “I was honored to be asked to be a part of this. I really like the idea you have for artists to use their own voice and their own style, that everybody sees the same object in different ways.”

In most of her commissioned work, Robin focuses on recreating photographs, mostly of people, to recapture a sense of place, emotion, or a connection to the past. She sees herself as an impressionist, not a realist.

“This was a challenge for me because I usually do portraits of people’s children or grandchildren or loved ones that have passed away, or vacation memories,” she said. “But I think this turned out pretty realistic.”

Her AAA is watercolor on 300-pound cold-press paper; red is dominant, but there are also highlights of orange, gold, pink, purple, and blue. Dedication to technique and high-quality materials are two things Robin uses in her work that may echo with Kimray team members.

“For watercolors, I think it’s better to use the heavier paper,” she said. “If you don’t use quality materials, the finished product can warp. I also throw salt on the paper. That’s a technique watercolorists use that causes a chemical reaction that builds texture.”

As she approached the project, she said she was thinking of the company’s founding, and the ideas that began Kimray, sustained it over 75 years, and have grown the company from one building to so many.