Heather Robinson "Keeping up Spirits" 8x10 Painting

My paintings are about optimism in an increasingly chaotic and uncertain time. I paint to evoke positive emotions, even if I’m not always feeling them myself. The repeating textile patterns are meditative and soothing in their regularity, a reminder of threads winding through history and my tiny place in the world. I strive to create a harmonious whole and a balanced, beautifully finished object. I combine colors and patterns that interact and weave into each other in a satisfying way. This process affects me for the better, as I hope it affects the viewer.

This painting is about trying to remain cheerful in daily life, despite the setbacks and dark times that life throws at us. For me, keeping up spirits requires leaning into hope and optimism, and retaining some "sparkle", while still acknowledging the hard things that are happening.