Featured Artist Robert Little

Artist Robert Little masterfully brings nostalgic scenes to life in this collection of light-filled landscapes. Visit his website to see more of his art.

 

landscape painting by Robert Little

“Evening Vesper Light” pastel on board, 28″ x 16″

 

Using paint and brush has always felt natural to me.

 

painting of the bridge at Finley River Mill by Robert Little

“Bridge at Finley River Mill” acrylic on board, 24″ x 18″

 

When I was a young boy, my father, a commercial artist in New York City, and I would take sketch pad, pencil, and a small box of watercolor paints and go plein air painting. I grew up in Mercer County, New Jersey and at that time there were plenty of small family farms, woods and fields.

 

painting of the Lighthouse on Presque Isle by Robert Little

“Lighthouse on Presque Isle” acrylic on board, 24″ x 18″

 

I am still drawn to pastoral scenes—especially barns. I think they evoke sweet memories of a time and place from my childhood.

 

landscape painting by Robert Little

“Red Sandstone Cliff” acrylic on canvas, 32″ x 26″

 

We live and move in the world God created. I am very drawn to places we encounter, explore or inhabit—places that evoke feelings or memories. An old abandoned house still speaks of the lives it once sheltered within its walls. An old mill retains the memories of all those people who worked and labored there.

 

landscape painting by Robert Little

“Colorado Cholla Cactus” acrylic on canvas, 29.75″ x 29.75″

 

Essential to any authentic sense of place or environment is light and shadow. Light conveys mood and atmosphere. It reveals form and character of detail and texture. The interaction of light and shadow convey much visual and emotional meaning. Light is affected by other conditions, such as time of day, the season and the weather conditions.

 

painting of the Bridge at Chadds Ford by Robert Little

“RR Bridge at Chadds Ford” watercolor on paper, 26″ x 20″

 

Light also helps convey the transitory and fleeting nature of life—the glint of sunlight on a wall will be gone in another minute!

 

painting of Rocky Mountains by Robert Little

“Rocky Mountain near Canon City” acrylic on board, 24″ x 18″

 

I work in pastel, watercolor, acrylic and most recently, oil paints.

 

snowy landscape painting by Robert Little

“First Snow” acrylic on watercolor paper, 30″ x 22″

 

Usually, I let the subject suggest the medium to employ. The foundation and skeleton of a painting is good design and drawing.

 

 

painting of a Kansas grain elevator by Robert Litttle

“West Kansas Grain Elevator” acrylic on canvas, 24″ x 12″

 

I build up layers to get a richness of character and three-dimensional depth to a painting. Sometimes it’s good to remove paint by wiping away or scraping; I had a drawing teacher who always reminded us that using an eraser was as important as using a pencil! The trick is to not overwork a painting.

 

snowy landscape painting by Robert Little

“Twisting Oaks” acrylic on paper, 30″ x 22″

 

As an artist, I respond to places and environments that for reasons touch me. I seek to create an authentic world in each painting—whether it be a mountain valley, a cityscape or the under-canopy of plants in the garden. I try to capture the truth of a scene—the mood and atmosphere. Hopefully, viewers will share the feelings I had when I stopped to first glance and then linger to appreciate aspects of our world.

 

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Comments

  1. So many lovely ones. My favorite is the grain elevator one.

  2. Martha,
    Thank you – so glad you enjoy the paintings. I had not ever visited western Kansas before driving to see our son in Colorado. A very different landscape indeed! Cattle ranches, (huge!) grain elevators, and wind farms dominate. I loved this lonely antique grain elevator – a survivor from earlier times.

  3. such lovely work, Robert… so true about good drawing & design! — even though your sense of color is quite beautiful all on it’s own! best wishes…

  4. Cosmas Makunde says

    Thank youRobert for sharing an eye that sees beauty and goodness in the environment. You unveil the wonder to develop from design and drawing.

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