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NewTalent Robina Yasmin
Bold animal portaiture reflects Robina Yasmin's love of wildlife in this impressive debut collection for Washington Green A black & white perspective
“I started painting zebras because they're such beautiful animals and I've always admired them,” she explains from her Kent studio. “Their black and white stripes and how light falls onto their bodies defines their forms in such a clear and direct way; clean lines, strong compositions, clear backgrounds and a narrative that the viewer can relate to.” As a painter, she is constantly inspired by her surroundings, but light, she insists, is the most important element. “This serves to bring out the colours, forms and beauty in all things,” says the mother-of-one. “Sometimes I have a title in mind that helps decide my next painting. I always start with the background first and then roughly sketch, using di- luted oil paint, my subject before applying layers on top. Being able to see the brush strokes as the painting builds up is always a delight.” Working with Washington Green for the first time, she has produced three incredibly life-like oil paintings of zebras whose proud figures appear all the more striking
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L ight is central to Robina subjects on canvas. “I love the contrast of black and white lines,” she says. “The sun shining on a zebra’s body and how it can uplift and enhance their forms, this allows me to almost sculpt what I see in paint.” A graduate of Cumbria College of Art, Birmingham Institute of Art & Design and the Glasgow School of Art, Robina is also a keen photographer and has an archive comprising thousands of pictures of animals she has seen in the wild, safari parks or zoos. Yasmin’s work. She uses light as a way of informing her
beast resting his head on another, his face nonchalantly regarding the viewer. “In the heat of Maasai Mara, amongst the large zebra herds, occasionally you will see the intimate bond between these beautiful animals,” Robina explains. “I love captur- ing these moments, the need for a mid afternoon rest is something we can all relate to.” The second painting in the series, A Fine Line Up , captures
a moment in time when three zebras have stopped in their tracks and are focused on looking for danger, while the third, Among Friends , conveys how the animals can demonstrate tenderness. “It’s always a pleasure to see the tenderness between these animals, friendship seem just as important in their lives as it is in ours. In some respects our friends are our chosen 'family',” she muses. Gallery Robina Yasmin's debut collection will be exhibited in galleries from April 2012 washingtongreen.co.uk
1 Carefree Boxed canvas edition of 95 Image 36" x 36" £795 2 Among Friends Boxed canvas edition of 95 Image 26" x 48" £795 3 A Fine Line Up Boxed canvas edition of 95 Image 21¼" x 56" £795
thanks to the uncluttered, simple back- grounds. Carefree is an
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intimate painting of one horse-like
FINE ART COLLECTOR AUTUMN 2012 SPRING 2012
AUTUMN 2012 FINE ART COLLECTOR SPRING
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