robin lee makowski AWS, NWS, FWS-D, NMWS-MP, WFWS
fine artist | illustrator | author | instructor 

robin lee makowski

AWS, NWS, FWS-D, NMWS-MP, WFWS

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Chicago native, Robin Lee Makowski, was ten years old before she realized not everyone saw the world the way she did.  What appeared to be daydreaming to some people was actually an intense study of line and tone, light and shadow, by a young, budding artist.  She could draw well by the time she was four, but it was not until into her teens that she became passionate about the natural gifts inherited from her father and her maternal grandfather, both visual artists.

 

Robin has focused on nature for many of her subjects in her award-winning work, but is inspired by anything “with the right light and lots of color.”  Working exclusively from her own original concepts, she captures nuance and personality in all of her work. The viewer realizes that the subject is something the artist knows well and loves, by the handling of the media, the composition, detail, and the play of light and color in the image.  Robin’s subjects range from her first love, fauna, to the collection of native plants in her own garden, to her creative still life set-ups, to figure studies and portraiture.  Her current and most popular series, Happy Hour, is a “spirited celebration of our cocktail culture.”  The series is currently in its 55th painting.

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Illustration and writing have been means of creative expression for this artist, as well.  Not only has Robin illustrated more than thirty published children’s books, but she also authored half of them.  Her illustrations have appeared in publications such as National Geographic Magazine, The Cousteau Society’s Dolphin Log, Surfer, and New Yorker Magazines.  She worked on illustrations for the Wild Dolphin Project in North Palm Beach, FL, and has original artwork on permanent display in San Pedro, CA, at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s whale exhibit.

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Robin has taught many classes and workshops on a variety of media and subject matter, but mostly her specialty, watercolor on paper and Aquabord.  She’s served as judge of selection and/or juror of awards for many art festivals and juried art exhibitions.  After several years, she has thrown her hat back into the instructor ring.

 

Receiving many honors for her artistic merit, her work has been featured on the annual posters for several prominent art festivals, and she has received numerous awards at art festivals and from juried shows across the country.  Her work can be seen in Florida at Lost Art Gallery in St. Augustine where she is represented, and in juried and gallery shows.

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Robin now works as a full-time artist and holds signature status with the American Watercolor Society (AWS), National Watercolor Society (NWS), Florida Watercolor Society (FWS), Master Painter status with the New Mexico Watercolor Society (NMWS-MP), and the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies (WFWS).  She has served on the Board of Directors for the New Mexico Watercolor Society's Southern Chapter in Las Cruces, and currently for the Florida Watercolor Society since 2015.