North Bend Library home to new painting
September 18, 2008
By Laura Geggel
Sandy Passeck Robinson, one of three founders of the Mount Si Artist Guild, painted a picture that was recently purchased by the Friends of the Library. Photo by Laura Geggel
North Bend Library is now host to a menagerie of animals, ranging from the amphibious and shelled to the warm-blooded and winged. They’re trapped in the Children’s Section — on a canvas, to be specific — and starring in a painting called “Non-fiction on the Loose.”“It was just a fun painting aimed at children,” said the artist, North Bend resident Sandy Passeck Robinson. “I thought they would be attracted to it because a lot of their books have animals.”
Robinson, one of the three founders of the Mount Si Artist Guild, participated in a guild exhibit that ran in the North Bend Library’s meeting room in May. The Friends of the North Bend Library noticed Robinson’s painting during one of their monthly meetings.
“We saw this particular painting and realized it would be a great addition to the library,” said Friends of the North Bend Library President Penny Humphrey. “It’s the most delightful, whimsical picture. The animals look like they’re coming out of the books.”
Using profits from their annual book sale, the group asked for and received permission to purchase the $450 painting from the King County Library System Art Oversight Committee.
Eleven-year-old Aoife Hough examined the painting while perusing the library with her dad Sept. 12.
“My favorite part is how it’s all different kinds of books and animals,” Hough said, adding that she favored the polar bear because “they’re endangered. They’re getting more and more rare and getting more special.”
Her father, P.J. Hough, pointed to a giraffe leaning over a painted red tome titled ‘Ant and Termite.’
“I like the way he’s peaking out,” P.J. said.
This painting was recently purchased for the North Bend Library by the Friends of the Library. Photo Contributed
Robinson offered a fun fact about the authors of the books in her painting: they’re the surnames of her family and friends. She used her catalogue of reference photos collected from magazines to model the animals in her work, although she did have to search online for a photo of a giraffe.
The animals are one of her painting detours, Robinson said, as she normally creates landscapes. Like other Valley artists, she is attracted to Snoqualmie Falls. In fact, the most expensive painting she ever sold — priced at $1,200 — featured the falls in October with rays of light beaming at a diagonal into the chasm.
Robinson sells her less expensive paintings starting in the $100 range. A collection of her work is currently featured at KoKo Beans Coffee House with two other Valley artists, Diane Solomon and Michael McDevitt.
A friend of hers in Fall City frames her paintings for her, because “you get me near a tool and I’ll cut myself,” Robinson said. But the artist works with a variety of drawing tools to complete her work.
Sandy Passeck Robinson sold this painting of Snoqualmie Falls for $1,200. It is the most expensive painting she has sold. Photo Contributed
She has dabbled in the mediums of oil, acrylic, pencil, colored pencil and casein — a watercolor-like paint derived from milk. And her talent is self-taught.
“I have always worked with art in some capacity,” Robinson said, citing her work as an art teacher before she took up the full-time job of raising her four children.
Originally from Connecticut, Robinson moved to Washington state in 1976.
“I like the rain, but I’m allergic to pine trees,” she said, which makes painting scenery a challenge.
“I like to be close to trees, even though I can’t touch them,” Robinson said.
Some people may be allergic to Robinson’s animals, too, which makes Managing Librarian Irene Wickstrom glad the creatures — especially the tiger — are painted.
“I think it’s darling,” Wickstrom said. “It’s a wonderful addition to the library. I’m very grateful to the friends.”
Reach reporter Laura Geggel at 392-6434 .221 or lgeggel@snovalleystar.com.
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2 Responses to “North Bend Library home to new painting”
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Hey, that’s my mom! Cool, and she’s famous. We are glad to share her and the amazing gift she has.
Tony Robinson
Thanks for the very fine article and pictures of our favorite sister and sister-in-law.
We have a few of her paintings on display in our home in Waterbury,Conn. and we enjoy them Their is also a painting in the office of John Roman,President of the Naugatuck Saving and Loan Bank,SANDY’S HOME TOWN