"Portraits of Young Musicians" began with a photograph of John Rubin that I happened to take at "Dessert Theatre" when my daughter Sallie was also performing. I was sure that John's striking looks and the entire effect of the other musicians and instruments would make an unusual portrait. The resulting painting "The Concert", won a Certificate of Merit at the Portrait Society of America's annual conference the next year.

I had continued to take other photos and make paintings from them, simply because I found the subject so attractive. I set myself the task of getting an accurate likeness in each work as a way of honing my portrait skills, but the paintings were made purely for my own artistic reasons. It occurred to me eventually that they might work as a benefit show for Friends and when the Development Office approved the idea, I made a few more.

My style is "painterly", meaning I value the substance and effects of paint, brushwork in particular, as highly as the illusion of space and light. When the material and the illusion work together perfectly it creates a kind of poetry. How they work together to give us the impression of another human being expressing a particular state of mind is a mystery I never tire of exploring. I hope you will also find the same charm I do in the earnest concentration of these young people as well as the elegance the beautiful instruments and concert setting confers on them.

My sincere thanks to Friends for being a great place for my children to get an education, and for giving me the opportunity and inspiration for this show. Thanks especially to Gayle Latshaw and Carrie Price for their support and help.

Sam Robinson

Below is a virtual show of "Portraits of Young Musicians"

Email Carrie Price at cprice@friendsbalt.org to arrange purchase.
Checks should be made out to Friends School; Maryland Sales Tax applies.
Fifty percent (50%) of the proceeds will benefit Friends School.
Artwork can be picked up at the end of the show.