Keepsake

Written By Robin Maria Pedrero

The Story Behind "Keepsake" Sometimes, a painting isn't just created with pigment and charcoal—it's built from time itself. The foundation of this whimsical floral sketch is a carefully curated layer of ephemera I’ve saved since 1975.

Every fragment tells a story: vintage TWA tickets from past adventures at 11 years old, memories collected during stays in Tangiers and Spain, global stamps from the postcard art exhibit, and unfolded paper airplanes. I wanted to take these literal pieces of my history and give them new life. The bold charcoal lines and bright, expressive realism anchor these floating memories, transforming decades of travel and experience into a single, enduring bouquet.

By weaving these tangible fragments of life into a dynamic floral composition, the artwork transcends a traditional still life. It becomes a visual diary, inviting the viewer to explore the layers of memory, adventure, and history hidden within its bold lines and vibrant colors.

Here is a close up of the substrate filled with ephemera.

available here
Robin Maria Pedrero

Robin Maria Pedrero is an award-winning artist with work in museum permanent collections in Florida and Greece. Her artwork is in public, corporate collections, published and in film. Her first solo museum exhibition was at the Lake County Museum of Art, Florida. She is an elected signature member of the Pastel Society of America. Pedrero was awarded Best Artist in Florida 2012 by Baterbys’ Art Auction Gallery, listed in Florida International Magazine’s Florida Artists Hall of Fame, her work won an international wine label contest and was featured on a limited-edition Artiste Wine label in California. Pedrero’s artwork has been selected by Tamara Day for HGTV’s Bargain Mansions. Robin creates from her studio in McKinney Texas.

https://www.robinmariapedrero.com/
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