Oris Robertson

Title: Purple Flowers
Date: 1968
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 54 cm H x 81 cm W (23.5 x 29.5 in)
Condition Report: Some areas with fine cracks and peeling
Signed and Dated: Lower right

This vibrant oil painting by Oris Robertson, titled Purple Flowers, presents a captivating bouquet of purple flowers in a vase, which takes center stage and dominates the composition. The painting's surface is richly adorned with the lush hues of the flowers, while the background is rendered in a pastel orange hue that contrasts strikingly with the purple blossoms. This color juxtaposition not only highlights the floral subject but also infuses the otherwise static composition with a dynamic visual tension.

Description:
The bouquet's vivid purple tones are set against a soft, warm orange background, creating a lively interplay of colors that draws the viewer’s eye to the central subject. The painting’s composition, though simple in concept, is enhanced by the bold color contrast and the sense of movement achieved through the dynamic arrangement of flowers.

About the Artist:
Oris Robertson (1937-2002) was a prolific visual artist born in Presidio, Texas, across the border from Ojinaga and Chihuahua. He spent his formative years in Brownsville, Texas, where he began drawing and painting in the mid-1940s. Robertson studied commercial art at Texas Southmost College (now UTB-TSC) and earned a degree in fine arts in 1968.

Robertson found profound inspiration in the vibrant colors, flowers, and churches of Mexico, where he spent most of his adult life. His dedication to his art was unwavering; he lived entirely off his paintings and frequently traveled to Brownsville to teach free classes for the Brownsville Art League.

In 2002, a scholarship endowment in Robertson's name was established at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College by Nancy Thompson, a close friend. The Oris Robertson Scholarship Endowment supports local students and professors in their artistic pursuits, enabling them to study and find inspiration in Mexico, following in Robertson's footsteps.

Oris Robertson passed away from cancer in 2002 at the age of 64, leaving behind a legacy of vibrant and emotive artwork.