R. Wethe Altman fine art direct to you - original watercolor, limited edition giclee reproductions

I love having a profession in which my work involves looking for beauty. I take what I see and enhance colors and contrast to create a particular mood. I like to choose subject matter that has a human element so that the viewer may relate to what he's seeing. My sincere motive is to communicate my feelings about the world and how humans respond to it.

A Native of Laguna Beach, Robin grew up the daughter of a Marine Corps ace fighter pilot Lt. Col Wallace Wethe and Joyce Hahn an artist/writer. Her parents are both Scandinavians from farm communities in Minnesota.

From a very early age, Robin had an unusually deep desire to help people and promote healing on Earth. Although she loved writing, music and art, it was at four years of age that her father predicted she would be an artist. As a young person, Robin was shy and quiet. Until recently, her artwork was her main “voice”. Her skill developed as she moved through Laguna Beach schools. She won several school wide competitions in art and in 1972 was awarded a four- year scholarship from the Festival of Arts. She chose to go to Principia College in Elsah, Illinois. Her professor there, James Green, had been a part of the renowned California Regionalist movement, along with Rex Brandt, Millard Sheets, and Milford Zornes. He taught her the American, west coast style of bold design, bright colors and strong contrast. While in college she toured Europe on two occasions and studied the famous artists from that region while painting in the quaint villages and countrysides. Van Gogh is Robin’s favorite artist from history because of his life’s purpose and challenges and because of the artwork that resulted from them.

After graduation, Robin moved back to Laguna and met and married Daniel Robert Altman a singer/songwriter formally from New York City. Together they had three daughters. Robin has owned the binocular rental concession at the Pageant of the Masters for 33 years. She paid her way through private school running that business and selling her artwork and shell necklaces at the Sawdust Festival. For ten years she exhibited in the Festival of Arts. Robin has exhibited in many local galleries and won numerous art competitions. She is active in the Interfaith movement, an organization that promotes world peace by encouraging understanding and respect between the various faiths of the world.

Robin’s paintings adorn the California State Capitol and the Irvine Company and IBM have commissioned her. Many prominent private collectors have purchased her paintings. South Coast Hospital bought 8 of her paintings to display in their lobby and waiting rooms because of the happy, healing influence they have on people. Robin has taught art in the local schools and illustrated children’s books. Each year she travels to new places to gather inspiration. Robin's paintings are bold, colorful and most of all happy. Continually her collectors exclaim about the joy they bring into their homes. Not at all a stranger to hardship, Robin strives to maintain her focus on the positive aspects of life. Even after numerous setbacks in life, she is determined to go forward and use her newly gained wisdom to help others. Besides painting she expresses herself through poetry and song lyrics.