Mom And Son Artist Duo

Marin Independent Journal:

Bethanie Brandon has been a fabric artist for three decades.

Her son, Robin, is just beginning his artistic career.

The mother and son, residents of Lucas Valley, will show their work during one of the two weekends of Marin Arts Council’s Open Studios - appropriately enough, Mother’s Day weekend. They are among 280 artists, from Sausalito to West Marin, who will open their studio doors to the public May 3 and 4, May 10 and 11.

Bethanie, 50, will open her garage-studio to show scarves, throws, pillows and table runners, most of them handpainted or appliqu d on sueded rayon. She will also show dresses, dusters and flare-leg pants of her own design.

Robin, 13, will show a series of hand-painted skateboards - art that evolved from his hobby as a skateboarder. Last week, he was nursing a broken arm, product of an accident at the McInnis Park skateboard arena.

As they prepared to get their home studio ready for public viewing, Bethanie’s pride was starting to show and Robin knows to give credit when it’s due.

“She always influenced me to be artistic and supported that, so that’s what got me into this,” he says. “Her artwork doesn’t really influence mine, but her being an artist does.”

Bethanie saw Robin’s knack for art early on. “When was he young and started doing drawings, I could see that he was into color and texture,” she says. “I was hopeful. He was surrounded by art at home. We’re always doing stuff around art; we have friends who are artists and photographers. But I think it’s really in him, not something he picked up on because it was in his environment. I think it’s genetic.”