Artistic Delight: Robin Halpren-Ruder

This is a love story.

"When I met Robin Halpren-Ruder, she was a 22 year old art student. She had pigtails, a blowtorch in one hand, and a cigarette hanging from her lip. And I've spent the rest of my life intrigued by a vibrant artistic woman," says Dr. Dan Halpren, with the pride and love of a husband.

Artist Robin has traded in her welding torch, for a paintbrush that blasts the world with color and wonderful subjects. "I love color," she says with an effervescent smile.

Vibrancy with a blow torch of color, joy, and zeal describes her work. Her talent flourishes in an astounding way. Robin's painting spreads beyond the edge of her canvas into the frame, the colors leap onto the frame and trickle around the sides. Flowers, fruit and wonderfully pulsating scenes dance with color and delight. "I want to feel great and bring a smile to the people who see my paintings and I want them affordable enough to grace anyone's home." Robin's art spread, and trickles into her daily life and the lives of her friends and family.

Robin has been a resident of Rhodes Island for 25 years. Before that, she traveled with her husband, Daddy Dr. Dan, as he's lovingly known. "Her paintbrush supported me through Medical School and Residency," he says. In fact, the work that we see is just a small grouping of her work. In the 70s and 80s, she painted murals all over New Orleans, New England and New York City. Her work covers the walls of many banks, hospitals and even the Federal Court House in Manhattan and Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island.

She and her husband own and manage three Urgent Care Centers in the Providence area. She has two children, Sarah, (26) who is a NY Police Officer and Aron (23) who is in school and following his parent's entrepreneurial spirit.

An exhibition last October at Noah's Art, however, is the first public showing in many yearts.. She was nudged to the show, but her proud friend, Barbara Rosenbaum. "Nudge is a mild word." Barbara arches an eyebrow and you can feel a fierce pride and love she has for Robin. Barbara adds. "Robin is multi-talented; she's an amazing friend, mother, business woman and she's real."