SUZANNE CHESSLER

Special to the Jewish News

D

an Robbins can tell a personal story about each of
four favorite paintings displayed in his suburban
Chicago home. Although his truthful tales credit a
different person for each rendering — his mother,
stepfather, friend and himself— ultimately they all rely on him.
Robbins, while living in Detroit and working for Palmer Paint
Inc., developed the paint-by-numbers craft that motivated these
and millions of would-be artists starting in the 1950s. The kits,
complete with numbered patterns and supplies, let untrained
hands turn out colorful landscapes, seascapes, people, animals and
just about anything else that happened to strike their fancy.

MASTER

on page 82

Dan Robbins:
Creatino- part
of our cultural
heritage.

6/11
1999

Detroit Jewish News

79

