We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Robert Hoops. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Robert below.

Robert, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

Typically, when an artist says they’ve been mischaracterized or misunderstood, they’re referring to the outer world or an audience. I’ve come to a place in life where I can look back on my creative journey and realize that I, myself, misunderstood my own art.

I viewed my creative skillset and artistic endeavors as a path to a career, or as a goal to become a full-time freelancer supporting myself off being a photographer or artist or drone pilot or apparel brand owner or… you get the picture. I can’t quite put my finger on when it happened- gradually, over the years, I’m sure- but at some point, creating art became a mean to some financial end. To a title. “What do I do for a living? I’m a photographer,” for example.

When I first started making a splash in Kansas City with my conceptual photography, I was in galleries, art show after art show, and in talks with some galleries to begin doing performance art pieces based on my work. Back then, it was purely creative expression for me. I wasn’t thinking about making money from my photography or any other creative skill in my artistic toolbox. I was making art for the sake of art. And I lost sight of that as adulthood mundanity, climbing the corporate ladder, and becoming a parent who can provide a future in this post-capitalist hellscape became my focus.

However, I achieved that goal. My creative skillset led to my work in the marketing industry in a creative capacity. I became a freelance photographer and drone pilot on the side. I established a clothing brand and saw relative success. I didn’t want to listen to all the warnings that doing the creative thing you love for somebody else- as your job, as an obligation, every day- would burn you out and sap the joy out of something that was once a sacred form of creative expression. But it happened.

I find myself now in a new season of life. I changed careers; after numerous post-pandemic layoffs and A.I. decimating the marketing industry I clawed my way into, I’m now a licensed massage therapist. Big left turn, right? I intend to continue my growth into the wellness industry, as wellness is something that personally matters very much to me- physically, mentally, and spiritually. But a secondary goal in pursuing a career that was more relaxed, more meaningful, was to return to a state of being where my nervous system can chill out enough to let my creativity flow like it used to. I’m creating art for the sake of creating ART again. I’m not in it for the money. I just want to express my emotions, my ideas, my concepts, and put them out into the world. That’s where I’m at now.

Through some really kickass therapy, I’ve come to realize that my passion for expressing myself artistically is a basic need for my well-being. I still operate an online store for my drone prints, and I’m working to bring a new apparel brand to life that isn’t Kansas City focused (I’m inspired by art-driven brands like Obey and Curbside). But mostly, I’ve returned to my roots: creating for creation’s sake. I’m talking to galleries again. I’m moving away from Meta platforms on social media and putting my boots on the ground in our city’s creative spaces, living analogue, and networking while breathing the same air as other artists. I’m creating work from the heart.

Robert, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Robert, an artsy fartsy weirdo in Kansas City, Missouri. I’m an illustrator, painter, award-winning conceptual photographer, FAA certified drone photographer, playwright, and fledgling musician. I also have a past involving acting on stage and in indie films, as well as founding an apparel brand that was carried in shops like Hallmark, Made in KC, and featured at numerous maker festivals like Strawberry Swing.

I mostly enjoy illustrating with watercolor, ink, or digitally on an iPad through Procreate. Currently, I’m creating larger pieces, which is something I used to love but haven’t done for maybe 20 years. As a photographer, my passion is bringing my creative concepts or sketchbook drawings to life in front of the lens. There’s something magic about transforming the space in front of you, as well as the people working with you, into something else for a moment in time. I find collaborating like this deeply fulfilling. I was able to expand upon creative photography as an art form when I became certified to fly drones. It opened up entirely new planes and angles to shoot from. It’s limitless as long as your imagination is.

I’ve received a few accolades for my creative photography over the years. I was nominated for The Pitch’s Best of KC twice and won the People’s Choice Award for Best Indie Photographer at RAW KC.

In recent years, I’ve become involved in the modern psychedelic rock scene, which nurtures visual artists through the rich tradition of gig poster art. I’ve befriended some of my favorite bands and worked with other artists all over the world to collaborate on music-inspired art projects. A really fun one, pictured below, was a King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard themed tarot card deck. I was tapped to join an international team of illustrators to create art for this, and we were all huge fans. I drew two pieces for the deck.

People can find me and my work on Bluesky @theceruleanfire, and my portfolio is online at roberthoops.com.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I would love to be able to look back on my life, from my deathbed, with the satisfaction that I was able to create some kind of magnum opus. Some cumulative narrative encompassing decades of work that will outlive me.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I come from a lower-middle class, blue-collar family. I’ve met artists who come from money. They’re well-adjusted. They had all their needs met. Their paths weren’t necessarily easy- I don’t want to invalidate anyone’s lived experiences- but I’ve found that those kinds of artists can’t relate to the socioeconomic stressors that impact your ability to sit with the stillness of your creative ideas and draw inspiration from them, or to have the time and resources to create works of art. You’re living in survival mode. You’re working to un-learn years of people telling you that you can’t do this; that you’re going to die penniless and alone if you pursue art.

I grew up surrounded by a support system that told me I was exceptional, but in the same breath, cautioned me not to dream too big or really, truly go for it. I carry a ton of regret for not jumping on golden opportunities presented to me over the years because of that fear instilled in me. I know I’m by no means alone in this; so many artists were raised the same way as me. I realize that my support system meant well. They were just looking out for me from the only place they knew how to. But working to heal that innate sense of trepidation that this messaging scars you with, and being resilient enough to realize that the life of an artist truly is a journey and not a destination, are key struggles. This is a long game, a path of steady persistence.

I would also add that there are so, so many forces in the world telling you to dull down your authenticity- not to burn too bright, not to be “too much,” not to sing with your full chest. I wrote a song last year called Pulling Punches; it’s the most personally meaningful artistic work I’ve created in recent years. It’s all about this concept. An excerpt:

Dull it down, now
You know you cannot
Go all the way
Bury it deep, down
You will only
Chase them all away
Again

Dim your light, low
Else they shield their eyes
And pull down the shade
Keep your voice, down
Else they plug their ears and
Scream at you to turn that shit off
Again

Don’t you remember?
Don’t dare forget

You cannot love fully
You cannot hug tightly
You cannot laugh loudly
You cannot confide deeply

I’ll never understand why people do this, and I don’t want to. Why do we cling to the mundane? Why do we try to suppress people and art that make us feel deeply? Feel your feelings. Burn bright. Shout from the mountaintops. March to your own drumbeat. Be your authentic self. It may be a lonely road, but at least the road is honest.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.roberthoops.com
• Other: Bluesky: @theceruleanfire.bsky.social

Image Credits

Robert Hoops