We were lucky to catch up with Collin Rowland recently and have shared our conversation below.

Collin, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Absolutely. And thank you so much for having me.

Truthfully, risk has been a common theme in my life. I even wrote a song about it once. It’s all about faith. Why would one take a risk of any kind unless they believe it could have a positive outcome?

One example of this  recently was selling our 100 year old home, our commercial investment properties, and art gallery in Covington, Kentucky and moving to Sarasota, Florida. We were well established in the greater Cincinnati, Ohio / Covington, Kentucky area and very comfortable there; however, we were looking for new opportunities and felt led to move to Florida during the pandemic. No one can truly prepare you for all the changes that can come in this process.

For years we had talked about having a large studio along with a large property to have events. We started looking at various properties in northern Kentucky, and nothing seemed to stand out. And We had often talked about moving to Florida on various occasions when visiting my wife’s parents in Sarasota. It was not until the summer of 2019 when we came down for our yearly vacation that things started to fall into place. The ironic part about this story is that we had decided on the drive down that we would NOT talk about moving and just enjoy the vacation. Well, that did not last long. The first day we were in Sarasota, Shelli’s cousin Stan introduced me to an interior designer who opened my eyes to the gaps in the art selection and the needs she has as a designer. From that point on, things started to fall into place in my mind and in our family as we began the long process of moving 1000 miles across the country.

This journey took almost a full two years to unfold, and yet it was perfect timing. We found our home almost by accident that has enough land to build a 3000 square foot art studio and even space to have events. Plus, it is a mid-century gem of a home just waiting to be remodeled. So, in addition to our studio build we also have a remodel in process as well. Until then, my art studio is in my two-car garage. In essence, this is exactly what we had been looking for and could not find up north.

Now that we are here we are getting connected into the Sarasota community and marketing both in the Florida and national markets.

Plus, my wife recently left her healthcare position of more than 20 years to join Rowland Fine Art. We are all in and passionate about planting seeds of love and inspiration through contemporary, mixed media fine art.

Collin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Well, the pursuit of art and its many forms began when I was very young. From drawing, painting, songwriting, dancing, music production, to my most current work, artistic expression has become incredibly valuable, spiritual, and meaningful to me.

Then, over the last fourteen years I have become an award winning, mixed media, artist. I have worked alongside Mark Schmidt with Studio Vertu, collaborated with Daniel Augur to form a Rowland Augur line of work, produced multiple bodies of artwork, shown in dozens of art galleries, and eventually owned my own art gallery and studio in Covington, Kentucky for more than eight years. I create original, limited series, and commissioned mixed media, multi-dimensional, designs through the use of a variety of quality materials such as UV resistant resin epoxy, layered high resolution original photography, and so forth.

In my view, any medium of art can be a vehicle for communication. Where narrative, metaphors and ideas can be expressed. Through conceptual modern art I explore spirituality and prophetic notions in the hope to discover and inspire through both form and content.

For me the goal is to notice the miraculous, to see beauty all around and to inspire the viewer with subtle and obvious interpretations of thought provoking concepts. To make the invisible visible.

We love to partner with our clients to bring beauty into spaces that we live, work, and play. We value quality workmanship, innovative design, and professionalism that is not always seen in the art world.

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

That’s a great question. I heard the job of an artist is to take notice, to be aware of beauty and the miraculous that’s all around us. In the mundane and dramatic alike. Then, to put that inspiration into the artwork in hopes to inspire the viewer to notice beauty and the miraculous that’s all around. My artwork has become centered around this idea.

Throughout my journey as an artist, I have also become fond of seeds and what they represent. In and of itself it has little purpose. Although, if it dies to itself and is reborn, it can become something incredible.

So, as you can see, I see art and every creative expression just like the seed described, one that has the ability to transform spaces and lives through beauty, form, color, light, texture, line, sound, and content. My mission for as long as I can remember, has been to plant seeds of love through my artwork, songwriting, relationships, how I live my life, and more. I am passionate about the power of God’s creative expression of Love and how it can change a person’s life, because it has changed mine.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I believe one of the best ways a society can support artists is by providing funding and grants for community art projects, opportunities to beautify the cities they represent, affordable mentoring art programs for teens and individuals to develop talents and abilities, as well as, local events that feature various art forms giving a platform for local artists to exhibit their work. It will not only assist and help develop local artists, but can draw people to these communities, bring economic growth, and increase sales for local businesses.

While living in Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington, Kentucky I was fortunate to have experienced that very thing. And now living in Sarasota, Florida I am learning there is a similar attitude towards the arts here as well of which I’m grateful.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rowlandfineart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rowlandfineart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rowlandfineart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/collinrowland/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeVoIaXHhvY
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/rowland-fine-art-sarasota?osq=rowland+fine+art