We recently connected with Robert Schoolfield and have shared our conversation below.

Robert, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I have always wanted to do something interesting. When I was young I remember thinking about what I wanted to do when I was older, but I was clueless on that answer – I just knew I didn’t want to work in an office setting. I related to creative outlets, such as writing, art, and music, so I started to go in that direction. Looking back, it makes sense because I often was recognized for school projects that were art related. I didn’t really start pursuing art as a career until after high school. Until then, art was just something I have always done. Around that time I was going to a community college, but I didn’t feel like I belonged, and it seemed like I was going to college because it was the ‘right’ thing to do. I was also struggling with my mental health. Art became something more than a hobby, and more than a career. It seemed necessary. I started making art a lot, and I began to enter into art shows. The first show that I entered was at the Association for Visual Arts (AVA) in my hometown of Chattanooga, TN. The piece sold before the opening night, and that boosted my confidence immensely. I started making even more art, and I never looked back.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Those are big questions, but I will do my best. The simple answer is that my name is Robert Schoolfield, and I am an artist. I do a lot more than that, but art is my main focus and passion. I’m a childhood cancer survivor, and a survivor of mental health. I write, play music, and I really love my family. Aside from art, I also work as a peer support for other people struggling with their mental health. My art is heavily influenced by my life and all of the things I have lived through.

The way that I got into art goes back to my early childhood, with influence from my grandmother. My grandparents helped raise my brothers and I, and my grandmother happens to be an artist. I was fortunate enough to have someone in my life who encouraged my creativity from an early age. She would let me use some of her supplies. I specifically remember drawing on a dry-erase board, and drawing and erasing scenes. I drew and painted quite a bit. She gave me the freedom to create without any type of control, only encouragement.

When I got older and started taking art more seriously, I started to enter into art shows. After I started getting into shows, I was able to network, and I began meeting new people. Some people that really helped my career are Keeli Crewe, of Area 61 Gallery, and the Lakey family at Art Warehouse. I also did a lot of research on my own. So, one of the main ways that I got into the art world was, and is, from hard work. I love what I do and I spend a lot of time doing it. I think what I do is genuine and people can see that for themselves.

Aside from accolades and war stories, one of the most fulfilling things about my art journey is the relationships that I build along the way. I enjoy guiding people to their potential. While the art is interesting, and cool, and all that, the real art is the people. If I am able to inspire someone else, or help someone realize their potential, that’s what really means a lot to me. Success can be defined in a lot of ways, and while recognition and a flourishing-potent art career are goals, I never want to lose my humanity in the process.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Well, from a career perspective, I have been turned down from a lot of art shows, and didn’t make the cut. That has happened plenty of times, but I have never given up and I never will. In my personal life, I have been through a lot mentally, and that’s where I learned what resilience is. I don’t want to turn this into an American Idol audition, but it was extremely difficult to bounce back from conditions that I led myself to. I still don’t know how I did it, and I believe it was because of something greater than myself.

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

I know that one of the goals that I have is to be the best artist that I can be. I have always imagined being in the history books along side of the greats, whether I am around to see that or not. I also want to build people up along the way. Inspiring and being inspired is a pretty big driving force. I feel like the art that I make would be appreciated in museums. I have often said that I make museum art. There are plenty of things that I make that people wouldn’t necessarily want in their living rooms. Maybe there is too much pink involved?

Contact Info:

• Website: www.schoolfieldart.com
• Instagram: @schoolfieldart