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

Robin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a career in art was in college. My freshman year, I enrolled in art along with other foundational classes. Art class was my favorite and I couldn’t wait to continue my art education. Unfortunately, once I had to declare a major, I abandoned my true calling and chose a field that I felt offered more financial security. Once I declared a major in another field, I was no longer able to continue enrolling in art classes. Those classes were reserved for art majors. Fast forward to 2020 and I am a psychotherapist in full-time private practice (psychology was not my college major, by the way) navigating the pandemic and the transition to working remotely. My routine has been turned upside down like most people I know, which is difficult, yet it offers me an opportunity to make art a focus in my life once again. I enrolled in a remote art class at the Woodstock School of Art and I made a commitment to myself to never abandon my art practice again. The decision to make art a professional pursuit rather than a hobby came out of this time of immense change. For me, the pandemic led to a spiritual metamorphosis, and I realized that I had an artistic voice waiting to be expressed.

Robin, 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 identify myself as a contemporary abstract expressionist. I am a painter, printmaker, collage and encaustic artist. I started out doing representational art and shifted to abstract art when I started taking online abstract art classes in 2020 from a truly inspirational artist and teacher, Meredith Rosier. I found in abstraction the freedom of expression that I had been seeking. I no longer had preconceived notions about the outcome of my work. Because I create intuitively, with no end result in mind, I am open to seeing where the artistic process leads me. I explore my inner landscape and the natural environment for inspiration. My goal is to foster dialog and human connection through my artwork.

I am especially proud of the fact that in the span of a few years, I have been able to become a member of a vibrant arts community and show my work in various juried exhibitions alongside artists I admire. I have also participated in two invitational exhibitions this year and have been lucky enough to see my work in print in Issue #41 of Create!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I want to explore and make meaning of my life experiences. To connect to myself, understand myself better and observe how I am changed by my experiences, I go to the blank canvas and see what arises. I use artistic expression as a vehicle for connecting to my spirit, my internal world. My goal is to convey this expression in a way that resonates with others.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

It is the moment when everything else in the world disappears and I am fully in my process. I don’t see anything but shapes, color, line, markings. I see only what is in front of me. There is a stillness there that is golden.

Contact Info:

• Website: robinadlerart.com
• Instagram: @robinadlerart

Image Credits
Helena Palazzi