We were lucky to catch up with Robin Roberts recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Robin, thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
Yes, I have been earning a living from my creative work. However, it includes an array of creative fields, such as theatrical scenic design, teaching and visual arts, I began my theatrical scenic design career after attending graduate school at UCSD. My first job was working as an assistant scenic designer for The Old Globe Theatre. While working, I also searched for opportunities to work for smaller theatres as a scenic designer, with very small design fees. However, the combination of these experiences allowed me to gain knowledge of the working world of a theatrical scenic designer. It took many years, and I was patient, trying not to take on more than I could handle. One major milestone was applying and getting awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Grant, which allowed me to leave my full time theatre job and travel for 6 months. I was able to observe and study with great designers both in the US and in Europe (Copenhagen and Prague) Thinking back, I would not wish to speed up the process, because I may have missed opportunities by not being as present as I was.
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 have also been interested in pursuing creative activities, starting as a child. Art classes and art lessons were my favorite way to spend my time. I studied architecture at LSU and received a bachelor of architecture and worked in Baltimore, New York and Washington DC before deciding it was not as creative as I had hoped. This led me to pursue a MFA in theatrical scenic and costume design from UCSD and set me on a more creative path. For years, I designed scenery and also taught theatrical design classes in the Department of Theatre at University of San Diego. In recent years, I have found myself leaning into an individual and personal art practice-combining all of my previous education and experience into a new way of storytelling. Very recently I was selected to attend an artist residency at Chateau Orquevaux and it was an incredible experience to dedicate two weeks to artmaking, with no responsibilities or distractions. I will admit I was apprehensive whether or not I would be able to sustain the creativity needed to work all day every day. But once I was there, I fully embraced the creativity and excitement for exploring art continuously during my residency. There were other creative people around me, painters, writers and musicians-which added to the energy. During my time there, I created abstract collages from old French books that I had found in Paris. I also sourced foliage from around the grounds of the Chateau and created mono prints. I explored the idea of ‘blind contour drawing’ , where you concentrate on the subject, but don’t lift your pen or look down at the paper. Once I had made all of these pieces, I began to create compositions as a final outcome. I was very proud of the work and have been able to complete more pieces after returning home. The inspiration and ideas that came from there will continue with me for years to come.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
I strongly believe that keeping arts education in our schools is absolutely necessary. When arts are the first to be cut due to budget, I am convinced that we will not have the innovative ideas in any field in the future. The arts allows students to explore, to experience creativity, and to develop their style and personality. I think families can also participate by introducing their children to music, theatre, art museums and galleries and encouraging creative activities at home. As adults, I would implore continuing to visit art museums, galleries, and the theatre. When purchasing art for your home, consider supporting an artist instead of buying something from a big box store. There are many different price points for art and purchasing directly from artists can make a huge difference in their success.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
During the next year, I want to devote more time and resources to setting up art workshops and residencies. Right now, I am mostly teaching locally in San Diego, but I would love to be able to broaden my horizons by setting up workshops and residencies both within the U.S. and abroad. I experience great joy from the teaching process, and I think I have a lot to offer other artists at any skill level. I am interested in connecting with artists from different cultures and places to create a global exchange of ideas and art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Robinsanfordrobertsarart.com
- Instagram: mizrobin
Image Credits
Robin Roberts