We recently connected with Robin Whalan and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Robin, thanks for joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

It’s kind of hard for me to answer that, really. I went to college for interior design; so I think I can say that if I knew that I would end up being on a creative path at this stage in my life, I would have preferred taking that route instead of opening a bar. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy what I did- I loved it. But if I had followed my original creative path and started practicing interior design straight out of school, I can only assume I would be well established doing that by now. It’s a bit more of a challenge to start a fresh new career from the ground up when you’re this far into life. On the other hand- if I was supposed to land here now. Doing what I do now- I needed to live all that I have lived so that I could get here to create the work.

Robin, 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?

My name is Robin Whalan but some people prefer to call me by my online business name, Bored Human. I cast kind of a wide net of creative ventures but printmaker and illustrator head the top of the list. Over the past few years I have released two adult coloring books and a children’s book but I would say that those who know me probably associate me most with my illustrative line work and block printing. When it doesn’t feel like we’re living on the surface of the sun, you can usually find me at the local art fairs and festivals. As of late, I’ve rekindled my love for the abstract and have been stepping out of my comfort zone to create some brightly colored ink on paper pieces. I love delving into new things. I’ve recently started offering some block printing workshops out of my studio for others who also like to spice it up and learn new things. Spending the past 20 years in the service industry really opened me up to making human connections. My favorite part of the creative industry I now find myself in is that it still allows me to make those connections, just in a different environment. Being able to share my stories through art and having others feel safe to open up and share with me in return is something I am truly grateful for.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

During the great grounding of 2020, I owned a small bar and coffee shop in downtown Houston. After tackling all of my home improvements, like everyone else, I ran out of things to do, also like everyone else. I’ve always been a creative being, so it wasn’t long before my brain went to filling my days with making art. That’s when the real bored human was born. I started out making and selling greeting cards and those turned into full illustrations, which then turned into coloring book number one, ‘Everything Is Fine’. My bar was only 863 square feet and not in the best area. We thought that opening when some others started to reopen wasn’t a safe call for our employees or our customers. I knew we were in for the long haul (ended up to be 14 months and 4 days) so I was definitely going to need to make some more coloring books! haha. I did and 3 moths later came coloring book number two, ‘Love Is. Battlefield’. I booked myself for any outdoor markets that I could and started hocking my cards, prints, books, T-shirt’s and these weird little dioramas with moving parts that I made from cigar boxes, twigs from my yard and animal miniatures- printmaking entered the picture as well. It wasn’t long after we reopened in 2021 that I found myself needing to retreat from the bar business. I endured a lot of heavy life changes that year and into 2022. I am obviously not grateful for a pandemic but I feel grateful for having the time and space to start building what would unbeknownst to me, be my future full time job.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

When/if you buy art and you have access to the artist directly, buy it from the artist that made it. We live in a really strange world these days. I’ve had someone at a market read my children’s book, tell me how much they loved it and then asked me if it’s on Amazon. Wait…what? Haha. Third party sites take percentages of sales and charge you to list. Those sites are useful for gaining access to a larger audience (kind of, not really) but it’s always better to buy direct from the creator if they have a way to do so. I would also say, research what a creative project might cost before setting your expectations-just as you would a new roof. Artists and creatives do what other people either can’t or don’t want to do,  just like any other business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.boredhumanhtx.com
• Instagram: @boredhumanhtx
• Other: [email protected]