Featured Artist Rebecca Robinson

Artist Rebecca Robinson employs unusual materials and a dramatic black and white palette in large scale works that make impact. Learn more by visiting her website.

 

 

Soon after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, I wasn’t quite sure the direction I wanted to take with my creativity. But, I knew I wanted to become an entrepreneur. I’ve always had an interest in fashion design and I earned an Associate’s Degree in this field. I began to tackle the fashion market by developing a line of one-of-a-kind handbags. After about a year of research and testing, I created my first collection of purses that were made directly from my art canvas.

 

 

I would paint mural-sized artwork in acrylic on canvas, and apply the special coating that I invented to each finished painting. Finally, I would apply a handbag pattern to cut and sew each purse. My handbag collection became “works of art you can carry.”

 

 

For about five years ,I positioned myself in the market as a new luxury handbag designer. However, the demands of competing with more well-known brands became a challenge and extremely costly. I soon realized that I really missed painting and creating gallery work.  I needed a break from the fashion industry.

 

 

In 2015, I decided to put the handbag business on the shelf while I spent more time focusing on creating new artwork and rebranding myself. I wanted the public to know that I was an artist first, and to actually see that my art went beyond just handbags.

 

 

I was also bored with traditional materials. I decided to take some time to practice creating an entirely new art form. A day at a local hardware store changed the direction of my artwork forever. I purchased a bag of concrete, tar, a caulk gun and a gallon of white latex paint. Then I began the process of creating some of my most powerful work yet.

 

 

The texture, value, and negative space spoke volumes. Painting with absolutely no color, yet achieving a composition that still resonates with so many art enthusiasts, has been extremely rewarding.

 

 

Five years later, I have been very fortunate to have been able to exhibit these concrete pieces in dozens of art galleries including commission works with the Arts Council of Indianapolis. One of my largest pieces to date is the concrete and tar mural I created in downtown Indianapolis that is at least twenty feet wide! The task took a toll on my body through the extensive process of using the concrete medium on such a large scale.

 

 

Even though I work with concrete and tar medium, I still enjoy working with acrylics on canvas. I continue to focus on black and white compositions and the beauty of manipulating negative space.

 

 

In the immediate future, my goal is to dive into more commercial work. I would love to see my original paintings and limited-edition prints used on television and movie sets and found in luxury hotels, corporate buildings, and especially private collections. I also look forward to a recent art gallery partnership that is in the works.

 

 

As an artist, I have grown tremendously. I have learned that creativity comes in all forms. It is always a priority for me to challenge myself and remain authentic to the love of art. The best is yet to come.

 

Artist Rebecca Robinson invites you to follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

 

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