Sunday Salon: Sitting Down with Marsha Robinett

Today I am sitting down with Marsha Robinett, an artist who creates exceptional work in pencil.  Her story is inspiring, and I approached her to find out more about her personal artistic experiences.

Fork and Spoon @ Marsha Robinett

Marsha, after spending quite some time exploring your blog, website and Squidoo lens, I came away wondering what I could ask that hadn't already been answered on your informative sites.  But...there are still some things the Ancient Artist wants to know.

Like many artists, you talk about art being part of your childhood, but disappearing during many of your adult years.  What was it that reopened your heart and your eyes to the joys of drawing?

Even though I could always be found drawing as a child, this natural ability was never encouraged by my family, and there wasn't any art offered at school.  I grew up in a rural area on a small farm where everyone had work to do.  As I think back, my drawing seemed to be always getting in the way of my "duties" around the home.  My mother had passed away when I was just five and my grandmother stepped in as the mother figure in my life.  She was focused on teaching me to be a good wife and homemaker.

I married young, had a child and fell into being just what my grandmother had taught me to be...a good homemaker.  I did still pick up my pencil now and then and even took a life drawing class at one point...the interest never left, I think it was my focus.   I became a hairdresser and opened a small shop...expanding to a large salon with eight employees.  Now I had a new focus, making a living!

About ten years ago I downsized, moving my salon business to my home.  At this point much had changed in my life.  My daughter was on her own and I found myself single again with time on my hands...and looking at a retirement without anything to retire on!

So, why did this talent reemerge now?  I believe it was God's perfect timing.  I began by doing some loose sketching, then one of my salon customers saw my work and asked for a portrait, and things grew from there.  My salon customers were very encouraging...even to the point of contributing financially toward the purchase of the tent that I use for art fairs.  Many people come into my tent at art fairs saying they drew as children.  I tell them that if God gave them the talent it is still there...He never takes it back.  I also tell them that I didn't want to end up in a nursing home rocking back and forth in my rocking chair saying "I bet I could have done it if I had just tried!"

How does working in black and white allow you to express your artistic voice differently than if you worked in color?  Do you have any favorite tool without which you could not draw comfortably?

My drawing style is all about the detail.  Working in black and white allows me to be more intimate with my subject, showing details that would otherwise be lost in color.  Yet as I work, the color is always there in my mind...and I believe it is also in the mind of the viewer.

  Midnight Rose @ Marsha Robinett

I believe my drawings allow the viewer to see the colors of their own imaginations.  For example, "Midnight Rose" was actually a pink rose but the viewer, in their mind, may see a yellow rose.  Then there is "Cracked on Black," when you look at this drawing your mind tells you that the yolk is yellow...yet some see the shell as brown while others see it as white!  Our minds associate colors with certain objects...color doesn't have to be on the paper for us to see it.

As for the tool I could never do without...no hesitation here, it is my Carbon Pencil!  This one pencil can create the softest shadows in a portrait or the deepest darks in the background.  Carbon has a warm undertone to it and when combined with cream toned paper it gives my drawings a tonal warmth and depth not usually seen in black and white art.  This look has become my signature style and it is the carbon pencil that does it.

Cracked on Black @ Marsha Robinett

How do your still lives, such as "Afternoon Tea", speak to your idea of connecting to the story of life?

Well now, this is an interesting question.  Just the fact that when asking it you chose this drawing in particular to mention tells me that you and "Afternoon Tea" have already made a connection.  Perhaps you are a tea drinker or have a friend who is...or perhaps you were attracted from an artistic point of view.  I enjoy drawing the familiar.  We all collect things that have meaning in our lives.  For some it's the memory of a special time in their past, for others it's something they enjoy doing yet today.

As an artist I have always believed that there are two stories to be told about each of my drawings...my story, and that of the viewer.  Together they "connect the story of life", together they complete the drawing.

You are a self-taught artist -- meaning that you sought out the type of instruction that held the most value to you.  What would you tell an aspiring artist who didn't know where to start?

The first piece of advice I would give is to take some basic drawing classes...regardless of what medium you are interested in.  Drawing teaches you to see...and there is a tremendous difference between seeing and looking!  Join an art club; I used to travel an hour once a week to attend...what I learned was invaluable.  Get on the web and find artists whose work you admire and ask questions.  If they offer classes, sign up.  Read...go to the library or book store, there are lots of instructional art books by great artists crammed full with information.  There are online communities that will critique your work, join them and submit regularly.  Two that come to mind are Art Papa and Wet Canvas...I'm sure there are others.  Lastly, keep your focus and never doubt your ability.

Art is, by necessity, a solitary experience.  Where do you find your most valuable critical feedback regarding your work?

This has been a challenge.  In the beginning it came from instructors and club members...but at some point I needed to look further.  I started posting my drawings on Art Papa and Wet Canvas.  It was here that I became familiar with Mike Sibley, Armin Mersmann and JD Hillberry.  I simply bit the bullet one day and emailed all three, asking if they world look at my website and critique my work...to my surprise all three said yes! When I am working on a portrait and questioning the likeness I have a couple of friends that I depend on.  After you have looked at something for so long you sometimes loose your ability to "see"...where new eyes can pick up on the discrepancy immediately!

Do you ever produce art you don't like?  Or have a slump, when nothing seems to be working?  If so, how do you get yourself back on track?

Absolutely! I made a pact with myself in the beginning to never throw anything away...today it shows how I have grown, but in the beginning it was just awful.  I've corrected a lot of these issues by never starting the final steps of shading until I am absolutely satisfied with my line drawing.  I've also learned to just walk away, set it up somewhere and look at it for awhile.  If all else fails...I go shopping!

And lastly, where did you learn how to create that terrific Squidoo lens?

I have always been big on research and this is just what I did here.  I did a "how to" search on Squidoo...wish I had kept the links because you aren't the first to ask this question!  I will tell you this, everything you need to know is there.  I also spent some time looking at other lenses...deciding what I liked and didn't like.

I approached the basic layout the same as I do for my blog and website...making sure they knew up front what to expect or learn.  Adding appropriate links to pertinent materials and making sure all were working correctly.  In all my sites I'm very aware to leave white space for the eye to rest...this is as important in print as in art.  Another thing that I think is important is to make sure your text is "scannable"...meaning people rarely read the entire article but instead will scan down, stopping when something catches their eye.  You have to put in "eye catchers" by using bold or italic print at the beginning of new paragraphs of topics.  You're an artist, look at the layout from an artists point of view...you want them to look through your Squidoo Lens or Website and if a link takes them out you want to bring them back.

I would say My Squidoo Lens has been one of the best things I've done to generate hits to my website and blog...and it's free.  If you're interested in developing one and have questions, just ask. 

You can see more of Marsha's work by following the links in this post, including her Starving Artist's Portfolio. 

As for the Ancient Artist's Squidoo Lens...well, I've gotten as far as signing up.  I guess I've got some research to do.

If you enjoy these posts, please comment or forward them to others who might enjoy them.  And if you are an artist who would like to contribute an interview, I would love to hear from you.  Look for the "Email Me" link in the upper right hand column.

Comments

[Paulette]

Great interview. I found Marsha's blog recently, she is a wonderful artist!

[Cindy]

Wonderful interview! Marsha is one talented artist and I have enjoyed getting to know her. Thanks Sue for your Sunday Salons, I look forward to them every week.

[Marsha Robinett]

Sue,
I just want to take a moment to say it was wonderful working with you and to let you know how much I appreciate this opportunity to tell my story and showcase my art. You've interviewed so many seasoned, well established artists...I feel part of an elite group of artists.

Sincerely,
Marsha

[sue]

Thank you, Bonnie. I very much appreciate your comments. And I agree, teachers are important, they are all around us, it's only a matter of finding the right information. I have learned so much through these interviews - I hope others have, too.

[Bonnie Luria]

Congratulations again Sue! Marsha is a superb artist. Incredible that she's self taught. She obviously picked the right teacher!
Thank you for bringing this wonderful interview to us.