Roger Robinson's Artist Statement
Painting is, for me, like going for a ride with my brushes – a ride like no other on earth. There is nothing quite as exciting as standing in front of a perfect, white, handmade piece of paper and seeing an image appear as though by magic. My brushes seem to have a mind of their own, and when the painting is finished, I am still in awe of what has happened. Each piece represents my personal experience with nature; each one I complete teaches me something more about watercolors; something more about myself.
My art is a reflection of my love affair with this part of California – its simplicity as well as its majesty. Believing in the notion that the artist looks at the ordinary and sees the extraordinary, I have an unending wealth of subjects pleading with me to paint them, everywhere I look. From rugged coastlines to peaceful hideaways; from the village streets to the abandoned depot I am awed by it all, touched with gratitude, and compelled to record it.
Classically trained in abstract oils, I bring the lessons I learned from that discipline into the world of watercolors. Now painting in the realistic style, I have introduced more intricate details in my pieces, a more airy, open feel, and a focus on rich velvety colors. Lighting has become more important, too, with two favorite times of day: dawn, when the earth is just welcoming the new day’s light, and the close of the day, when the world is barely clinging to the last of its daylight.
More than anything, my art is an emotional expression of the things I find valuable. The delight is in discovering that my responses are shared. When just one other person is moved by my work, I consider that the greatest success of all.
With every finished painting, I learn something more about myself. Those lessons are what keep me ever excited to stand in front of that vast empty whiteness waiting for the magic to happen; waiting for the “ride of my life!”