Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Robb.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I am the fifth of seven children. My parents are from California yet all seven of us children were born and raised in South America. My parents left the US when they were young adults in search of a life dedicated to helping humanity. As independent volunteers, they went wherever they were most needed, so we traveled a lot. I was born in Brazil, and by age 12 I lived and traveled to five different countries and spoke three languages, and I loved it. I remember each time we were going to move to a different country I got so excited. My favorite part of traveling was the geographically unique landscapes and wild nature of each country. We did a lot of our traveling by land, so we had to drive through miles and miles of uninhabited terrain. During those moments I felt the most connected to my inner self, to the part of me that wanted to be untamed and wild as well. It’s that same inner self that you hear and feel when you get real quiet and disconnect from the world around you that reminds you of your idealistic aspirations and naive dreams.
When I was 18, I persuaded my parents to let me volunteer as a humanitarian in Africa. Of course, my parents were terrified to let me go. They wrote the missionary family, whom I was in contact with about receiving me initially, about their concern for my safety because, well, its Africa. The couple replied informing my parents they would never send any of their children to live in Brazil due to the crime, violence, and disease. So off I went. I spent three years traveling throughout thirteen countries around central, east and South Africa. I worked with a team of like-minded volunteers who were setting up small humanitarian organizations in war-torn countries, composed of locals and sponsored by locals, to provide aid relief and rehabilitation within their own communities. In war-torn countries, foreigners aren’t allowed to reside more than a couple of months within its borders, so it was important for us to establish self-sustaining projects that could carry on after we left.
My most exhilarating memories of Africa was experiencing the remotest places in nature. How is it possible to experience both feeling so alive, so special and important and yet so small and humbled, flowing in harmony with such power and beauty. That’s how standing at the foot of Kilimanjaro will make you feel. And I will never forget driving through the Serengeti, experiencing the rush of Victoria Falls or the tranquility of swimming amongst the Zanzibar reefs. Nature is a powerful thing to the human mind. It causes us to stop, to observe, and to feel.
I have been living in San Diego with my three children and wonderful husband, Mike, since 2013. I only decided to paint professionally toward the end of 2016. I have been painting since I was fifteen, but it was just a hobby. Somehow, and without realizing it, I had the notion that being an artist was an unrealistic and irresponsible career choice. I’m sure most artists feel that way. When I was taking design at college, I received such a great reaction to my art that I decided to start selling my paintings and go from there. I’m really glad I did.
My family is so supportive of my art career. Whenever I need some feedback on a painting during a what-the-heck-am-I-doing moment, they are my honest critics; especially my daughter. Leilani is the most opinionated and particular 12-year-old you could meet, and quite the artistic and musical talent herself. When I was working on “Spirit Horse” (sold), I asked her opinion on how it was looking so far. This piece is a 48 x 48-inch giant, and as always when working on a large painting up close for hours on end, I begin seeing the image I have in my head of what I want it to look like rather than what it actually looks like. So Leilani tells me, after staring at it with an expression that I mistook for reverence and awe, “When I look at this painting I start to feel nauseous.” That’s how I know to step back and get some perspective on my work.
Please tell us about your art.
I mostly paint animals — no surprise. I remember always drawing animals as a child. Animals really are beautiful people. They can’t influence, manipulate and deceive with words as humans do. They are always true to who they are, and they speak their truth through their eyes. I always try to capture that truth in my paintings.
When I started painting in my early teens, I was a realist artist. I tried as best as I could to capture exactly what was before me. I thought that truly good artists could draw and paint incredibly realistic. As I got older, I realized that even though I was creating realistic paintings, the art that would stop me in my tracts and make me stare in awe was impressionism. I have learned a lot about the meaning of art in the last few years. The job of an artist is not to capture what they see but rather to interpret how they see it in a way that is unique to them. While it is very impressive to see art that is so realistic it’s difficult to discern if it’s a painting or a photograph, it’s moving to see a painting infused with the artist’s own imagination and interpretation. It wasn’t easy for me to switch to impressionism. I tend to get caught up with detail and forget to interpret, but I’m getting better at it. I also find it a lot more creatively infusing to paint with large strokes, texture, loose movement and being open to “happy accidents.”
My favorite medium is oil on canvas. I am really attracted to large canvases, so I tend to make large paintings. The largest painting I have done so far is “Through The Mist” (sold) measuring 43 x 79 inches.
One concept I try to remember and incorporate when planning a painting is the importance of light to humanity. People are naturally drawn to light, a sunrise, light reflecting off and through objects. When a painting has a strong sense of light, it captures the viewer in an emotional way.
The great thing about being an artist is that there is always more to learn and experience. Art is so vast and diverse. Even a veteran artist finds new joys and understanding as they experience different places, people, memories, and intellectual connections. Everything in life contributes to and influences an artist’s work. My art is definitely influenced by the animals I felt an affinity with growing up.
Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
I don’t think the role of an artist has or ever will change. Artist express what is in their heart, filtered through the creativity of their minds. The only thing that ever changes is the world around each artist. For every artist, there is a different source of passion. I feel fortunate to be an artist today as art has become accepted as a diverse expression and talent rather than a yardstick to conform to.
The way my art feels significant to me in relation to global issues is my great passion for the health of the planet and the environment. When I paint a whale or an elephant, I feel that I am bringing to life the importance of these majestic creatures to our existence. We really cannot survive as a race without animals, and their survival and well-being should be just as important to us as everything else we do. Someone may be drawn to one of my paintings for the style and colors, but I know that every day they will see that beautiful animal on their wall and it will influence their choices to live a life that supports the amazing planet we live on.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I am in the process of creating my website https://rebeccarobbfineart.com so, for now, I communicate with supporters and receive commissioned requests through Instagram @rebeccarobbfineart and via my email [email protected].
I am also the event coordinator at Stefanie Bales Fine Art gallery on 1504 India St, Little Italy. I am there every Saturday from 2 – 6 pm and exhibit a few paintings each week.
Fingers crossed my site will be done soon and will be a source of happiness and adventure for many people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rebeccarobbfineart.com/
- Phone: (619) 931-3285
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/rebeccarobbfineart
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/rebeccrobbfineart/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebeccaRobbArt
Image Credit:
My husband and I take the photos of my painting. My husband, Mike, took the photo of me.
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