Today we’d like to introduce you to Antwanette Robinson.
Hi Antwanette, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have always loved to create. I grew up enjoying coloring and crafting.I come from a line of seamstresses and photographers on my black side and musicians on my Mexican side. I’ve always had an appreciation for art, but would never have given myself the title artist. In my adult years the extent of my creativity was crafting party favors and birthday party decorations for my five children and doing crafts with them. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom most of my adult life, homeschooling my children for 10 years. During the pandemic, I tapped into my creative side as many people did. I taught myself to sew a bit. We also did a study in our homeschool focusing on different artists. During our “Frida Kahlo” week, I walked my children through a process of painting their self portrait over the course of a few days. My son Ziggy encourged me to sit down and paint with them one night. I sat down and attempted to sketch and paint my daughter. It didn’t exactly look like her, but that night something sparked in me. Every night thereafter I would pick another loved one to sketch and or paint. It became such an obsession at that point. I’d stay up way past my usual bedtime every night painting. I soon began to paint faces of women of color with beautiful indigenous textiles and jewelry, trying to implement small elements of my cultures in each piece. I would share my process on Instagram just for fun. Just showing this new way I was spending some of my time during the pandemic. I received a lot of love and encouragement to keep going. Soon people started asking if I’d be open to painting a portrait for them of themselves or loved ones. This blew me away. Someone would want my art? I was just painting for the joy of it and trying to get better. When someone purchases a painting or art print from me, it just never gets old. It always blows me away and blesses me more than I can express. My art on other peoples’ walls! Wow!
When I first started, I had no idea that I’d soon have a big encounter with anxiety. Anxiety came in and shook me to my core about a month and a half after I began painting. I’ve had some battles with it since then, but art has been such a blessing in my life. When I’m at my easel painting, it’s one of the few places where I can just turn off my racing mind or mental to-do list and just be. It’s a place where I can take a bit of a break from all my mom/wife duties and create. I thank the Lord for it continually. I’m so thankful for art. For this gift in my life as a mom of five in my 40s its so nice to have something thats for me, that brings such joy!! Also, for the community of creatives it’s connected me with in San Diego and on social media. I’ve met some of the most incredible people through my art.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the challenges I’ve faced is how to divide my time between my responsibilities as a wife and mom and my passion for art. My family is so incredibly supportive, and my biggest cheerleaders, but there’s just not enough time in a day to juggle it all and still make time to get all of the creative ideas I have in my head out into the world. I’m learning how important it is for us to take time, no matter what, to do the things that bring us joy. We have to fight for that. Every other aspect of our lives benefits from us doing so. I am a better wife and mom when I’ve had some time to pour into my art.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Black and Mexican self-taught artist born and raised here in San Diego. I’ve loved growing up as a mixed person with two cultures that I love learning more and more about. My art celebrates women of color, often featuring indigenous and cultural textiles, clothing and jewelry that honors identity, heritage, and individuality.
I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve been brave enough to keep trying, to keep working at getting better, and fighting to make time for my art, knowing that it makes me a better person.
I am not the most tech-savvy person, so it’s been tough navigating website building, social media and editing images for art prints, There’s been so much learning and growth in it though.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love the connections that I’ve made so far in San Diego with other creatives and online with people in other cities and states. Art connects us. It really does. I’d love to show my art more. I’ve been a part of one art festival a couple years back. People keep asking when I’ll do a solo show. I pray that can be in the works soon. I’d love to connect with fashion designers, textile artists, and jewelry makers, as these are elements I love incorporating in my work. The best way to support me is following me on social media, joining my mailing list and sharing my work if it moves you. Those things are huge to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.byantwanette.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byantwanette/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/ByAntwanette/100089650039102/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Viridiana Alatorre Photography
