Artist of the Month: Robin Reece
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
September's Artist of the month is Robin Reece, a watercolor artist and teacher based in Bellingham, WA.
What first drew you to making art, and what has kept you making it?
I have been making art since I can remember. I was always drawing in sketchbooks as a kid. I felt “good” at it and received lots of positive affirmations around the things I created, which encouraged me to keep creating. It always just felt like it came “naturally” and I enjoyed it. Being creative is part of who I am and who I have always been to my core.
When did you first realize that making art might be more than a hobby?
I knew when I was young that I would be an artist in some shape or form. My dad is an architect and so I was fully aware that there were creative professions. My goal since I was about 6 years old was to be a famous “artist” - truthfully, I wanted to be a rockstar. At the end of the day, whether it was music or digital art or fine art, all of it was creative and I was on that track from a young age.
What experiences, places, ideas, or influences have shaped the work you make today?
I never thought I would be a painter let alone an art “teacher”. In fact, I switched from being a painting major in college to a more digital art focus because I specifically didn’t want to be a starving artist or art teacher. There were far more high paying careers in the digital art realm. 20 years later, I have come full circle and am a painter and an art teacher. The universe had its own agenda, I suppose. Now that I have fully embraced teaching watercolor, there have been many art teachers in my path that have helped to shape my style of teaching. The terrible teachers who gave Ds for attendance aside from the straight A work I created. The ones who were on power trips thinking they were God’s gift to the art world. More recently, I shadowed local artist Michael Heath, who I consider to be not only an amazing mentor but also a friend. He showed me that watercolor is magical and art isn’t all that serious. It should be fun. After all, it’s just putting color on paper.
How has your artistic practice evolved over time? What has changed, and what has remained constant?
I transitioned from being on the verge of a music career to a 20 year career as a portrait photographer. When I moved to Bellingham in 2021 I had no idea that watercolor was in my future. Taking ONE class with Michael Heath at BellinghamART would change the trajectory of my creative path forever. I have always been business minded and that remains a constant thread in my creative practice. What I am trying to learn how to do more of is to create art for fun and just for me. I’m trying to shift my thought process from “the end result must have a purpose” to “I am creating simply just because I like creating - purpose or not, client or not”
What do you hope people notice, feel, or consider when they encounter your work?
I hope that people feel inspired, whether that’s in my class or when they see a piece I created
What are you working on right now?
Truthfully, I am working on (always) trying to make more money haha! Seriously, I am trying to build a positive space whether it’s in person at my art classes or online in youtube channel where people feel empowered to create art in a non-threatening way. I want people to believe in themselves more. In doing so, I also hope to continue to take that same advice!
Where do you go when you need to look at something differently?
I go to my spouse who will always help me see things through a different lens. She is one of my biggest cheerleaders and has always believed in what I do.
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Want to see more of what Robin's up to? Check out her latest tutorial on YouTube, follow along on social media, or head to her website to sign up for a watercolor class and see her full event calendar.
Visit Robin and other WAST artists' studios the first two weekends of October! https://www.studiotour.net/map-2
Comments