Friday, January 4, 2013

Paint Party Friday: Week 43, Year 2 Check In Featured Artist: Robin Weinrib

image courtesy of Robyn Weinrib

Welcome to Week 43 of Paint Party Friday (Year 2) and to the next edition of our Featured Artist Series! (Would you like to be a PPF Featured Artist? Please click here for details!) This week's featured artist entices us with her enthusiasm, shares her passion, and finds healing through wonderful whimsical portraits.  Please welcome Robyn Weinrib!


Please tell us a bit about your personal history with painting. (When did you start painting? How has your painting evolved since you first started?)
I started to do Artwork after I had a horrible Motorcycle accident. I was a professional Dancer before the accident and ended up in a wheelchair. I went into a deep depression after the accident and when I was fighting to come out of it I knew I had to find another creative outlet... Dance had been my life and I no longer had the proper use of my legs. I just knew if I could do something creative I would get better psychologically.

I first started by doing artwork Digitally, but this wasn't enough for me so I tried Scrapbooking and then got into creating Cards. I still wasn't satisfied and felt like something was missing. I just knew I wanted to do more... I started to create those little ATC cards... But didn't really like working so little... It was too tame for me and constricted. I still felt like I was missing something... I started to look at a lot of Whimsical Portraits and found I loved them. I took a few workshops and with a lot of practice, I found my love for painting. Now I felt I was on the right track. Like I had come Home... It felt all warm and fuzzy!! Oh I got frustrated many times when my work didn't come out right... I had to learn more and more... As the years went by and many paintings that got thrown out, I finally found myself. That's not to say I still don't throw out my work. I'm my own worse critic!! I have that inner monster that a lot of gals talk about that tells me I'm not good enough, that others are so much better.. That I stink for the most part!! LOL I have learned over time to tell my Inner Monster to take a hike!! I remember when I put my first piece up for sale... It took about a month to get the guts to do this... When I got commissioned to do a piece for someone I said to them "Are you sure you want me ?" LOL. I am my own worse enemy sometimes.


What are your favorite techniques, media, and tools to use in creating your paintings?
 I am very much into Mixed Media.. I love the freedom of using whatever you want to create something... To combine mediums and then combine again over layers and layers of different paints, inks, papers... etc. LOL

My Favorite tool is my Fingers! I love to paint with them and get all dirty and messy.. I don't think I own a piece of clothing that doesn't have paint on them! LOL. I really need to invest in an Apron... ROFL!
 
image courtesy of Robyn Weinrib

and oh I'm a Hoarder now... I can not throw a supply away.. From Designer Paper to Paints, Inks, clay, embossing powders, stickers... Just anything that has to do with Art I want to hoard!! I say to myself "Maybe someday" Maybe someday I'll need this or that and use it! Maybe I should go on that show "Hoarders".. LOL Thank God I have a big Studio to put it all in and close the door! LOL

What is your favorite thing to paint? Why?
Whimsical Gals are my favorite thing to paint. I love to create big eyes and curly long hair.... I think it's because when I'm painting a whimsical gal I can get my inner feelings out... If I'm sad then she is sad, if I'm happy then she becomes happy and a bit more whimsical... Sometimes to get myself out of a bad mood I'll create a real cutesy piece... When I'm done painting I feel so much better and my mood now matches my painting.
image courtesy of Robyn Weinrib

What is your proudest painting moment and/or greatest painting achievement so far? 
My Proudest moment was when I was commissioned to do a piece. She wanted a Steampunk gal... One that depicted her daughter... Her daughter had passed away several years back from Drugs and she wanted this piece to be special... I called this piece Steampunk Annie in honor of her daughter. Her daughter was a wild one but a good girl at heart. She passed away very young in her early 20's... She was beautiful girl and I wanted to capture that in the painting. Of course, once again I heard that inner monster telling me how horrible the piece was but when this gal got her painting to hear her tell me how much she loved it and how she cried when she first saw it so warmed my heart.

What's next in your painting future?
I want to learn, learn learn everything there is about Art!! If I was younger I would go back to college and study it... I'm Obsessed and Possessed!! LOL I'm 61 years old now and have lived a very interesting and wild life before that darned accident but until I started to get into Art once I couldn't dance anymore, I hadn't started to live again. Art is my passion now like Dance once was. I'm so grateful that I found myself again by doing Art.. There were many years after my accident that I was one miserable person. Deep in depression, feeling very sorry for myself and just not wanting to participate in Life on Life's terms. When I'm up in my Studio I can turn everything off!! My problems melt away until I leave and close the door to the messiest room in the house and go back to being a cripple in a wheelchair.. It's not so bad now. I have learned to live with my handicap... Just last year the pain I have, got very severe... I started to get depressed again... but I managed to pull myself out by pouring myself into my Artwork.. I tell ya the best antidepressant is Artwork!! There is no medication that is any better!

I do a lot of painting now and collages... Mostly Whimsical... oh yeah I'm an avid Art Journaler Also... Talk about Freedom!! When you are Art Journaling, there are no rules at all!! You can just go for it!!

**

Thank you for sharing your very inspiring story, Robyn - It is a pleasure to watch you "go for it"!

You can see a lot of Robyn's work on her blog
http://robynsfetishblog.blogspot.com
on Flickr
on Etsy
Visit her anytime on her Facebook Page
http://www.facebook.com/simplysassydesigns?ref=tn_tnmn
Robyn is also one of the Owners of an online store for Art Supplies and Scrapbooking Supplies called "Outlaw Women Scrapbook Emporium"
and last but not least she sells her Digital Stamps
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**Would you like to be a PPF Featured Artist? (Of course you do!)
Click here for more details!**

As always, please make sure to use your post URL address NOT your blog home page URL address as there are many late visitors who get confused as to which post is for PPF when they arrive (after Friday) at your website. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Linky, an explanation of how this tool works can be found on Week 1 and Week 2 Check-Ins.
Have a fantastic creative week! Next week we will talk more about the auction idea mentioned in Week 41.

32 comments:

  1. Happy New Year! Robin, I so loved your interview. I would love to go back to school for art too. And I love how you put finding painting, "Like I had come Home." I know that feeling!!

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  2. Very inspiring interview, Robyn!
    So great to learn about you and your art!
    Happy New Year!

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  3. so moving to read Robin's story. thank you for sharing your journey with us. you are so inspiring and your art is a joy to see!

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  4. wonderful art Robin!
    Great to meet you!

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  5. What a great interview with Robyn. Wow Robyn, you rock girl!! Age is but a number and college is always there for any age. Love your work. Congrats on your accomplishments.

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  6. I was touched by your openness, Robyn. and I also have a lot in common with your artistic ways. I use my fingers to create a lot . and its great to hear that you too have loads of "art stuff" that you horde just like me. I can not even trow away a piece of wore or a squeezed out to the max tube of paint...we can always squeeze out a little bit more....and sometimes that is all you need, right? I love the feel of the paint just like you do. Your style is so wonderful and expressive. You are so inspiring to read about. I will visit your sites and check out more of your art. -KAT- #11

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  7. I enjoyed seeing your art Robyn!
    Thank you!
    Happy new painting to all!

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  8. Thanks Everyone and thanks Kristin and Eva for featuring my work.. Now I feel so shy about showing them. LOL

    I hope everyone has a wonderful year this year and look forward to seeing everyone's fabulous work .

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  9. I love the way you throw yourself with total enthusiasm into your art. I can tell this not only by your artwork, but by your list of links!

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  10. What a lovely example of the redemptive qualities of art, a truly beautiful interview. Thank you Robyn for sharing your story and beautiful art!

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  11. A very inspiring interview, thank you for sharing Robyn. Loving your artwork. Wishing everyone a very happy and joyful New Year, Annette x

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  12. Happy PPF! I look forward to reading Robyn's interview, I love her art.

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  13. Robyn's interview was great as is Robyn's lovely art work, very much enjoyed reading this, art is a real help in life, there is something so magical about it!

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  14. Happy PAINT PARTY FRIDAY Everyone! Here's to a great 2013.

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  15. I am always in awe of mixed media artists, fabulous interview. Here's to a very arty 2013 for Eva and Kristin and us all.

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  16. Uplifting interview Robin..... I really enjoyed sharing your story.

    I love your whimsical style, especially the last piece with the cat.

    Keep painting happy!

    Happy 2013!

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  17. An amazing story Robin. Thank you so much for sharing and being so open. Your work is incredible and I'm so glad you found that warm & fuzzy feeling from Art!

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  18. Hey Everybody!

    I follow Robyn on flickr...and so happy to see her featured here!

    Happy New Year.

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  19. I am so inspired by your road to art. Your girls are wonderful and I love your textured backgrounds. Thanks for sharing.

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  20. Passion is the most important thing in life! So glad you have found yours again. Thank you for sharing an inspiring story. Love your art. :)

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  21. Creative art work and wonderful interview ~ Happy New Year to all ^_^

    (A Creative Harbor aka ArtMuse Dog and Carol ^_^)

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  22. greatly inspirational story! sorry about the accident but good thing it led to art. thanks for sharing!!

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  23. Thank you Robin for a very moving and inspirational interview. Beautiful art projects you shared too! I'm off to visit as many links as time allows.I may not have a post to link as blogger won't let me upload photos since yesterday :(

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  24. Great interview - and Robin your ladies are beautiful !
    ann at Whimsyville

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  25. Wow, what a story you've got to tell, Robyn! I admire your strength and courage getting on with your situation and making art the way to express yourself!

    Wish you all the best

    Ilona

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  26. Great interview Robyn. I like the passion of painting with your fingers. True art moves in many ways.

    Russ

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  27. Your story is inspiring, my story is similar, I was an athlete before my car accident changed my life. Art saved me also from depression. You are never too old for collage, I went when I was fifty and there where two ladies who were in their sixties, we became the grans for the youngsters. Oh and I love your work.

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  28. I have checked every blog and found a few to follow.
    Thanks for the party......Happy New Year
    Janice

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  29. It is so exciting to add art here. I love the community and love spending the week clicking on other people's art. What a fabulous way to learn! And connect! Thanks again for being here PPF! Lovies, Samara

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  30. Wow, what an inspirational story yours is about overcoming adversity and coming out on top! So glad you chose art and are doing so well at it, as well as it being a healing factor for you psychologically. I enjoy seeing your pieces shared here! Thanks for sharing so much of your life story with us. HPPF!

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  31. What a great story. I have always believed that Art is Heart healing and you prove it. I love hearing the stories of those painting and why they do it. Its very inspiring. Thanks for sharing your lovely work and story with us. HPPF

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  32. What an amazing story! I love how art has freed Robyn! Patsy

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