Check out the Meet Brenda Article- *Voyage Tampa-01-18-22 (Full article link here)

“Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Robinson. 

Hi Brenda, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I found that as I listened to my intuitive spirit, I could paint. My ability to tell my stories is my superpower. I love to share what I specialize in. I specialize in painting hope. I love the quote by Bishop Desmond Tutu. “Live inside of hope, not aside. Light your candle. Hope is being able to see that there is light in spite of all the darkness” and then I follow up with a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. quote. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can.” 

I want to paint the stories that bind us, the beauty of our likeness. I paint the stories that make our hearts sing in memory and compassion. We all have messy, raggedy threads that become entangled with each other. Yet we all have the same DNA and we are connected whether we want to be or not. My art captures the energy of our humanity. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I found that as I listened to my intuitive spirit, I could paint. My ability to tell my stories is my superpower. I love to share what I specialize in. I specialize in painting hope. I love the quote by Bishop Desmond Tutu. “Live inside of hope, not aside. Light your candle. Hope is being able to see that there is light in spite of all the darkness” and then I follow up with a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. quote. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can.” 

I want to paint the stories that bind us, the beauty of our likeness. I paint the stories that make our hearts sing in memory and compassion. We all have messy, raggedy threads that become entangled with each other. Yet we all have the same DNA and we are connected whether we want to be or not. My art captures the energy of our humanity. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My painting journey began with me not believing in myself. I could not draw. I did not jump with glee directly onto a white canvas. I went whining and complaining about my lack of skills, creativity, being an imposter, having nothing to paint, blah blah blah. 

My creative self started up again nagging me to get on with my painting stories. I told her over and over, I CANNOT DRAW. SHE SAID, no worries, you don’t have to draw to create on a canvas. Just smush the paint around and it will help you paint and tell your stories. This was a light bulb moment! I finally listened. 

My first foray into the paint was with a stalk of celery. Yes, celery. I found out that if you put a rubber band around a stalk of celery and cut a slice off the bottom, smooch into paint, put the paint on paper and you have a gorgeous flower. 

I then ventured into the land of rubber stamps. I became one of the Queens of the rubber stamp world, using other people’s images because I did not believe that I could paint on my own. However, stamps became unsatisfying, and the nagging from my creative self got louder. 

I next started in the world of altering books – taking a throw-away unloved book and recycling it into a precious work of art. I was able to create in the book like a canvas, but with more freedom. There was a safety net of words or photos on the page which seemed much safer than a naked canvas. 

This is why I paint. I paint hope. I paint joy. I paint experience. I paint dreams, I paint scars – the scars of memory. We are stronger than whatever tried to hurt us and every scar has a story to tell. I paint what I did not see. What I did not see was my reflection. I am constantly searching for the message in the paint. Painting is my response to the messy middle of our color-filled world. 

I was very proud of being commissioned to paint a public art statue of a very large 85lb cast of a dog for Southeastern Guide Dogs. He is painted like a field of wildflowers, a purple cape with gorgeous multi-colored butterflies, to make his journey light, a pair of eyeglasses, and a stethoscope. “Doc” came in as the 3rd place winner. He raised a healthy sum of money to aid the folks who needed his services. He lives in the lobby of Doctors Hospital and he brings joy to all who visit. 

I am very grateful to be able to do what I do. My collectors are very special people. They want to be connected, uplifted, inspired and they want to raise their families in a multicultural heart-centered world. My collectors realize that our “messiness as a people is our message. Art flows through us creating something that is greater than us all. 

My art has been described as inspiring, spiritual, emotional, and joyful. It provides a portal for communication with one another. Spirit shapes the narrative. My part in the story is to always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder! 

What makes you happy?
Smiles on the face of others when their eyes connect with mine and we recognize each other’s humanity. It makes me happy to be an encourager to others. Through music, art, or an encouraging word.”

Contact Info:

• Email: bkrobinson7@icloud.com
• Website: www.brendakrobinson.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/brendakrobinson7
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/brenda.robinson549