Robin Lieske (‘lis-kee’) is a Prescott-based multi-medium artist. She’s the mother of three boys and the ‘mother’ of thousands of artworks created over 50 years. Some may say she’s a bit obsessive-compulsive, but that’s a misdiagnosis; she’s simply got a headful of images and they’re all coming out, one way or another, eventually. She describes bringing all that art to fruition as “benign exorcism.” But really, she’s a very productive artist. She’s content to enjoy those times when she’s not painting or drawing, but there’s always the subtle drive to create that grows stronger and stronger, till the call to the studio overwhelms the domestic distractions and soon another painting is born.
Originally from Montana, Robin grew up in Minneapolis and in her 20s migrated to Arizona to begin formal training in art. She attended Prescott College briefly, but instead of seeking a degree sought out a series of mentors and studied independently. She met her husband Bill, moved to Phoenix, had babies and did all the ‘normal’ things, but the pull to art remained, and she began taking classes, workshops and meeting those who’d become mentors.
While she avoided over-studying the art of others, not wanting to subconsciously plagiarize, she did learn from painter Paul Abbott, and credits photographer and Prescott College instructor Jay Dusard for help in mastering composition. Michaelangelo, Rembrandt and Frida Kahlo are also influences. Robin discovered a disused printing press in the Graphic Arts Department at a college in Glendale. Printmaker Mirta Hamilton was heading up the department at the time and was generous enough to work with her in extended studio sessions to learn the fine art of printmaking. She felt there was just something about that elegant, antique machine, and for the first time she felt in the right place doing exactly the right thing.
As she worked in commercial art, producing advertising illustration, etc., printmaking became her preferred medium. But an injury prevented her from continuing work with the heavy metal plates.
The monochromatic winter landscapes of Minnesota guided her to work in black and white for a long time, which she mastered before turning to color painting. Contrasting the textural aspects of printing with painting led her to ‘distress’ hardboards and canvas as she developed her own painting style.
On her style, she says, “It’s too weird for normal people, but too normal for weird people.” Beyond that she doesn’t attempt to describe it. I see some mysticism and metaphysical aspects, but when I used the term ‘New Age’ she almost slapped me! Best to see it for yourself and come to your own conclusions.
“Meaning” is important in her creative process, but she doesn’t care if the viewer’s interpretation deviates from her own. Her works are obviously symbolic, without being symbolically obvious. Given the time to really look, the viewer has much to discover in her paintings, prints and drawings.
She was a one-time gallerist, running the Red Dog Gallery in downtown Phoenix for four years. That experience soured her on the intricacies of art marketing, social media and the uncertain state of today’s art market. The only advice she has for young artists is to seek a supportive community. Without some kind of support, the business of art can be daunting or downright depressing.
Aside from her experience running the gallery she worked with the Mountain Spirit Co-Op for a decade, and for the past dozen years she’s been represented by the Heritage Gallery in Taos. She’s a veteran of too many shows at The Raven to list. The best place to see a large selection of her works is on her website, moonlogic.com.
She’s completed a number of storybook projects that often arise from her tendency to work in series of images that then turn into stories. Three have won placement in book festivals in San Francisco and London, the highest-placed being “An Idiot’s Tale: The Lost Writings of Rapunzel,” which won the Best Story Never Told award at the London Book Festival in 2013.
Among other projects, currently she’s preparing a solo exhibition at The Art Hive called “Beauty and Some Beasts” starting February 28, a must-see exhibit of a variety of works, including new, never-before-seen pieces.
Robin represents a literal lifetime of art production. She’s the embodiment of creativity, from writing to drawing to printmaking to painting, even dance at one time. She’s not some retired ‘art lady’ with pink hair, bangles and a tie-dye skirt; she’s an unassuming wife and mother whose superpower is creativity to the extreme. Walking down the street you might not notice her, but she noticed you, and it’s just possible that you could end up in her next painting. You never know what she’ll do next, but whatever it is, it’ll be pretty cool!
See Robin’s exhibition "Beauty and Some Beasts" at The Art Hive starting February 28.
