Arts & Entertainment

Artists Corner: Gainor Roberts

We feature local artists whose work has been shown at the Carrollwood Cultural Center

Stop by the Carrollwood Cultural Center, and one thing is clear: local artists are making their mark in Tampa Bay.

Gainor Roberts is one of those artists. Roberts, whose work is being displayed at the Center, 4537 Lowell Road.

Patch recently talked to her about her artistic influences and how the community can purchase her work.

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Patch: How did you get started as an artist?

Roberts: One of my earliest memories is sitting on the floor of my grandmother’s den drawing something. I was probably 3 or 4 years old. Drawing, coloring, making doll clothes that later became an important painting, and trying out all the media and styles has always been a passion and top priority for me. My high school art teacher encouraged me to get formal training. She said, “You will never be a 'good' artist until you get some training and lots of discipline."

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I knew she was right. It was the summer I graduated from school that I went to study with my teacher and mentor.

Patch: Who are your artistic influences?

Roberts: Robert Brackman, who taught legions of American Artists at his home in Noank, Connecticut during the summer, and at the Art Students’ League in New York City winters. I studied with him summers during my college years, and then spent a year in New York after graduation.

Later, I branched out and took classes with Marybeth McKenzie at the National Academy of Design. Aaron Shickler was another idol, and I was fortunate to have several workshops with him. More recently, I have been influenced by many Egg Tempera artists. One in particular is Koo Schadler. There are very few artists, both known and unknown, whose works don’t move me in some way. I learn from them all, and look forward to every trip to the museums and galleries to see artworks that inspire me and teach me something about life, and art and design, beauty and sometimes ugliness.

Patch: What do you think your work says about you as a person?

Roberts: I’m an obsessive individual. Once I get an idea, or see something beautiful, I can’t rest until I have made it into finished artwork. Some ideas have been in my head for 20 years, sometimes more, but they eventually get out, somehow. I want my paintings and drawings to communicate, to speak to you with silent words and feelings, and to show those moments that inspire me, frighten me, move me, make me laugh, make me sad, or angry.

For me, my art and my emotions are all tied together, and somehow making pictures is like sharing secrets with a best friend.

Patch: What are misconceptions you think people have about artists?

Roberts:  People think that talent is something that you have to have to do artwork. They have it backward.

When an individual is moved to create something, they may be miserable failures at first, but it is that obsessive push on, in spite of the failure, or the frustration, or life’s little problems (like earning money) ... that is talent.

Patch: How can people buy your work?

Roberts: My work is shown in many venues in the Tampa Bay area. As I write this, I have work on display at Ruth Eckerd Hall, and the Bright House Office Complex, as well as Carrollwood Cultural Center.

I have a website, www.gainor.biz, and I am on many other websites that can be found with a Google search. My studio is in my home in Zephyrhills, and is open by appointment. Contact me by email at gainor@tampabay.rr.com to discuss sales or commissions.


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