Rancho Palos Verdes resident Robin Jack Sarner is an abstract artist whose creations explore nostalgia while offering a narrative about the preservation of precious and vintage things, she explains she uses “old school materials in an abstract new way.” PV Magazine had the opportunity to talk to Robin about her work and her evolution as an artist.
When did you move to the Peninsula?
“I grew up on the East Coast but moved to California about thirty years ago. My husband grew up on the Peninsula and was part of the last graduating class at Miraleste High School, we decided we wanted to raise our kids on the hill, and now we live walking distance from the school.”
When did you realize you had artistic abilities?
“I think I was 5 or 6 years old. I started as a photographer taking pictures of different things to create compositions. High school art classes introduced me to drawing and painting and I was drawn to painting.” Robin explains she struggled with math and science, but it was art that drew her into school and eventually the career choice of art teacher. She remembers growing up claiming she was an artist was embarrassing, it did not seem to be something real or important. Now she is very proud to be an artist and able to leave something behind with her art.
How did you get in to Abstract Painting?
Robin explains that after high school she went on to study art in college earning a degree in Art Education, but traditional methods were always the focus, although students were introduced to the Abstract Impressionist art movement as a topic of study, she had few opportunities in the classroom to work on abstract techniques. It was not until her final year of college that she started to experiment with abstract art after being introduced to the mid-century modern masters. After earning her degree, she planned to become an art teacher but due to a lack of educational funding for art and music, there was little demand for art teachers. At this point, she left the art world to pursue other employment, and then eventually married, had kids, and stayed home to raise her children. As her kids entered school, she began taking classes years ago with Dale Patton, a well-known and longtime abstract art teacher at the Palos Verdes Art Center.
Today, she is a large canvas painter. Working with 7 to 10 foot canvases, action painting. She says she is a hyper person, and this allows the energy out. Robin’s current work deals with her journey of self-discovery through gestural painting styles that allow processing of emotion. Working with vintage items that will be preserved in a tangible way, she intertwines nostalgia into her abstract work. She finds young people are drawn to her work, the contrast to the digital world brings a unique perspective and they are attracted to the continuity of paper and tactile material. Her goal with this type of work is to preserve “old school.” Robin’s work has been exhibited in local and international galleries, published in art magazines, and retained by worldwide collectors. Robin shares, “Art can have a purpose, a different purpose for each person. Whether it’s meaningful for one’s own reasons or not, historical stories and preservation can evoke emotion. There is a lot that art can do.”
Do you have a favorite piece?
“Formidable” speaks to my grandmother’s character and fortitude. My grandmother’s impact on my life was profound, shaping my values and passions. She embodied strength, artistry, and dedication, fostering a bond between us rooted in our shared interests of art and genealogy. Her belief in my creative potential fueled my journey to becoming an artist. Our 1870’s family farm was sold and we discovered personal ephemera spanning the early to mid-1900s. I integrated these artifacts to encapsulate her life journey and our shared experiences using travel maps, receipts, negatives, vintage wrapping paper, hymnal pages, dictionaries, local papers, kodak slides, handwritten mail, knitting and sewing patterns. The final product celebrates her legacy and the resilience she exhibited from a time of horse and buggy to the digital age.
What is your connection to the Palos Verdes Art Center?
When her children entered school, Robin began volunteering with Art At Your Fingertips and discovered the Palos Verdes Art Center (PVAC). Her involvement led her to become a presenting artist for Art At Your Fingertips and other similar art programs in the South Bay. She noticed a need for projects built around both female artists and abstract artists and has created curriculum-based abstract art projects for local school districts serving over 100,000 students. This involvement with Art At Your Fingertips and PVAC lured her back to her artistic roots.
For more information about Robin Sarner visit www.robinjack.com or visit her current exhibition and for more information about the Palos Verdes Art Center visit pvartcenter.org
