Brad Robertson is an American artist born and raised in the coastal town of Mobile Alabama and currently resides in Tampa, Florida. With a BFA from Auburn University in graphic arts, Robertson has painted throughout his life, and it was also through the encouragement of his art professor that he pursued a career as an artist. Robertson’s earliest inspiration was the landscape of the indigenous pines and oak trees, and the waters of Mobile Bay. The coastal landscape is also an ongoing major source of inspiration for Robertson. Robertson paints with a distinctive abstract style that invites the mind to explore layers of color and textures, as if the eye might wander along the horizon, looking out across the water and into the depths of a Gold Coast sunset. Robertson aims to evoke the eternal, looking for innovative ways to combine color and texture to create multi-layered shorelines, endless horizons and seeming portals of bold color. A direct expression of the landscape he calls home, he views every painting as a part of him.
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Our Interview with Brad Robertson
What inspired you to become an artist, and what motivated you to pursue this career path?
I always created art. A childhood of winning prizes in art contests to creating silly cartoons and drawing animals. Bob Ross inspired me to do landscapes and nature. Over time I progressed. Later, a professor in college pulled me away from Bob and encouraged me to loosen up. I never went back to happy little trees.
Do you have a favorite artist and why?
I am a big fan of Rothko and most successful minimal artists. The more you can express with less distraction the better it is to me.
How would you describe your creative process, and what techniques or mediums do you enjoy using the most?
My work has to have texture somewhere. In the beginning I over did it on texture. Over the years, with time and experience, I have learned to minimize the texture and focus more on the color scheme.
What themes or messages do you hope to convey through your art, and what kind of emotions do you want your audience to experience when they view your work?
My work is all about emotions. It is created to be forced to use the imagination. It is never about what I see but what the observer interprets for themselves.
Can you share a specific project or piece that you are particularly proud of, and what makes it meaningful to you?
I am not sure I have a specific piece that I favor but I look at all of the pieces as a collective and enjoy the growth and evolution.
What was the first project you worked on?
My first big project was a mural in the 7th grade commissioned by my teacher. Everyone else had to do schoolwork while I worked on the back wall with a paintbrush.
How do you stay inspired and motivated, and what advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting out?
I am always inspired. I always look forward to going to the studio. My motivation comes from the reminders from happy collectors that find something special in my work.
What do you like to do in your free time/ outside of work?
Family time is my favorite. Nature is a must. Books, music and home cooked meals are my favorites.
How would you define your work in three words?
Minimal, Colorful, Reflective.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be my dad when I grew up.
