In the Studio with Maryland Artist Robin Lazarus-Berlin
Today, we’re going In the Studio with Maryland artist Robin Lazarus-Berlin. Robin’s artwork was recently on display in the Chesapeake Arts Center’s Our Maryland Gallery exhibit.
University of Maryland graduate, Robin Lazarus-Berlin, has recently shifted her focus from graphic communications to pursue her passion for oil painting. After twenty years running her own design studio and working for clients such as Time-Life, Marriott International, Maytag, and Georgetown University, Robin decided in 2020 to concentrate on developing her art. Studying under Glen Kessler at The Compass Atelier and Walter Bartman, Gonzalo Ruiz Navarro, and Maud Taber-Thomas at The Yellow Barn Studio in Glen Echo, her work has evolved into incredibly composed and technically dynamic pieces. Her canvases are filled with rich, deep colors that radiate a moody tone. Her subject matter, ranging from still lifes and landscapes to flowers and portraits, exhibits her incredible eye for realism. Since 2020 she has been involved in several juried art shows including Rockville Art League Juried Members’ Spring Show where she was awarded third prize.
Here’s Robin talking about her art, process and experience…
What art do you most identify with?
.I love the oil paintings of John Singer Sargent and Joaquín Sorolla. I look to their luscious brushstrokes and Sorolla’s play of light for inspiration.
When did you realize you were an artist?
I have always enjoyed artistic expression but have only recently identified myself as an artist.
How did you get into your art/side-gig?
I have taken art classes as a hobby, but I decided to take a hiatus from my graphic design career last year to dedicate more time to oil painting.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently painting a large canvas (36” x 48”) in oil of koi fish. It is an ambitious piece, but I am having fun.
What's your favorite piece of artwork that you have created and why?
My favorite piece is called “Hope Exists Above” and is 48” x 36”. It is of lily pads, viewing them from under the water looking up. I was continually frustrated while painting this piece and needed to put it aside for weeks at a time. I think it is my favorite because I learned so much about oil painting and myself during the process.
What food, drink, song inspires you?
I love listening to everything from classical music to funk. My artwork usually dictates the mood for inspiration.
What work do you most enjoy creating?
I enjoy oil painting and creating figurative sculptures. I started oil painting out of necessity during the beginning of Covid as it was impossible to find models to sit for poses. I might go back to sculpture someday.
What’s your favorite quote?
“Don’t play what’s there. Play what’s not there.” – Miles Davis
What role does the artist have in society?
The artist has many roles. They can be recorders of history, town criers, or purely entertainers. They help bring life to a society.
What’s your dream job?
Being an artist.
Why art?
Art is meditative to me. I lose hours of my day while creating art. I get away from my everyday worries and my mind takes a little vacation. It is such a gift.
For more information on Robin and her beautiful artwork, check her out on Instagram @robinlazarusberlin
or her website at www.robinlazarusberlin.com/.
