Gilroy ’ s Got Talent
JoAnne Perez
Robinsen
JoAnne Perez Robinson takes great delight in capturing the natural world around her in watercolor . “ Fruit , vegetables , flowers … just the things that are around us that people just walk by . I love to zero in on it ,” Robinson said .
Robinson finds inspiration in nearby vegetable fields , the Gilroy foothills , garlic and other familiar places and themes that dot the landscape of the town she has called home for the past 31 years .
A mainly self-taught artist , Robinson said her education is woven from a patchwork of classes , workshops and books .
Robinson said she has always loved to sketch and paint , and that interest grew in 1994 when she enrolled in a watercolor class at Gavilan College . The same year she entered its art show and won .
She started out painting miniature scenes on eggs and selling them . But the delicate eggs were hard to work with and Robinson switched to watercolor paper .
Robinson has worked for Specialized Bike and later part-time for Goldsmith Seeds as she continued to study art and paint .
“ When I worked I was a good worker , but my mind was always here ,” she said motioning to her sun-filled artist studio lined with shelves overflowing with her artwork . “ I ’ m 51 , I better do it or I ’ m never going to .”
Robinson now paints exclusively and most
days you can find the mom of two in a bedroom she converted into an artist studio . She tries to paint every day .
Robinson said her children , 30-year-old son Sam and her 13-year-old daughter Kylie , tease her that she needs to go to her room to paint or she becomes “ mean .” Kidding aside , Robinson said she tries to take her husband ’ s advice and treat her artwork like a job .
“ I really try to get in my room when Kylie is at school ,” Robinson said . “ I have to do that . You have the phone and other distractions . I have to say no . This is my time that I ’ m working .”
She takes photos or sketches landscapes , scenery or people and later captures their likeness with watercolors .
Her favorite scenes to paint are on small canvases – not more than 6 inches long and wide . She also has dabbled in oils and acrylics .
“ I love the way acrylics look ,” she said . “ They ’ re less transparent and more thick and opaque . It ’ s like playing a different instrument .”
Robinson has entered the Gilroy Garlic Festival poster contest , earning a first place ribbon in 2006 and second place in 2008 .
She also entered her artwork in the Gilroy art show in 2006 and won Best of Show last year .
“ The art in it was really good so I was really proud ,” Robinson said . “ It ’ s those little things that make it worth it because it ’ s tough for every artist . You ’ re alone a lot . That ’ s the reason I like the art shows .”
By Kelly Barbazette
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