Meet Robin Gerrard | Painter/Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Robin Gerrard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robin, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?

One of my favorite quotes is by Rumi. I like it because it touches on the mysterious aspect of where creativity and art come from.

“In your light I learn how to love. In your beauty, how to make poems. You dance inside my chest where no-one sees you, but sometimes I do, and that sight becomes this art.”

My paintings usually start with a real-life inspiration, but once I get going with a painting, it almost always takes on a life of it’s own and evolves into something different than I was expecting, which is why the Rumi poem resonates with me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

As an artist, I wear a few different hats, and I have three very different art-related businesses. I’m an oil painter (mainly landscapes), fabric designer (for home decor and accessories), and photographer (mostly weddings).

When it comes to my oil paintings, which are usually landscapes with an emphasis on the sky, I’m trying to convey the feeling I have when looking at a beautiful, natural scene in real life, like a gorgeous sunrise or sunset, or the incredible way the sky and clouds sometimes look. You know, when you look at the sky and it just knocks your socks off, and you can’t believe it’s real. That beauty and feeling is my inspiration, and painting is a way to express my gratitude for this amazing world.

In addition to painting, I have a line of art-based home decor items and accessories called Gerrard Kessler. That’s my newest project. My daughter, Mia Kessler, is also artistic, and we’re doing this business together which makes it even more fun. We collaborate on the designs, and we launched Gerrard Kessler as a team. It involves a very different creative process than painting landscapes. Our designs start with an abstract or semi-abstract painting, which we photograph, and then digitally turn into a fabric design. From there we print our designs onto silk, textile fabric, wallpaper, and various custom-made products. The result is a fusion of art and functionality.

How does photography tie in?
Photography has been a love of mine since I got my first camera when I was around 12. It stayed with me as a hobby throughout high school as a yearbook photographer, and through college/art school where, when I wasn’t painting, I photographed friends and random people on the streets of New York City, then developed my black/white film in the school’s darkroom. Photographing weddings never crossed my mind until my cousin was getting married a few years later, and I decided to take some photos throughout their day as a wedding gift. That was the first time I realized what a fantastic opportunity weddings can be artistically as a photographer. After that, I worked on perfecting my style, and photographed weddings regularly for many years, first as an associate photographer for celebrity wedding photographer, Denis Reggie, and then through my own company. I enjoy shooting weddings and feel honored to have the opportunity to document such an important day for a couple and their family, so although I spend more time painting now, I still love to photograph a few weddings each year.

We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others:
One thing I think distinguishes me is having a strong focus on my client and their needs. No matter which business we’re talking about, along with delivering high quality, one of my priorities is to create a personal and elevated service experience. I’m very customer-focused and try to exceed expectations both with overall experience as well as with the end product.

When it comes to my wedding photography I think what sets it apart is that while I’m shooting and thinking technically, I’m also thinking like a painter. While during most of a wedding day I shoot photo-journalistically, capturing authentic moments, connections between people, and the joy of the day, I’m also automatically thinking about the scenes I see through my viewfinder in the same way I think about a painting, considering all the various concepts and principles of art, composition, light and shadow, etc., and choosing my lens, camera settings, and positioning, to try to capture it all with as much beauty and artistry as possible.

What you are most proud of or excited about lately?
My most exciting painting commission recently was a large 90”x90” oil on canvas I did for the Ritz Carlton Residences in Atlanta. It depicts a moody sky along with the Atlanta city skyline and iconic Stone Mountain.

What do you like about it?
I like painting on a large scale, but this one is larger than I’d ever painted before, so that was a fun challenge and I enjoyed the process. I like the idea of it being in a public place, greeting so many people each day, and how the painting ties in with the other artwork and furniture where it’s hanging. Also, I think it infuses a serene quality to the space.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d probably take them to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, in midtown Atlanta, which is one of my favorite places in Atlanta. It’s always a hit, no matter what season it is. Another fun thing to do is walk the 3-mile loop around Chastain Park in Buckhead. After that, we might treat ourselves to tea or coffee and a pastry on the dog-friendly patio at “The Chastain”, a little bistro that’s just across the street from the park. For restaurants, we might go out for Italian at “La Tavola”, so we can walk around Virginia Highlands before dinner. Or, we might go to my very favorite Italian place, located in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward, “À Mano”. They are known for their cocktails as well as delicious food. If we want pizza, “Antico Pizza”, closer to downtown, is another good option. They have great brick oven pizza in a fun, casual atmosphere, with community seating. And they allow you to bring your own beer or wine. As for other activities, The High Museum of Art is always a nice place to visit, especially if they have a good special exhibit. Atlanta has so many options for things to do, and good places to eat, it’s hard to narrow it down to just a few.

Website: robingerrard.com
robingerrardpaintings.com
gerrardkessler.com

Instagram: @robingerrardphotography, @robingerrardpaintings