4 minute read
Feature Artist - ROBYN LAKEMAN
AZURE KINGFISHER
EASTERN SPINEBILL
FACE OFF
AUTUMN PARDALOTE
THE CROW
CEREMONY
STAR TRAILS AT COHUNA
Meet your artist Robyn Lakeman
Melbourne, VIC Australia
Website : https://www.instagram.com/robynlakeman/ https://www.instagram.com/robynlakemanbirds/
I live in The Dandenongs in Melbourne. I moved here in 1985 with my husband and son. I have always loved photography and did my first Technical college course (these days called TAFE) in 1970. My first husband was a professional photographer so we always had a darkroom. I still have but haven’t used it since I went to digital in 1999. In the 80s I did a leadlight course so worked with glass for many years making leadlight windows. I started a business Australian Birds in Glass making Australian birds that you could hang in windows. In 1992 the Government bought some for the Expo in Seville, Spain. When decoupage became big in the early ninties I formed my own wrapping paper and card business, Aqua Unicorn Images. I was the first person to manufacture decoupage paper in Australia. A few years later in the 90s I also started designing beaded pieces, amulet bags, chokers etc., brought out a beading book teaching people to bead on a loom, and manufactured beading patterns with my designs. In 1997 I had a series of heart attacks and ended up closing down Aqua Unicorn images. That was when I started doing creative art on the computer.
How did you become interested/get started in Photo Artistry?
My friend Michelle Fay Baker encouraged me to join as I had been doing creative work since I first got Photoshop and Corel Painter in 1997. The first thing I did on the computer was paint a portrait of Pat Rafter, the tennis player, from scratch with a pen and tablet. I went on to run his website and was given his fan site to continue. Over the years I did less and less creative work, concentrating on my photography and other things.
What inspires you or gives you inspiration to create your art?
I can get inspiration everywhere, always seeing pictures and scenes or just a colour or moment will inspire me. In lockdown it was a perfect time to continue on with my creativeness and art. I was so inspired again by Sebastian Michaels’ course. There was a time I had done a lot of creative work from 1997 but in 2007 I took over an international photography competition site, Shutterbugs.biz and I had hardly any time to be creative Even after I sold it in 2014 I didn’t spend a lot of time on creative art so was wonderful to indulge again. Now we are out of lockdown I have been travelling and photographing. I must find some time to be creative again.
Do you have a certain approach to creating your art?
No not really, I get an idea and run with it.
What does your art mean to you?
My art is very personal and sometimes it will take ages for me to show anyone. I will create a piece and then feel vulnerable and wonder if people will like it. I guess we never grow out of doubting ourselves.
Do you think since starting in Photo Artistry it has changed you and if so, how?
I taught myself Photoshop so wasn’t always up to date with it especially in the years of Shutterbugs.biz where I didn’t have much time to learn new things. I’m grateful to Sebastian, Photo Artistry and Michelle, that I learnt a lot of new things which made my life easier. I used to do things my way and sometimes that would take a lot of time but so great to learn new techniques and ways.
Not really. I do see work that I absolutely love but would never copy it anyway. I always like to use my own ideas.
Where do you see (or hope to see) your art taking you in the future? What are your next steps?
I’m happy just to do my art whenever I have time and for myself. My next steps are just to find the time to create some art occasionally.
