Tribecca Art: About Us

Under the Lab Coat, the Heart of an Artist.

Originally from New York (born in Brooklyn), I recently moved to New Jersey by way of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Charleston, SC, New Orleans, LA and France. I am a scientist, trained and employed as an organic chemist. In my career as a scientist I have been a professor, a research chemist, and recently am trying my hand in an industrial setting due to my fondness for food and shelter, and an interest in professional growth. Also, I devote as much of my time as possible to my great and growing passion for drawing and painting in various media.

I also enjoy other forms of artistic expression - dancing is one of them. My most recent performance was a Tango - I am the one dressed all in black :-) See me doing the waltz.

My training in art has not been very formal – various post-bachelor courses, a few correspondence courses, and lots of practicing and self-directed exploration with color and visual effects. My spark for pursuing drawing began when I was given an old box of wooden watercolor pencils about 10 years ago. I simply found the colors enticing, and wanted to see their unusual juxtaposition. I used the colors I liked together, placing one color blotch next to another in the shapes that felt right to draw. I guess it can be called an intuitive approach. To my surprise, from these patterns of small shapes an image would emerge as I drew them and I would continue down a path not knowing exactly when randomness gave way to intent. Interestingly, people saw different things in the finished work, often things I did not intend to create or represent. There is a lot of pleasure and spontaneity in proceeding in this loosely directed way, but I also am expanding my practice of more conventional approaches, trying to reproduce what I see while still bringing into play an unusual use of color. My continued inspiration still has a great deal to do with color as a means of enhancing or giving an emotional quality to an image - an image which originates sometimes from quite simple components. New subject matter abounds, as I grapple with learning to express an idea through my creations as well as have the images be aesthetically pleasing.

I enjoy working with watercolor pencils, simple graphite pencils, and oil pastels (using solvents to blend different colors), but continue to explore and try new things. I have recently started working with inks, building collages and photography.

I have bartered, gifted and sold my art work and now am designing greeting cards of certain pieces. Last I counted, my artwork is displayed in various settings in 14 different states in the US. I hope that some of the images I create are engaging and pleasing to your eye. Please check out my gallery.

Rebecca J. Robbins, Ph.D.
Becca@tribecca-art.com