Nancy Robinson
I call the current paintings I’m working on "psychological portraits". Each of my paintings tells the story of my daily life. Rather than illustrate my stories in confessional detail, with people and situations which are recognizable snapshots from my existence, I transform my personal experiences into archetypal stories and images which are universal and can be shared by all.
In my art, as in my life, everything is confusing, hidden agendas abound, thoughts manifest themselves through anatomical distortions, and daily life is a dream or nightmare, depending on how one chooses to view it. I sometimes use humor in my art as a way of engaging the viewer and inviting them to participate in a friendly dialogue about the issues I’m raising.
Some of the archetypes I use in my paintings are the stuff of Biblical stories or folktales, such as Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden or Pinocchio (The Liar). I’m fond of certain universal symbols: the banana appears often in my paintings, sometimes as a phallic symbol and sometimes as a symbol for mistakes or aging. There are other archetypes, such as The Suitor and The Secret Admirer, the Ugly Duckling and the Faithful Dog.
Although my work begins with personal experiences, it’s ultimately about the drama, passion and mystery of the human condition.
Listen to an audio podcast interview with Nancy.