Rising Stars: Meet Craig Robb

Today we’d like to introduce you to Craig Robb

Hi Craig, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I didn’t get started in creating art until I was in my 30s. I grew up with two incredibly talented brothers, one as a sculptor and another who was a writer, dancer, and musician. Going into adulthood, I felt the need to make my mark in the world different from my brothers and they had taken all of the creative paths. I tried corporate, construction, and the food industry to no avail so I went back to university to find something that might interest me.

I took a summer sculpture class to ease back into things and happened upon a teacher who saw within me my potential and encouraged it. After much resistance, I succumbed. It was not an easy choice to make understanding how difficult it is to earn a living as an artist but after working at it for a while, I knew that I had made the right decision. Once I got into it, I knew that there was nothing else out there that would be as fulfilling or rewarding. I had this drive within me to create that I couldn’t ignore. It also helped to have a brother in the arts, watching his struggles to become successful, and seeing his passion for being an artist. I went into it with the understanding that I would probably never get wealthy doing this. Knowing the financial rewards would be limited, I began creating art that I found rewarding and allowed me to explore and experiment.
Luckily for me, people have responded favorably to my work allowing me to stay in the field. After graduating, I was fortunate enough to land a job as a Sculpture Shop Technician at DU. A fancy title for the guy taking care of the facilities. Working with Lawrence Argent, my duties soon expanded to where I was assisting him by helping teach the students the technical side of building their art. Over my career, I have shown in many different galleries in both Santa Fe and Denver as well as the co-operative; Pirate: Contemporary Art. My art has been collected across the country and can be found in many corporate collections throughout the Metro area.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Once I made the decision that this would be how I would live my life, it has been relatively smooth. I became really focused and went into it with the understanding that it would not be easy.
Of course, there have been difficulties along the way. The biggest problems being time and money. Something they don’t really tell you in art school is that financial success does not happen quickly. Without a steady income, getting a job is a necessity. Once that is secured, when one can work on their art becomes a major factor. And it is not only being in the studio but the time needed on the business side. When people get started in the arts, they often don’t realize or understand that one also needs to market themselves and to get their product out there. Idealism only gets you so far.
I consider myself incredibly lucky to get the job at DU right after I got my degree. I got to work directly with the students teaching them the techniques needed to construct their projects. I also had access to all of the equipment I needed to master my craft.
Working full time though, it was difficult to find studio time to make my sculptures. Students would ask me what it was like to be a professional artist hoping to be regaled with tales of grandeur. Instead, they got to hear about my seventy-hour work weeks. All of the hours I spent with them and the hours I put into making my art after they all went home and on weekends. Seeing their dismay, I would always let them know how fulfilled my life was because I am an artist.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I create works of art using a wide variety of materials. Initially, I worked with primarily wood, steel and found objects. As I developed my processes over the years, I felt the need to enhance the work with a splash of color so I started incorporating acrylics into the sculptures. Most recently, I built myself a steamer so that I could add curved lengths of wood. I often tell people that I get bored easily so I’m always experimenting and playing with new materials and media. A few years ago, I started playing with video but not in a normal way. Shooting it through optic fibers or up a column of rice paper. I also started playing with led lights just to see what I could do with them and they would alter my ideas.
I am probably best known for my quality of craft and attention to details. I feel that it is important to enjoy what I am doing in the studio as people sense that and respond to it in the finished sculpture.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I have many traits that have been important in helping me get to where I am. When it comes to creating and quality of my craft, I would have to say focus and attention to detail. As to the idea of being an artist, I think what drives me are my curiosity and my passion for what I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://craigrobb.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craiger3d/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craig.robb.35/