Robin Marsh

Júpiter, Flórida

67

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I love to create. My love for the arts began at a young age. As a child, I danced - whirling through my parents living room creating dance after dance - commanding an audience. Then, in school, it became the hands on art projects which I enjoyed most (since, apparently, dancing during class was not acceptable).


Growing up in Indiana with two loving parents and an older brother, my parents instilled their love of nature and animals. There were many pets as a child… cats, dogs, ducks, baby raccoons, and a goose, Lonesome Henry (he only stayed for a week before flying away). I played outside while my parents tended the garden. My father would catch snakes and the occasional opossum to scare my mother. Often we would catch sight of a deer in the woods or a wild turkey running through the yard.


In high school, I was guided by a wonderful teacher who introduced me to different forms of art including photography, ceramics, mixed media, etc. She suggested I go on to be an art teacher myself…so, of course, I did what any young person would do. I majored in something totally different. Management. It will pay the bills… right?


After graduation, I worked in a tiny carpeted cubicle for quite a few years. I got married to a wonderful man and gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. I earned raise after raise and promotion after promotion. Moving from one company to the next, thinking that the new employer would make me happier. While the only thing that changed was the color of the carpeted walls. I was dying slowly.


Trying to inject some creative happiness back into my life, I took a small metals jewelry class. This is when I learned how to acid etch metal. I didn’t really think anything of it. I just kept working my 9 to 5 (which was more like 7 am to 6 pm) and the knot in my heart continued to grow. In 2013, my husband’s career relocated us to Jupiter, FL. I continued to work as well. Work. Work. Work. In the fall of 2014, I snapped. I quit my job. I didn’t just quit this job. I quit my career.


Finally, I had time to think. A lot of time. I started small with my etchings. My original intent was to etch my son’s artwork onto pendants. It was fun, but I wasn’t creating anything truly unique. One day, I sat down and began to draw; a fox sitting on a stump. I remember taking the copper etching to a good friend at my son’s soccer game. (It is fairly basic compared to what I do today, but still contained much of the same style.) She loved it. And my husband? He was thoroughly impressed. In the 9 years we had been together, my husband had never seen me draw. That makes me realize how far off-path I let life take me.


My friend loved the piece so much she asked for a copper etching of a bear for her husband. I went home that very day to work on the drawing – by the following evening, I had created “Badass Bear.” The next request was the Red Shouldered Hawk and then the Hawksbill turtle. With each piece I was perfecting my process, improving it as I go. My friend was my muse in the beginning; and I thank her everyday for it.


I challenged myself to go bigger. As a surprise for my muse, I created one of my smaller framed pieces. “The Best Fish I Never Caught” was born. I presented it to her at a New Years Eve party. The response was overwhelming. That same night, another friend approached me and asked.. “but can you go even bigger?”


Today: Yes. I can go bigger. I followed a rabbit hole of creativity and found a new career. Yes. I love creating. It is never to late.


I still live in Jupiter, Florida with my awesome husband and son who have supported me through my transformation. My process is an acid etch technique. I work with mainly copper for its beauty and richness. All of my framed pieces are mounted to the outside of the glass. It is an optical illusion which allows for a tactile experience. Living where I do, I am drawn to Florida native wildlife. I gladly take requests and accept commissioned work. Thank you for taking the time to learn about me and my process.