Congratulations to Robert Mackie, our latest ArtResin winner! Robert is a mixed media artist based in Redondo Beach, CA. He produces both 2D and 3D artwork in numerous techniques including watercolours, oild, welded metal sculpture and, of course, resin.
Does where you're from or where you currently live influence your work?
I was born in England, but moved to the Caribbean at an early age. The islands of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago greatly influence my art work.
What's your art background? Are you self-taught or did you study art?
Totally self taught, but work in the textile ,and ceramic industries helped.
Are you a full-time artist or do you create around work hours?
I teach art, but my artwork is ongoing on a daily basis.
I have busy hands and they produce work which gives me pleasure. I also love teaching.
How did you discover resin?
Whilst in the Arts and Crafts retail business a competitor had imported some resin kits from a company called DRYAD. Not knowing what to do with them he asked me for help. I had worked with ceramic enamels and came up with the idea of doing cloisonne with them. This was in the mid 1970s, and I have long experience with the technique.
How has resin impacted your work?
I am an experimenter and have used resin for many things I have even prolonged the life of some of my welded metal sculptures by coating them with resin.
Can you provide a brief rundown of your process?
My work space is well laid out. The resin and hardener are well separated - resin on the right and hardener on the left. I use yellow mustard squeezy bottles for the resin and red ketchup bottles for the hardener. This is a very visible method to avoid mistakes
I use large cups for mixing reserves of coloured resin minus the hardener. This is poured as needed into small measuring cups and the hardener is added. This avoids confusion.
Why do you want to make art? What motivates you to create?
My art is my life, even as a young child the desire to make things was evident.
Does art help you in other areas of your life?
In a way my whole working career has been helped by my artist bent, be it in textile engraving, printing footwear, and in later life, ceramic tile murals for the Tile Guild. I still get requests for work with this firm. Then there is teaching which I still do, in my eighty eighth year.
What do you hope someone sees or feels when they look at your art?
If my art work pleases someone it in return lifts me and encourages me to do more.
If you judge success by money you could then say i have been a success having sold several hundred pieces, and won numerous ribbons.
In doubt - dump. When mixing resin if I have the slightest doubt about the mix I abandon it. The loss of the resin is insurance against the loss of the work.
Where do you sell your work?
Galleries and street fairs.
Congratulations on your win, Robert!
Every month, to celebrate our community of artists, ArtResin will send out a 32 oz kit to two lucky people who have shared the work they've created with ArtResin.
ArtResin: Celebrating 10 Years As The Original Epoxy For Resin Art!
