Meet Robert Dye

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Robert Dye a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Robert , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I was a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania. At the time that I was writing my dissertation I would pass a neighborhood art center on my walks to and from campus through West Philadelphia. One day I decided to stop in the art center and see what was going on. I needed some relief from the grind of academia so I signed up for a drawing class. The instructor of that class pointed me toward another person who pointed me toward the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts where I was able to find and nurture my passion for painting. While at the Academy I fell in love with landscape painting and I have been painting outside ever since.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I spend a lot of time looking at the beauty of the natural world and figuring out how to describe that beauty in paint. I make small oil paintings and watercolors on location. In my studio I take that information and inspiration as the starting point for larger oil paintings. I like to work large scale in the studio so that I am enveloped in the image that I am trying to create. My studio paintings describe this immersion into a light-filled landscape. I love weaving textures together in an oil painting, a process that starts with the irregular weave of the Belgian linen that I paint on. I also teach painting and write about painting.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I encourage people to nurture their interests. You may not understand why you feel compelled to start a journey until years after it is started, but you will not get to that point unless you start. Be inquisitive, be honest, work hard and be kind. Enjoy being alive, and use your time on earth to accomplish something.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
I encourage young people to read widely, and whatever is pulling at them. An engineer might read about Buddhism or a grade school teacher might read Shakespeare. I am engaged in a quest to understand the meaning of soulfulness in art, so I read about folklore, mythology, psychiatry, religion, philosophy and spiritual practices. The important thing is to recognize when you find something interesting and then cultivate that interest.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
All photos are my own.

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Empathy Unlocked: Understanding how to Develop Emotional Intelligence

“Empathy is the starting point for creating a community and taking action. It’s the impetus

Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Boosting Productivity Through Self-Care

When you have a never-ending to-do list it can feel irresponsible to engage in self-care,