We’re looking forward to introducing you to Roger Dolin. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Roger, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
It feels like I am being called to teach now. For many years I avoided it mostly because I was intimidated to talk in front of small groups. There are so many artists that are more talented than me. I am not even sure that the things I want to teaach are of any value. It takes a while to learn to paint and I have a hard time understanding why anyone would want to put themselves through that. I love to paint, always have – ever since I learned how. My high school art teacher, Mr. Nielson, taught acrylic painting in his art class. I loved a few of my teachers, so I suppose it is not that difficult to see how a teacher can be valuable in a person’s life.
I have seen some videos of other people teaching, not sure I am worse than any of them. And some are just downright not good. My thinking was teaching would also bring in some regular money so that I could continue to make art.
I’ve been called to make art my whole life. And I think I’m pretty good at it. So maybe there are things I’ve learned that are worth teaching
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Roger. I have been a mural artist for most of my career. After my college art degree I went to work for an architectural design firm which later became extremely valuable in the mural making business. I had a good head for recreating the area where a mural might fit on a wall and how to get it up there. In the old days we painted everything directly on the wall, but you still had to figure out how to get up there. Later we figured out how to paint on material and install it like wall paper. This even worked for building exteriors.
After many years of commercial mural paintings for places like hospitals, private homes, restaurants, etc. I moved my work towards public arts, believing that art was for everyone, not just museums and in the streets the art could influence lots of people.
I still do public art, but mostly private commissions for public places like airports, healthcare faculties etc. In 2023 I completed my biggest mural to date – a 75 by 16 foot mural on Catalina Island in the City of Avalon
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
I would say that some of my teachers saw me and shaped my vision of myself. My high school art teachers, Mr. Nielson and Mrs. Brooks were a huge influence in my life, even to this day. Mrs. Brooks taught figure drawing which became a great passion. Mr Nielson taught art, but for some of us he taught acrylic painting. I saw myself as an artist. I wanted more of that
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I have felt like giving up several times. There were periods with very little money, no work and the pressure of having a family made life almost unbearable. My ex wife was dealing with serious mental illness. I was diagnosed with cancer in 2014. I did cut back my work load at that point, keeping only the most meaningful projects and letting go of my studio, and the ways I used to work.
I was an artist first before I was a mural artist. Maybe there was still something there for me. I had given up mural art after dealing with the cancer, no longer being able to climb up and down scaffolding. But that was when I developed the process I use now where I paint in small squares, similar to mural making, then gluing the squares together on a single board or canvas. It allowed me to work as large as I wanted, with the benefit of sitting at my easel and working In smaller spaces.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Kindness first. No harm in protecting yourself and your loved ones, but jumping the gun and assuming another person is out to get you can easily backfire. On the other hand, assuming that people are intelligent and capable of understanding you rarely leads to trouble. After all, I love people, and I want to deepen those relationships. I like that art can bring people together – over the breath of time and from different cultures.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I would hope that people saw me as encouraging. Someone who was always encouraging others to follow their dreams. By constantly doing so, I believe I gave myself permission to do the same. I feel pretty blessed to have this life and I hope people can see that. I know that those closest to me know that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.RogerDolin.com/classes
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rogerdolin
Image Credits
All photos by me, Roger
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
