Meet Rob Surette

We recently connected with Rob Surette and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Rob, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
GREAT QUESTION!

I think of this often, because when I visit schools with my famous AMAZING HERO ART Speed-Painting Show, the two most important messages of inspiration which I deliver are: “Be Kind” and “Work Hard”.

For me, I have made so many of my BIG DREAMS come true and I wonder, “How did I do it?”

I’d say a big part of my amazing work ethic is just who I am. It’s the way I was born. I believe we exist BEFORE we come to earth, which means I believe we don’t come to earth as a “blank slate” of a person.

Another big part of my work ethic comes from delivering newspapers for 9 years, beginning when I was 9 years old. Most of my friends and classmates, back then, also had newspaper delivery routes, and I noticed how most / all of them quit after a short while while I continued on, well into high school.

There was something about waking up early EVERY MORNING, 7 days a week, for 9 years which worked magic in my life. I didn’t question the work. I didn’t complain like most people do. I just accepted it as a constant in my life. And through this experience, I learned to LOVE hard work, because I knew it was hard. I embraced the challenge… especially on the 0 degree winter mornings where I’d ride my bike in the snow and ice. I turned it into a game in my mind, pretending I was a superhero or something…

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I have been a professional, commercial artist for 30 years. I’m so good at following my heart, which has brought me to the very special place where I am now in my career.

I majored in computer science (computer programming) in college, and I proudly graduated with that degree, but I used the frustration during those four years to propel me where I am now. I would see how PASSIONATE so many of my computer classmates were and I envied them. I knew, inside my heart, that I was equally as passionate (and talented) about visual art, but the big question loomed, “How do I turn my passion into a successful career?”

What absolutely took off, 30 years ago, was the creation of my AMAZING HERO ART Speed-Painting School Assembly program. Why did it take off? Because I combined my two deepest passions – visual art and my desire to make this world a better place.

I have performed over 4,000 school shows over the last 30 years, and have been invited to appear and speed-paint on The TODAY Show twice, GOOD MORNING AMERICA twice, The Tonight Show, and The OPRAH WINFREY Show.

From there, I was hired as a Top-Tier Master Fine Artist for DISNEY, where I paint fine art masterpieces which they sell in their fine art galleries, worldwide.

Fortunately for me, DISNEY allows me to accept other art projects, beyond my Disney assignments, so I am still able to visit schools and put on my Speed-Painting Extravaganza.

I continue to visit 3-5 schools each week, on top of my Disney work, and I also enjoy accepting all kinds of unique custom art commissions, including LEGO murals & sculptures, giant hand-painted murals, and I have set 7 World Records with my artistry.

I’m also very much looking forward to my appearance at Disney World’s EPCOT FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS from February 16-19, 2024 where I get to meet the most wonderful families / people / fans who come to Disney World to meet Disney artists and take home beautiful artwork.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
OK… I think of this every single day, and again, these are the big messages which I speak on the microphone when I perform my inspirational Speed-Painting show at schools.

1. Soul-search, follow your heart, and study who you are. Try to discover who you really are and why you are here on earth at this time. I love to think about my life and learn about who I am! This longing to find my place in life has brought me to the most wonderful place in my career. (and may I add that your full-time job doesn’t need to define you. what you do outside of work can be what really fills your soul!)

2. I love to work. I love to work towards my goals. I love to create. I love hard work. I love and embrace challenges. I love to coach myself in a positive, powerful way by saying things like, “I can do what most people would deem IMPOSSIBLE!”

3. I have found things which resonate with my soul. When I was small, I identified with things which I just loved. I wasn’t an amazing artist as a kid, but what was more important was my LOVE for drawing and creating. I found JOY in the process of drawing and coloring. I also loved playing team sports and riding my bike by myself. I also loved animals. I also loved playing with LEGOs. I loved video games. I loved things that were funny. I loved Sesame Street, Muppets, Star Wars, and Disney. I loved making people happy. And while many people abandon their childhood loves and decide to “grow up” I have hung onto every single one of these loves. Just last week I bought myself a Sesame Street hawaiian shirt! I still build LEGO things, just for my own personal satisfaction! I bought myself two of my favorite arcade games (Tetris and Ms. Pac-Man) which are right next to me, here in my personal art studio. I worked hard at getting better at drawing and painting over the years,.. and now I have the distinct privilege of being able to create artistic masterpieces of the Disney, Star Wars, Muppet characters which I love so much!

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
When I perform my inspirational Speed-Painting school assembly program, I definitely reach kids (and adults) on a very deep level. Often, there isn’t a dry eye in the place as I tell everyone how magnificent they are, just by being a human being. But I feel there is more for me to accomplish in life. I want to reach a worldwide audience, and not just one school at a time. I believe I could introduce to the world “the next greatest form of entertainment” unlike anything the world has ever seen. And for the first time in my career, I certainly open the door to collaborate with the right people to make this vision a reality. I feel so deeply in my heart the desire to impact this world in a profound way through the vehicle of art and entertainment. I believe I can shake up this world in a positive & powerful way. And I don’t worry about finding the right “open door” to step into this new world. I believe the person / people who I’m meant to work with in the future already exist. I believe we already agreed BEFORE WE WERE EVEN BORN to meet up here on earth at a specific time and place. I believe we were MEANT to work together. I believe the big things in life are simply MEANT TO BE and won’t pass by. I believe the big, important things in life won’t miss me. But certainly, me typing these words is important… and powerful. I won’t miss what’s meant to come my way because I take every step possible to be all I can be. I always try my best. I always try to open doors which are meant to open. I always try to be in my Flow and I always try to be on-track.

Contact Info:

HARPO PRODUCTIONS

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.
Highlighter Series
Are you walking a path—or wandering?

The answer to whether you are walking or wandering often changes from season to season

Highlighter Series
What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?

With so many high-achievers in our community it was super interesting to learn about the

Highlighter Series
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?

We asked some of the wisest people we know what they would tell their younger