Meet Robyn Holl

We recently connected with Robyn Holl and have shared our conversation below.

Robyn, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

Keeping my creativity alive is a multi-faceted endeavor–I don’t have one single solution, but instead leverage a variety of practices that I apply at different times, including:

Applying discipline
Taking risks, letting go of fear, and being vulnerable
Listening to my instincts and dreams and watching for signs
Leveraging resources and learning
Surrounding myself with art and inspiration

Keeping my creativity alive takes work. I think it aligns with having a strong work ethic and dedication. Personal growth and effective decision-making affect inspiration and creativity in a type of constructive way that pops up without realizing it. Having structure and boundaries often allow for the space and breath of air needed for art to flourish.

Applying discipline: Scheduling regular studio time for my own art and setting that as sacred space helps focus the action of creativity. I have to intentionally be alone with myself and sometimes that’s a challenge. When I am ready to get in the zone, one of things I do is choose music. Listening to a variety of music is something I enjoy. I turn it on and often let my app suggest recent releases. Other times, I carefully curate the selection to an upbeat vibe or something instrumental when I am ready to intently focus. I recently created a 60” abstract blue painting about expressing very specific emotions such as sadness and anger. Starting off, when I am putting down rough impulsive movements, I play dance music. And this time, when it was time to refine lines and make decisions about finishing touches, I chose cinematic scores to get dramatic and intentional. Other ways I apply discipline to my art practice include disconnecting from my phone or taking a digital detox to stay focused on the work, as well as setting aside a regular time for art business tasks such as applying for shows and writing about my work.

Taking risks, letting go of fear, and being vulnerable: I am a willing and calculated risk taker. I am open to expressing vulnerability even though it is risky. It’s important to surround myself with individuals who value this experience, respect it and have compassion. Risk takes being uncomfortable. Letting go of fear is also taking a risk. And to put my creative voice in front of the public audience, there is a need to be fearless.

Listening to my instincts and dreams and watching for signs: Creativity is also not always the act of creating. Caring for my health and wellness is vital. Often I have a very busy mind and need to quiet down. I am currently in the first week of a month-long series of meditations including breathwork, relaxation music, and letting go of thoughts running wild in my head. Decluttering my mind so that I can sleep helps restore my ability to be open to inspiration as it strikes. These moments of clarity aid in transforming thoughts of anxiety and stress into colors and compositions. For example in the most recent meditation, Day 3, during an instrumental relaxation, I experienced feelings of sadness and melancholy. I noted it and sat with it and now it is emerging in my artistic work as I explore a “blue period” and palette of cool colors.

Leveraging resources and learning:
I’ve recently revisited reading as stimulation for my mind. Currently, I am in the middle of a book about mental health topics and another one about the behind the scenes leadership at the Disney resorts. As Cultural Curator at Art Ovation Hotel, I develop, lead and learn with the community everyday. At the end of September, we are collaborating with Ringling College of Art & Design for an exhibit. In my role, I also attend artists talks, organize them, and inquire about artists’ processes through interviews. I recently attended St. Pete’s Arts Alliance Summit conference and participated in a workshop on collaboration in the arts. The community of arts establishments in Sarasota is such a wealth of creativity that I am constantly absorbing new information and resources. Just last week I visited a Sumi-e exhibition at the Ringling College of Art & Design that was inspiring. Looking forward to this year, I plan to join several classes, lectures, and workshops to bring new energy to my work. I also learn an immense amount from mentoring emerging artists as their journey rejuvenates my own. This keeps my brain fresh and connected to current trends in art academia.

Surrounding myself with art and inspiration: Surrounding myself with the arts is the easy part, there is no shortage in Sarasota! I also landed in a professional position as Cultural Curator at Art Ovation Hotel that makes creating artful surroundings a responsibility I take seriously. In this role, I create experiences to bring the visitors, guests, and community members together in appreciation of visual art, dance, performance, and even health and wellness as a restful and rejuvenating art form. This keeps my creativity fresh by collaborating with other artists, organizers and leaders in providing an artful experience in every facet of life.

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 am both an artist and a curator of both exhibits and experiences. I bought a villa-style condo in North Sarasota a year ago. I’ve been in my full-time role as Cultural Curator at Art Ovation Hotel for two and half years now. I love it and plan to stay.

In my personal artistic practice, I create bold colorful abstractions that describe my experiences in mysterious ways. As a professional in the role of Cultural Curator, I work with the community and bring together artists to celebrate the arts alongside guests of the hotel. It is an engaging opportunity to think outside the box about activities and ways to activate the open space at the Hotel.

There is a plentitude of events coming up. The hotel is celebrating the unique in room sketchbook with Mark Week September 23-27 to include nightly parties, a sketch-a-thon, a dinner, and mixology class. This is in participation with Ringling College of Art & Design. Then in October, I am participating as an Artist in Residence at the hotel from October 22-28. On November 2, we are celebrating Sarasota Art & Dance Night and November 6 we are featuring a cocktail gala Art Opening to launch the next Exhibition series in the hotel galleries. After the holidays unfold, I will be exhibiting a Solo Show in Ft. Lauderdale at the Courtyard Marriott beginning January 2025. Stay tuned for the date of the opening reception.

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?

Courage, resilience, and honesty have been and continue to be impactful on my journey. I suggest being bold, taking chances, collecting rejections and keeping eyes and ears and hearts open. Survival is best achieved with resiliency and the ability to pivot with change. Being honest with oneself and staying genuine is a lifelong endeavor.
A rejection, for me, is a sign that I’ve put my work in front of a new set of experienced eyes. It means I refreshed my artist statement and refreshed my efforts at keeping my art files organized. Each new application often inspires reframing thoughts about recent work and how it connects to the world around me. Personal stories that are embedded in my artwork come out and I begin to realize how impactful the process is for my life and well-being. I embrace every part of the effort and results in the case of a rejection. Then, often unexpectedly, an acceptance comes through and the realization that this is just the beginning comes washing over me. Now the courage to fulfill the proposed exhibit or project becomes the next moment of truth.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

My self. I am often the only thing getting in the way of what I really want to achieve. Procrastination, perfectionistic tendencies, and again fear – these get in the way. I have to choose my priorities and get past the voice in my head that comes out to say, “you can’t…”. I can. I overcome this challenge on a daily basis by staying connected. I connect with like-minded individuals, artists, arts leaders and anyone fueling my energy. I take a deep dive and tell my inner voice that it’s time to focus. This is where playing inspiring music is important and keeping creativity alive depends heavily on making the right choices. I recently felt like I had no space in my condo for my art, and so I had a fellow artist offer to come over and brainstorm. I said YES please. She came up with the idea to build an easel off of a tall sturdy bookshelf that my dad had hand-built years and years ago. So, within a week, I had another handy friend come over and before I knew it, I had a whole new art space. Now I have a new easel, several new exhibits coming up and the opportunity to keep choosing new and open paths forward.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Not Applicable, All taken by me.

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