Check Out Robert Schoolfield’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Schoolfield.

Hi Robert, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Art is something that I have done my entire life. Some of my earliest memories of making art were at my grandparent’s house. My grandmother is an artist, and she would let me use some of her art supplies during the times that my brothers and I would visit them, which was often. She encouraged me without trying to control my method or style. Art was just a part of life, I didn’t hold it above anything else. I remember getting some recognition for art projects growing up, but I guess I began to take it a little more serious after high school. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do in life, so I think that’s one reason I latched onto art more. I was comfortable with it… I felt like it was a way for me to be who I really am, which is an ongoing experience.

Art is also something that has been somewhat of a record of my life. It’s interesting to look back and see the art that I made in each time period of my life. Eventually I started making a lot of art. I kept working jobs that I didn’t care about. Some of them would be for a few weeks or months, and then I’d quit or find something new. But I never quit painting. I started applying for different art shows and tried to be involved in my community more. To this day, I get denied quite a bit more that I get accepted. Actually, a lot more. I was living on my own for a while, but I decided to move into my Dad’s basement in my early to mid-twenties (I’m 31 now). I was living somewhat of a questionable lifestyle, and I was broke. So when I moved in with him, I was able to save my money and invest in art supplies. I continued to work different jobs and I was able to build up a larger body of work. I started to get accepted into more shows, but I wasn’t really getting the recognition I thought I deserved, so I tried harder. I ended up moving into a studio apartment on some property that my mom and aunt own. I was working throughout the days and painting any time that I could.

Moving forward… I have had my work in different locations in the US. I have had solo shows, won a few awards, and in 2019 I was lucky enough to travel to London. I have had articles written about me and I have been featured in a few magazines as well. Although, I still feel like the most famous unknown person there is. Currently, I am a featured artist in a gallery called Area 61 here in my hometown of Chattanooga, TN. What I envision my future to be is finding more galleries to be in outside of Chattanooga and to create a business where I can produce prints and manage an online store through my website. I have my website set up already, but it is very small scale. I still work a Monday-Friday day job, however, I enjoy this one.

Another aspect of what I do is related to the mental health field. I am a CPRS, and I provide peer support to individuals in recovery from either addiction or mental illness or both. Making art has been a purpose for me to continue with my own life on many occasions. If there is purpose to life, I would have to say that art has something to do with my purpose. With whatever it is that I do, I seek to open others up to the idea that they are their own unique individual. I believe that we do all have some kind of purpose or truth to who we are. I hope to lead others to that destination within themselves, through everything that I do. As my website says, “I represent anyone who has been through difficult times. Those who know what I mean will see that reflected in what I do. I am just lucky to be alive and grateful that I get to share my truth with others. If I explained very little about what I do, it would be too much, and if I explained a lot, it wouldn’t be enough. I create because words often get in the way of what I really want to say.”

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. I feel like I work really hard, but that I am unrecognized. Aside from that, I have been through many difficult situations in my personal life. I have had many times in my life where I was ill, more so when I was younger, but I still face some repercussions from that, and also from how I decided to live when I got a little bit older. I kind of lived a typical artists lifestyle for a little while. I have also worked many many hours in jobs that are not art related, just to get by. No, it has not been easy.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I mostly make mixed media artwork. The pieces I make are built up over time, and they really have a lot going on. An online picture doesn’t do justice when it comes to how many layers most of my paintings have. Sometimes I think of it is sculpting on a surface. The things that separates me would be my style. People tell me that they can recognize a painting of mine without having to look at the signature or description. Style is something important in all aspects of creativity. But I’m mostly just proud that I get to make art to begin with. There have been dark times in my life where I wasn’t accepting who I am. So, I’m grateful that I get to be the person I am and that I get to live this life as the artist Robert Schoolfield. As people, we are the art. The physical representation is a byproduct of the art (me)… something like that.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I know for sure the thing I like least about Atlanta is the traffic. I would have to say that the creative culture and influence is what I like the most.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.schoolfieldart.com
• Instagram: @rhschoolfield