Today, we’d like to introduce you to Mario DeBlak Robinson.
Hi Mario, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up as the 3rd child of 8 (6 boys, and 2 girls) in a small 3-bedroom home in Hiram, GA. Each of us discovered artistic abilities early on. I was thankful when a recruiter discovered my art in high school, a time when I felt uncertain about my future because I wasn’t as athletically inclined as my brothers. Ultimately, my ability to draw and paint earned me a full art scholarship to Reinhardt University.
After graduating with an Associate of Fine Arts degree from Reinhardt, I moved to Atlanta, GA to attend Georgia State University. During my time there, I briefly worked at Cartoon Network, sold watercolor portraits, and began creating flyers for local clubs and artists until financial constraints led me back home my senior year without a degree.
Subsequently, I found employment as a Multimedia Specialist at IBM in Atlanta, where I expanded my skillset and freelanced as a graphics and web designer for the entertainment industry. Seven years later, after being let go from IBM and with a family to support (I was married with 2 boys by then), I seized the opportunity to establish a family-operated company named 8 Robinsons, alongside former business partners Kirk Williams and NFL Alumni Joseph Profit.
Although the NFL Alumni contract was our largest, I continued servicing web clients such as Carmelo Anthony’s short-lived Krossover Entertainment, Young Berg (now known as Hit Maker), motivational speaker Ona Brown, and movie producer Arthur Wylie. Subsequently, I returned to corporate America, assuming the role of design manager at AutoTrader.com. Concurrently, my brother and I founded SupaDopeFresh.com, a hip-hop events and sponsorship company, which became prominent in Atlanta’s underground “breakin'” scene.
Throughout this period, I completed my Bachelor’s degree and earned an MBA in information systems management while nurturing the 8 Robinsons brand and navigating a divorce that left me and my sons in Georgia to rebuild our lives. I devoted all my efforts to the family business, transitioning it from a web and graphics company to a brand management firm. Eventually, I departed AutoTrader.com to serve as the Manager of Advertising Systems at The Home Depot Corporate Office, primarily focusing on implementing a digital asset management system.
Two years later, I found myself once again dedicating my attention to 8 Robinsons, relocating it from a home-based operation to a film studio in Acworth, GA, where we collaborated with Rockwell Dance Academy. Earlier, we had converted a house I owned into a content production facility in Dallas, GA, where we created The Rooted in Love Show (a coming-of-age podcast) and the @SupaDopeFresh Podcast (centered around the elements of hip hop).
To say that I am a busy individual might be an understatement; besides managing digital TV networks and sponsoring events and break dancers worldwide through SupaDopeFresh, we organize several S.T.E.A.M. camps in the summer, teaching art and creativity to children aged 5 to 16. My brothers and I initiated these summer programs, naming them Uncle Art Camp.
Thus, by day, I serve remotely as a communications and marketing resource, and by night and weekends, I produce content and serve as an overall entrepreneurial force for my family’s brands.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Throughout my journey, I’ve encountered numerous opportunities. Some may label them as mistakes, but I call them stepping stones. Losing my job as a multimedia specialist at IBM was undoubtedly a challenging experience. It compelled me to make a promise to myself – no job would ever have that much control over my self-esteem or sense of self-worth again.
Embracing my entrepreneurial spirit, I shifted my focus to building the 8 Robinsons brand by securing monthly and yearly contracts instead of relying solely on one-off projects. This strategic shift enabled me to establish budgets and forecast earnings, a concept Actor/Comedian Kevin Hart aptly describes as “building scaffolding” – ensuring that if one were to stumble, they wouldn’t crash to the ground but rather transition to the next platform or opportunity, steadily rebuilding.
In my inaugural year of business, an audit of one of my clients by the IRS unearthed significant unreported earnings, resulting in a lien being placed on my home. Determined to fix the situation, I promptly educated myself on filing and paying business taxes. It took me some time to navigate my way out of that predicament. The housing market crash spanning from 2007 to 2010 imparted a crucial lesson: diversification is key.
Relying heavily on one client, particularly during tumultuous financial periods, proved to be a bad business decision. The decline in spending on charity events amidst the U.S. financial crisis saw the loss of the NFL Alumni Atlanta Chapter, one of my largest clients, prompting a return to corporate America for stability.
Amidst personal tribulations, including a tumultuous divorce concurrent with pursuing my MBA and managing both a full-time job and freelance commitments for 8 Robinsons, I found myself in financial turmoil. Costly legal battles ensued, draining resources and necessitating difficult decisions. Despite the hardships, I emerged with custody of my youngest son (my eldest step-son was already 18 and he decided to stay in Georgia), albeit burdened by rising debt.
Filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy became a necessity, a decision met with criticism from my lawyer for forgoing potential child support payments as part of the settlement. For five years, I grappled with financial constraints, learning the invaluable lesson of fiscal responsibility and resilience. Navigating single parenthood and household finances on a single income, I evolved into a better man and father.
I had an opportunity to be an Associate Producer on a feature film called “The Final Wish” and gave the bulk of my savings as an investment. Let’s just say I lost 100% of that money as the initial returns were moderate, and right as the movie was getting licensed overseas, the COVID pandemic started. While I maintained positive relationships with all the executives and others involved with the film, I have yet to recoup that money or the interest I was promised.
But this loss triggered the creation of the 8 Robinsons TV brand, which now has its own film studio and multiple shows and podcasts. I learned in real time what people spend four years in film or business school to learn, so found myself grateful for the experience, I forged ahead with newfound wisdom and resilience.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
My proficiency in drawing and painting has profoundly shaped my life for the better. Specializing in colored pencil drawings and watercolor paintings, I’ve honed my skills across various mediums, including charcoal, oils, and acrylics. From a young age, I’ve been fortunate to work within my chosen field, even crafting signs for Kroger while still a high school senior.
Over the years, my artwork has been featured in numerous gallery shows, and I’ve curated my own gallery exhibits, marking pivotal moments in my artistic journey. One such moment occurred at East Paulding High, where my artwork caught the eye of a college recruiter. As a shy and introverted kid uncertain about my future, receiving a full art scholarship came as a transformative surprise, unveiling a whole new world of possibilities.
My journey from that shy kid working night shifts cleaning floors at Walmart to a seasoned artist collaborating with schools and individuals around the U.S., fills me with immense pride. Beyond personal success, I’m grateful for how art and creativity have positively impacted my family and our community.
What distinguishes me from many creatives is my ability to navigate the business side of the industry. As a visionary and analytical thinker, I’ve cultivated opportunities not only for myself but also for others, leveraging our collective creativity for sustainable livelihoods. The inception of Uncle Art Camp embodies this ethos, aiming to impart invaluable lessons, principles, and skills to future generations.
While my time for creating new art may be limited, you can find samples of my work on my @deblakofficial Instagram page. Art and creativity serve as the foundation of every venture I undertake. Currently, we’re transforming the walls of our film studio into gallery spaces, providing a physical platform to showcase our past and future creations. Indeed, art is a gift that continually enriches and inspires.
Any big plans?
My future plans revolve around expanding my personal art portfolio and fostering collaborations with galleries worldwide to share compelling stories and artworks. This endeavor will encompass various mediums, including gallery exhibitions, podcasts, documentaries, and the curation of a private collection featuring works from other artists.
For over three years, we’ve been proud sponsors of Floor Fire Jam, an event in Uganda, and we’re eager to return to initiate the formation of an artist collective there. Witnessing the global impact of not only fine arts but also performing arts fills me with excitement and anticipation for the opportunities ahead.
A significant endeavor on the horizon involves designing a dual-purpose space that will function as both an art gallery and a podcast/film studio, serving as a nexus for all our brands.
Additionally, my eldest brother, Angelo T Robinson who owns ATR Fine Arts and Yellow Tub Creative, is developing a similar space in Madison, AL, presenting an exciting opportunity for collaboration and cross-promotion between our respective audiences. It’s truly remarkable how our individual journeys through art and creativity have led us to envision spaces for film, photography, and now, galleries.
Pricing:
- $1,600.00yr + Web Design & Development
- $5,000.oo + Fine Art Commissions
- $6,000.00yr + Podcast Production & Distribution
- $15.00 + 8robinsons.com Merchandise
- $15.00 + supadopefresh.com Merchandise
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.8robinsons.tv/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/8robinsonsdtv and https://www.instagram.com/deblakofficial
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/8robinsonsdtv/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-dandre-robinson/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/8robinsonstv
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@8robinsonsdtv
Image Credits
Photophobic Images and 8 Robinsons Brand Management
