Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1356331
22 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | APRIL 2021 | Art League Greetings from the Art League. There's no news about meetings and classes yet, but we are feeling hopeful that it won't be long now. In the meantime, we're profiling one of our members, Robin Warner, a very talented artist who joined the Art League a couple years ago when she moved to Sun Lakes. Her portrait in oils won the "Best of Show" award at the 2019 Sun Lakes Art Show (pictured at right). Here is Robin's story in her words: "From my earliest memories, I was always doing art. I was the oldest of four girls, born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. After high school I received my BA in Fine Art. I specialized in drawing (charcoal, ink, pencil, pastels) and fabric design, because I wanted to be a designer. I was fortunate to have a broad spectrum of classes that exposed me to all mediums, including painting and drawing, ceramics, fabric arts, needle arts, calligraphy, photography, jewelry design, crafting and more. I loved them all. "When I was 19, I couldn't wait to see the great masters and museums of Europe. I took a year off of school, and I set out to travel around Europe. Seeing Rembrandt's Night Watch, Michelangelo's Pieta, and Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, was awe-inspiring for a young girl like me. "I never did become a dress designer, except for myself, but I did become a fashion illustrator for a dress company at the garment district in downtown Los Angeles. I worked there until I became a mother. I have four beautiful children; all are artistic in different ways, writer, dancer, painter, interior design. After my children started school I realized I needed a better paying job than art could provide, so I went back to college and got my MS in Counseling. I became a therapist for a number of years, and finally retired as a hospital director in 2017. During all those years I never stopped doing artwork in my spare time, even teaching a few classes and judging a couple shows. I have continued to enjoy doing portraits and figure drawing. I like to say that being a therapist fed my bank account, but being an artist feeds my soul. "I moved to Sun Lakes after I retired to live closer to my parents. I joined the Art League right away. What a wonderful club it is, so much talent, such kind people, and fabulous instructors. Though my focus has been on drawing, I have found a new appreciation of painting after taking classes from David Fairrington and Joe Oakes. I look forward to the time Art League can meet again to enjoy camaraderie and new classes. How fortunate we are to have such a dedicated group of people, willing and eager to learn new techniques and help others." ~ Robin Warner