About the Artist
Elva's Bio
Taking the scenic route through life
If life is a journey, Elva Robinson has taken the scenic route. Now in her fifties, she is surprised to find herself as a working artist. Though she has done various arts and crafts since she could pick up a crayon or manage a pair of scissors, she never really considered herself an artist. That title belonged to her mother.
At various times in her life, Elva concentrated her efforts on music, then on writing, but she continued to keep art, crafts, and photography as hobbies. Several years ago, she discovered the art of paper sculpture. She found the manipulation of paper into art to be intensely satisfying.
About five years ago, Elva developed tendonitis in her right elbow. To finally recover from her injury, she had to put away her scissors, and find another creative outlet. So she turned to another thing she loved: photography. Her lightweight digital camera did not strain her elbow. During this time, she accumulated a large number of digital files.
So what to do with all those digital pictures? As she began to recover from her injury, she started exploring the idea of creating "photosculptures" from her photographic work, printing multiple copies of a work, then shaping them and layering them to make a 3-dimensional work. She later began manipulating her photos in fanciful ways in order to create abstract work. Her digital art/ paper sculpture abstract works, which often also incorporate acrylic paints and texture gels, are the next step in her ongoing exploration.
Elva has exhibited at various venues around the Dallas-Fort Worth area, such as the Arlington Museum of Art, the Firehouse Gallery in Fort Worth, and the Jaycee Park Center for the Arts in Irving. She has done solo exhibits and has participated in group shows.
The tendonitis was painful, but Elva believes that her art is a visual illustration of Romans 8:28. As difficult as it was for her during that time of recovery, God caused everything to "work together for good."
EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS
Solo Exhibitions
Arlington Museum of Art, Arlington, TX
May 2-30, 2010
Jaycee Park Center for the Arts, Irving, TX
July 2010
Firehouse Gallery, Fort Worth, TX
"Active Imagination" February 2011
Arlington Museum of Art, Arlington, TX
"Theological Abstracts" September 2011 and December 2011
Two-Person Exhibit
Jaycee Park Center for the Arts
"Opposites" August 2011
Elva Robinson and Geraldine Brettmann
Group Exhibits
Arlington Museum of Art
"Wide Spectrum" July 2010
Arlington Museum of Art
"Wide Spectrum 2" November 2010
Arlington Museum of Art
"Wide Spectrum 3" November 2011
"Wide Spectrum" is a group of approximately 12 artists who live and work in North Texas.
Awards
Lake Granbury Art Association 2009 Photography Show
"Classic Mistake" (honorable mention)
Arlington Visual Arts Association 2011 Juried Show
"Generosity" (merit award)
Lake Granbury Art Association 2011 Spring Show
"Glorious Praise" (second place in category)
Arlington Visual Arts Association 2012 Juried Show
"Birth of Hope" (merit award)
Arlington Visual Arts Association 2012 Member's Show
"Koi Pond" (First place)
Juried Show Acceptances
Arlington Visual Arts Association 2009 Juried Show
"Through the Fire"
Arlington Visual Arts Association 2011 Juried Show
"Glorious Praise"
"Generosity"
Lake Granbury Art Association 2011 Juried Photography Show
"Iron Horse"
"Up and Over"
Arlington Visual Arts Association 2012 Juried Show
"Birth of Hope"
"Light to My Path"
"Eternal Dance"
Lake Granbury Art Association 2012 Juried Photography Show
"Koi Pond"
"Light and Shadow"
Grand Prairie Arts Council 2012 Juried Show
"Overwhelmed"
"Generosity"
"Holy Fire"
