It is difficult to aptly describe the complete joyousness of the artwork created by Lenore Diamond Robins. Cascading dots of varied hues, red and yellow circles peeking out from black and white backdrops, shapes arranged like elegant board-game patterns…her colorful creations serve as eye candy and bring an instant smile to the viewer’s face.
Yet what truly makes Lenore’s work so remarkable is its multifaceted nature. While it would be ideal hanging on the walls of a candy shop or a toy store, it would be equally appropriate—and stunning—in a living room, a child’s nursery, a theater, or even an office building. Lenore’s pieces are high-quality and rendered with a high-gloss finish that gives them almost an ethereal effect that makes it hard to take your eyes off them. Moreover, her delightful work is arguably a cure to depression.
Lenore Diamond Robins is a self-taught artist who had been making her unique brand of bold contemporary three-dimensional wall art for more than twenty-five years. She was born and raised in Philadelphia but now resides in Florida—where she raised a daughter—with her husband of more than thirty years…who also happens to be her biggest fan.
Lenore enjoys infusing shapes, geometric patterns, and vibrant colors with the light-bending characteristics of extremely high-gloss resin. Her style is immediately recognizable, walking the line between pop art and high-concept abstract principles. Although most of her work is purely abstract, Lenore will occasionally lend her style to the depictions of flowers, fish, and other recognizable forms.
Interestingly, although Lenore’s work looks like glass, her pieces are actually crafted out of paint, wood, and resin that is blow-torched after being poured. Her work usually features no framing and it has been represented and exhibited in galleries across the United States and has been purchased by collectors from the wider world including Spain, France, England, Austria, Switzerland, The Czech Republic, and Canada.
Lenore recently discussed her gorgeous and eye-popping artwork via an exclusive interview.
Meagan Meehan (MM) of Entertainment Vine: What sparked your interest in art and how did you develop your unique and very colorful style?
Lenore Diamond Robins (LDR): I’ve always had an interest in the arts. When I was in high school, I took jewelry making class and created gold and silver jewelry. I still have many of the pieces I made during those years. During summer vacations in my college years, I gave stained glass art a try. I found it very interesting, with a totally different skill set, up until I dropped the soldering iron and it rolled down my leg giving me a VERY nasty burn! That was the end of that particular art medium! My unique and readily identifiable art has evolved over many years. I have always loved vibrant colors and shapes, so my art has given voice to that love.
MM: How did you break into the art industry and get your art shown internationally?
LDR: Moving into a new home with empty walls started me on a path to my art career. I created paper constructions and fabric constructions for my own personal use. Then I added wood accents to the paper pieces. I found that paint just pops better on wood than it does on paper or canvas – at least I think it does. I switched entirely over to painting on wood. I began to create art which I hung all over our home. Friends would come over and ask me when I was going to show my art professionally. I hadn’t previously considered doing that, but OK. Great idea! I bought an art tent and started showing/selling my art at local art fairs.
Then I found a local gallery operated by a local artist guild affiliated with the local art museum. I joined the group and began showing in this gallery. My art continued to sell. I met many talented artists who had years of art education and expertise. My involvement with this group developed into leadership positions, ultimately becoming President and helping to grow the group to over 500 members. I was open to the constructive criticism of these more experienced artists and my art evolved, becoming more sophisticated, and resulting in more sales. I also launched my website. You MUST have a website if you want to be taken seriously as an artist. I approached, and my art was accepted into, other area galleries. From these galleries, or their websites, other gallery owners saw my art and invited me to be represented in their galleries. My art is now represented by several galleries around the country, and I continue to work to find good new opportunities to exhibit my art.
MM: You work with resin, which you then blow-torch! That’s quite a unique technique, so how did you learn about it and then master it?
LDR: Identifying resin for my finish coating was a trial and error process over several years. The first time I mixed up a batch of resin, poured it out over a small, experimental piece, and then turned on the small propane torch was nerve wracking. My fears seem silly now, but at the time, they were real. I am now using a 5th generation resin. This resin is UV resistant, without VOCs and should retain improved clarity. It also seems to respond very well to the bubble popping blow torch!
Bottom line, it has taken many years of experience with different resins to create the glass-like appearance of my art. My wood pieces now appear to be made of glass, rather than wood. However, despite my many years of experience, each hand poured finish is a challenge. Variation in the final finish is expected.
MM: What are your biggest influences and inspirations when you are forming your vibrant artworks?
LDR: I was the odd kid who actually enjoyed solid geometry in high school! Even my early jewelry creations had a basis in geometric shapes. I’ve always loved bold colors and shapes. The challenge artistically is to make the shapes come alive, which I do through the use of 3D components and angled positions. I have thousands of designs bouncing around in my head. I don’t know why, but they often keep me up at night. It’s hard to quiet my mind when I see so many potential art creations all the time. Another strong influence when I create my art is that I incorporate framing into the actual artwork. My collectors invest in my original art without the need to spend on commercial framing.
MM: You gravitate towards the abstract, but also do some pieces containing fish and/or flower imagery…have you ever tried to get these shown in preschools or other places where children gather?
LDR: I actually started with the flower pieces because a good friend of mine said he just couldn’t relate to my abstract, geometric designs. So, I made some flower pieces from geometric shapes so that he could better appreciate my art. The fish pieces came about because I live and work in south Florida. I thought it would be fun to create some more tropically based artworks. The fish are just a lot of fun and have been very well received by collectors.
My giant puzzles began as an effort to make a smaller art piece work on the larger walls found in the homes in this area. Someone might have a budget for a 48″ by 48″ artwork, but their wall really needs a 72″ by 72″ piece, which would be out of their budget. I can cut the smaller piece into several individual puzzle pieces and spread it over the larger wall. I also love doing jigsaw puzzles, so that’s another reason I started this design line.
I haven’t specifically shown these pieces in pre-school locations, but I know that children are drawn to my artworks. I have to keep soft cleaning cloths handy when children come through places where my art is displayed!
MM: What sorts of life experiences has being an artist provided you with and has any particular honor, show, or fan feedback especially touched you?
LDR: Being an artist has enabled me to meet so many talented, wonderful people I would never have otherwise gotten to know and to call my friends.
My most memorable experience while exhibiting my art was doing a large show in Vero Beach, FL. My art was set up in the back room of the gallery and not visible from the front windows. Everyone who entered this back space broke out into huge smiles upon seeing my art. Those smiles meant the world to me. My husband came to the opening reception and was outside taking a break when a man walked out of the gallery to his group of friends and told them they had to go see the art in the back of the gallery. He said it was “pop art that really pops!” My husband couldn’t wait to share this comment with me. I have now incorporated it into my website and my printed marketing materials.
MM: You recently exhibited at ArtExpo in NYC with Blink Art Source, so what was your experience of the show—and Blink—like?
LDR: I actually did not have my original works at this show. I did have my art in the Blink PR materials as I showed my art with Blink Art at Spectrum Miami 2017. There was a positive reaction to my art at this show but the show. I was impressed at how professional the Blink team presented and represented my art at this venue.
MM: What is it like to work with Blink Art Source and what kinds of programs and/or opportunities do they offer to artists?
LDR: I am quite impressed with Blink Art and its founders and creative team. They have a 10,000 square foot gallery in Cincinnati, OH. One of my puzzle pieces is now on display at this gallery because the founders took it back with them after Spectrum ended. Participating with them at Spectrum gave me the opportunity to show them my original art and secured this gallery representation. I also have a full-page presentation in the 2018 Source Guide which should be published/released soon. This Guide is sent to 10,000 designers and decorators across the country.
MM: What are your biggest goals for your future art career and do you have any more projects or events coming up soon?
LDR: I want to expose more potential buyers to my art, so I continue to reach out to galleries and other art professionals across the country. I also receive interesting contacts through my website. I’ve been invited to participate in an invitation only art show in eastern MA in September. I just finished making a puzzle table for a buyer in Cambridge, MA. The table should ship out sometime in May. This month, my art is the featured art at a new gallery in Lancaster, PA – a second location for a Sedona gallery that has represented me for years.
MM: Is there anything else that you would like to mention?
LDR: I love what I do. Creating my art is something I am driven to do. When others enjoy my creations, I am happy.
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To learn more about Lenore Diamond Robins and her gorgeously colorful artwork, visit her official website, Facebook, and Blink Art Source Profile.
I’ve known Lenore for over twenty-five years and observed the evolution of her work. Lenore’s creations reflect incredible creativity and the highest level of perfection in construction.