Rob Bridges

I want to welcome Rob Bridges to Etsy Spotlight On, he is our featured artist today. When I feature and artist, I visit the links they send me. Rob took me on a great journey with his. I spent quite a bit of time on his website alone. He is quite the talented illustrator. Rob and I share a common interest in writing. After looking through his Etsy shop, this has to be my favorite illustration from him.

(click on image to view the listing)

1. When did you start to think that you wanted to be an artist?

When I was about 6 years old. My grade school had a monetary shortage. My reading books had to be photocopied and manually put together. My dad decided he would spruce up my books and cause me to want to read by drawing pictures of Disney characters on the inside flaps. I paid more attention to his drawings then I did to the book itself and begged him to draw me more. He got tired of this and told me if wanted more then I should draw them myself. Henceforth, my ignored schooling and hours drawing on the inside flaps of all the books in his personal library.

2. What is your favorite medium to work in?

Gouache and watercolor. I used to paint primarily in oils until I got married, moved into an apartment and had a baby. I am a safety freak who did not want to take chances with solvents and odors around my new family. I now love both of them. The materials not my family. I love my family too.

3. What is your current project?

I have 2 books I am currently starting process on. It has been a long road getting myself to do them. No imagery I want to share yet. :)

How about looking at this nice picture instead.

4. What is your main source of inspiration?

Mostly children's literature that I come across and conversations about children's literature with my lovely wife Sharon, a schoolteacher, and an amazing children's literature-aholic. You should see her collection. And lately from images that pop into my head while in conversations with others or just standing in the shower.

5. Who are you?

Sometimes I ask myself that question..who am I. I work as a graphic designer for a large e-commerce site by day. I have been drawing and creating for as long as I can remember. I attended Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington where I received my BFA. I focused mainly as a painter and have had shows in galleries in Seattle and have a few private collectors. I ended back in Los Angeles in 2000, where I decided I needed a steadier paycheck and took a job as a "gopher" for a design firm. I did not know how where the on button was on a computer but within a few years had honed my skills and ended up working on large campaigns for board games to print work for companies such as DirecTV. It wasn't until the last 5 years that I decided to get back into the art game and started thinking about illustrating. I haven't got where I wish to be, but I have been in contact with some industry folk and working for my "big break".

6. Where do you sell besides Etsy.

I don’t have many other venues, but I currently sell through a B&M shop in Lexington, Kentucky run by the creative Etsy seller force Heather Marchiafava of Commotion Supplies, and some work selling at Mahar Dry Goods. They both carry great stuff, I hope to visit Commotion! soon.

7. Do you have a Blog.

I have thought about it, but I have never been a fan of airing the jumbled thoughts and rantings that tumble around constantly in my brain. I have a "news" feature on my website but that is generally relegated to "I posted a new piece".

8. Any other information you would like to share?

If you’re a book or magazine publisher contact me.

9. What 1 item would you like to sell from being on this feature?

The Ursine Dream - original gouache painting

(click on photo to view listing)

10. Do you have more than 1 Etsy shop?

I have a personal website dedicated to my illustrative pursuits. www.robbridges.com
Drop by checkout and say hi.

ROBBRIDGES illustrations