ROBERT GILBERT'S ARTIST RESUME
I have been painting and drawing for over 50 years. I think I started about the time I discovered that Birthday cards created by grandchildren were held in high esteem by grandparents.
While working on my bachelor and masters degrees in architecture, I earned part of my tuition by doing wall murals for my friends and watercolor and ink renderings for local architects. After graduation I joined the Air Force where I retired as a Colonel. Since then I have managed my own consulting business, worked as a real estate executive for several major corporations and most recently I have joined my wife in the residential real estate business. My varied jobs have allowed me to live, work and play throughout Europe, Asia and in over a dozen states. My family encouraged me to paint but there was seldom time and I wasn’t ready to concentrate. I played with oils and the old masters technique; sketched buildings in ink, painted murals and drew numerous pencil portraits.
About ten years ago I decided it was time to do something with my interest in painting. I started taking art lessons from the Alexandria Art Institute, Washington DC Capitol Hill Art Workshop and Del Ray Artisans. Gradually I moved into teaching art in private and larger classes and exhibiting my paintings. My paintings have been exhibited at these galleries: Art League, Capitol Hill, Del Ray, Carmen's, Cobblestone, Results Gym, Berkley, and Strathmore Hall.
I think growing up in Seattle with its grays; blues, greens and browns had a definite influence on my style and the colors I prefer. Living internationally, provided me with the opportunity to experience a variety of life styles, environments, and a diversity of colors. This has obviously impacted my painting. While I have painted many portraits, pets, and sport scenes I paint mostly landscapes, cityscapes and waterscapes. As an architect, I'm particularly taken with the monumentality of New York city's buildings and the feeling of power they project, especially at night. Coupled with the vibrancy of the street crowded with people, pulsing with noise and surrounded by light the emotion is overwhelming. Its this that drives many of my paintings. On the other side of the equation my landscapes are usually quiet, subdued and relaxing. In all cases my paintings are realistic, impressionistic and stylistic.
To me, being an artist means to interpret what we see, to add feeling, suggest a mood, simplify and communicate a story. And we need to do all this in a technically competent manner. Good art is not a replication, it is an interpretation. To be a good artist we must follow our instincts, study great paintings and discover what brings us pleasure as we compare our message and our results to that of others. I think good art is the result of hard work, and more hard work with a little inspiration, creativity and luck thrown in.
ROBERT GILBERT’S CREDENTIALS
EDUCATION
Bachelor and Masters in Architecture: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Graduate Studies, Air University, Montgomery, AL
Graduate Studies, Defense University, Washington D.C
Numerous art courses: Torpedo Art Factory, Alexandria, VA
REGISTRATION
Architect
Master Professional, International Development Research Council
Corporate Real Estate Masters, International Association of Corporate Real Estate
Residential REALTOR ® Virginia
TEACHING
Faculty member and watercolor instructor for the Capitol Hill Art workshop 2002-2003
Artist Facilitator for the Maritz Research Company, July 2002
Private classes in Gilbert's Gallery & Studio
SHOWS
Solo:
Washington Technology Park, Chantilly, VA Oct-Jan 2010 - displaying 43 paintings
Great Falls Library, Great Falls, VA Jul-Oct 2009 displayed 8 paintings
Old Angler’s Inn, Potomac, MD; Jun 2008 – Indefinite; displaying 40 paintings
Fire Flies, Restaurant, Del Ray, VA - Jun 2005: displayed 30 paintings
Left Bank Bakery, Washington DC Apr - May 2003; displayed 13 paintings
Del Ray Art Gallery, Alexandria, VA: Aug - Sep 1, 2002; displayed 90 paintings
Primary Properties Gallery, Alexandria, VA: Feb - May, 2002; displayed 60 paintings
Juried Gallery Showings:
Art League Gallery: Alexandria, VA 2002 to 2009
Capitol Hill Art Gallery: Washington DC 2002-2005
Results Gallery: Washington DC Mar to Apr 2002
Cobblestone Art Gallery: Alexandria, VA May to Aug 2002
Strathmore Hall: Bethesda, MD Jun to Jul 2002
Campagna Center; Alexandria, VA Jul 2002
Sperone Westwater Gallery, NY Oct 2002
Montpelier Cultural Arts Center, Bowie, MD; Jan 2003
Carmen’s Gallery: Solomon Island, MD Jul 2002 and 2003
Children’s National Medical Center: Washington DC Jan to Mar 2003
Berkley Gallery: Warrenton VA 2002 to 2005
AWARDS
Capitol Hill Art Gallery April 2002 “Boats at Dock” - Merit Award
Capitol Hill Art Gallery May 2002 “Dark Night in the Downtown – Honorable Mention
Carmen’s Gallery August 2002 – public voted “Most Admired Artist”
Capitol Hill Art Gallery Oct 2002 “Scruffy – Honorable Mention
ASSOCIATIONS (present or past)
Baltimore Watercolor Society, Signature Artist
Potomac Valley Watercolor Society, Signature Artist
Southern Watercolor Society
Alexandria Art League
Capitol Hill Art Workshop
Del Ray Artisans
Vienna Art League
Great Falls Studio
REVIEWS
Robert Heier, Artist Photographer – Brambleton, VA 20148; robert@heierart.com
“So after looking at your website I simply have to express my admiration on two fronts. First, although you have had every opportunity during our discussions to go into your artistic background, you chose instead to be very quiet about it. Very unusual and even more refreshing.
Second and I hope you take this the right way, your website stunned me. I just never understood that you are a painter--as opposed to a person who paints. And you are VERY good (I have been studying art history passionately for over 20 years and so am very arrogant about my eye for art.). My personal taste ordinarily does not run to 'scapes of any kind because they are normally repetitive and lacking in energy. I find them boring. So I was amazed to see your work which is so full of intensity, depth, life, energy and great use of color. They are a distinctly different take on the 'scape genre; they are anything but boring and are quite gripping to me. They sing. Wow!
Your portraiture is also first rate and conveys to me a sense of the immediate and the intimate.
I think you should stop whatever else you are doing and PAINT. All the time.”
Cesar J. Chekijian, Principal, CORESERVE, LLC - Livingston, NJ 07039; art collector, Chekijian@comcast.net
"Bob Gilbert is one of the most inspired artists I have had the occasion of working with, where with his vibrant colors, and refined and relaxed style, he captures and projects an image and his inspiration through his painting that is a perfect interpretation of the intended objective. A most telepathic artist is perhaps the best way describe Bob, which is what distinguishes him most among his peers."
Judi Behrens, Managing Director – The Howard Behrens Studio - Potomac, MD 20854; judibehrens@aol.com
“They are both FANTASTIC - your use of shadows in oil has improved so much! Really great work! Show me the new one when it is done.”
“You are such a good artist that you need to paint for the JOY of it for now.”
“I like the two new paintings, ESPECIALLY the second one with the water and the people. (Alexandria City Hall and Market)”
Mark and Sara Regis, Owners of Old Angler’s Inn, Potomac MD; sara@oldanglersinn.com
“Sara and I just stopped by the restaurant. Your work is magnificent. We are excited that you will view for 2 to 3 months. ….(changed to indefinite). Thank you for your efforts and talent.”
Email from Sarah Jones in New Zealand
"Have just browsed through your gallery on line. Just a quick note before I log-off to say how much I enjoyed your paintings, very inspirational, some extremely beautiful, and a great variety there - I shall be back for another browse when I have more time."
