AOTCE: Where can your art be seen? 

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ROBBIE BEST: On Facebook and Instagram

 

AOTCE: Are you currently affiliated with a gallery?

 

ROBBIE BEST: Yes, the NCA gallery.

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AOTCE: Who were your biggest supporters and who influenced your art?

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ROBBIE BEST: My grandmother has been my inspiration all my life and has been very encouraging about anything I attempted to do.  My father was a close second.  Both of them have passed on, however my family in general are very supportive and they are inspirational to me.   My children have all purchased art from me and become collectors.  Before getting my BFA and even considering becoming an artist, I attended two lectures by the renowned artist, Kerry James Marshall, and he left such a profound impact on me that I enrolled in junior college and started taking classes.  I remember it like it was yesterday. 

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AOTCE: What advice would you give to someone entering the art field?

 

ROBBIE BEST: I would definitely tell them to go for it even if they can’t do it full-time.  Make yourself a priority and allow for some time to express your inner self. I would also recommend even if you were self-taught and have wonderful talent to take some classes because you will be amazed at how much better you can become once you are exposed to what's out there and to continue to hone your skills throughout your life.  Also, I tell everybody that practice makes perfect and try to do something as often as you can, if you can’t do it every day maybe every other day or every couple of days but you will be amazed at how much your work will improve over time, if you have the discipline to work regularly and establish good studio practice. 

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AOTCE: Thank you for sharing your journey into the arts with our readers.

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ROBBIE BEST: I’d like to thank you for the opportunity to talk about something that I love, live, and breathe.