I’ve been a member of Maine’s artist union, the Union of Maine Visual Artists (UMVA), since the early 1990’s. We are energized like never before! UMVA members have organized a variety of public events and exhibits around the state. To start, this Saturday in Brunswick we will hold a slide show event that’s open to the public. I look forward to talking about my creative explorations, past, present, and future, in my “Four Minutes of Fame.” And I also look forward to seeing and hearing from other area artists at Curtis Memorial Library’s Morrell Meeting Room this Saturday, January 10, starting at 11:30 AM. Local folks are welcome to join us!

UMVA’s Maine Art Journal winter edition is available

Did you know that UMVA publishes a quarterly journal that is free and available to read online? The Winter 2026 Edition entitled Words and Images has just been published. This issue of the Journal includes a variety of reflections by artists and writers on why some artists choose to include words with their images. In addition to the current issue, you can browse the archive of past issues. Interestingly, I wrote about my non-traditional portraits in the Fall 2024 edition, and I found my article quite easily using the search bar. So consider this an invitation to browse and learn more about Maine’s vibrant creative landscape. Below is an image of a non-traditional portrait, a pencil drawing of a small cloth clutch purse that belonged to my mother. In my 2024 article entitled “Robin Brooks – Purple Coats, Purses, and People—My Non-Traditional Portraits” I talk about the emotional resonance objects can hold. Furthermore, I explore how my non-traditional portraits can be read as feminist statements, helping us to shift our perspective, influencing cultural attitudes and stereotypes.

Upcoming Exhibits

I am entering some new work in UMVA’s pop-up exhibit to be held at Curtis Library in February. Here is the poster/announcement. Curiously, I have just four days to decide what work to enter. It’s always a bit risky to enter work in a juried show. This time, my long-time friend and fellow artist David Brooks (no relation) will be jurying the entries. So…we’ll see how it goes! In the meantime, let’s keep the creative fire alive, however that may manifest in your life. For me, it means to “just keep painting!”

Cheers, Robin