Today we are talking to Southern California artist Phil Roberts. Phil’s illustrations have been published in books such as 'The Book of Waves' and the cover of 'Dale Velzy is Hawk', as well as on dozens of Hollywood movie posters and the cover of 'Surfer Magazine.'

Hello Phil, thank you for taking your time from your busy schedule to do this interview with me.

You're welcome , thanks for asking. I'm always flattered when there's someone interested in my work.

So tell the readers here at Today's Woman Writing Community a little about yourself.

I'm an artist raised at the beach in Florida nurtured by a community that encouraged me to explore all the possibilities of my abilities ."Can't" is not a word in my vocabulary ( I get that from my Mom). I went to art school in New York where I was introduced to the world, it's history in art and artist and the possibility of becoming a more well rounded renaissance artist. Now I live in Southern California for the last 20 years where my regular living comes from the movie industry illustrating movie posters. Which allows me a lot of extra time to pursue other careers and interest with my creative ideas and artistic talents. In short. I love learning new things and finding my limits by exploring new ventures all the time. I'm still trying to define who I am.

Phil at what age did you realize you wanted to become an artist?

I've been drawing since I was 5 years old. My parents loved it , I easily entertained myself. It was my school teachers who took notice and groomed me through the years from school to school. I've been very fortunate to have those people in my life looking out for me when I was young. They seem to know where I was suppose to be going when I didn't. My Mom had an important roll later in my teen years where she took me to sidewalk art shows where my professional art career started
at 13 making and selling paintings.

Can you tell us about your paintings?

I draw, paint or sculpt what I love, what I find amazing or what needs to be said ( or in my humble opinion the obvious truth ). You'll see my favorite subject matters are people and the ocean and it's living inhabitants. I paint to point out and (hopefully ) capture my subjects beauty in it's action of living. For me being an artist is a guilty pleasure of self indulgence that I am grateful to be making a living at. And the bonus is hopefully I inspire someone else to be creative in what ever they do.

What other artist have influenced you and how?

Michealangelo for his figurative work. Davinci for being an artist and an inventor. Rodin for really putting soul and deep emotion into sculpture. John Singer Sergeant for also putting the soul in portraits and bringing the zen into western figure painting. And the Buddhist monks who do the sand paintings for the lesson that the making of art is not about creating something permanent. And all the many other talented artist doing their thing with heart to the best of their ability. I love a lot of artist, you should see my art book library.... it's quite extensive.

Where do you get your ideas for your paintings?

Some of my best work are gifts to loved ones or friends. Part of it (motivation) is showing off, much of it is sharing. A lot of it is I get excited about my own ideas or collaborating with other artist and doing something that hasn't been done ( in a while at least), the challenge and the learning of something new and applying it.

What advice would you give an artist just starting out?

To find "your mark" , emulate other artists ( at least a few), put them all together and make it your own. Then paint what you love or know the best. Your subject matter that identifies you is right in front of you. Don't be afraid to share your work, they're your offspring ... let them go have a life of there own. Don't criticize your work in front of others, let the work speak for it self and give the viewer the chance to enjoy it in their own way. And" believe" there is always a buyer or a home for every painting ever created, it's just a matter of getting it ( your art piece) into the right hands.

Do you consider yourself a driven person?

Yes. does it show? I hope it rubs off in a good way.

Tell us about one of your favorite paintings?

In Santa Barbara, CA , there is an Italian street painting festival at the mission every year called the "Imodonnari". I've been participating in it for 12 years now doing pastel paintings on the ashfalt. Five years ago another artist friend of my mine ,Elise McConnell , was battling cancer. It was unsure if she would be in the festival painting that year, she was out of touch and no one knew of her prognosis. My plan was to paint in sand a portrait of her for her to dance on as a healing ritual at the end of the four days with a circle of friends and healers. She passed on only three weeks before the festival. Thank God her pain was over. I was devastated. I painted a portrait of her in pastel ,instead, painting outdoors in Santa Barbara like Buda under the old wise tree. I spent my life as an artist making people laugh. This was the first time I saw so many people openly cry over my painting, including myself ( many times that weekend). I know the tears were for Elise, but my artwork was for me to celebrate her life, honor her and what she gave to me and to say goodbye. I had no idea it would be a place of healing for so many other people who loved her. The love letters, flowers and goodbye notes in pastel went on 1 1/2 times larger than the painting and it stayed there for months and continued to grew. That was by far the hardest painting I have ever done. It was a struggle to get through it. But what it had become went way beyond me. The responsibility of the paintings affect is humeling. While I was painting into the dusk of one evening , struggling on my own, an owl flew over me to land on the church roof and hooted at me( that's a visit from the spirit according to American Indian lore). And from the bell tower looking down on the painting her eyes looked right back at you. She was there, many people felt her. One of the best experiences of my life.

Painting "Fathers Day"

What's the story behind your painting Fathers Day and is their a story behind much of your art?

He is a surfing legend in Florida. He sold me my first surfboard. And gave me my first job airbrush painting surfboards at
15. His entire family is my second family, my family of surf. The painting was to celebrate the arrival of his first grandchild by the daughter in the painting. The painting is from an old black and white photo he had of them surfing. I want to do a sculpture of it now. There are a lot of good luck stories of right place, right people, right time to most of the projects I do. Sometimes I feel more like a "Channeler" that paints.

Do you experience self-doubt being an artist?

I am vulnerable when going into new arena's that I'm not familiar in. I have no dought in my abilities. I do make mistakes,
my self the time to think about doubting. I am confident and that bugs "master" by any means.. I'm no fool. Ego's don't benefit anybody. Uh , did that answer the question? or did I go off?

What effect do you think your work has on people?

Inspire! I would like to have that effect.

Where can we see your art?

Surf shops around the country, books on surfing and my web site...www.philroberts.com .

Thank you Phil for taking time away from your busy schedule to do this interview and for sharing some insights about your life and work.

Thank you so much for the interview. Best of luck to all the artist out there.