Roberta March: Exploring the Five Elements of Nature through Creative Reflection

*Mind the Grid I.* Acrylic on birch panel.

Website: www.robertamarch.com / Instagram: @roberta_march

Based in Portland, Maine, artist Roberta March finds inspiration from the five elements of nature: Earth, air, fire, water, and space. She responds to the elements by reflecting upon how we adapt as life moves and changes. Roberta uses abstraction driven by color and light to express this movement and energy.

How did your creative journey begin?

My creative journey began when I moved to London, England. I started my art education late in life but ever since then, I have never stopped. I had the opportunity to attend the Hampstead School of Art, receiving a foundation diploma in Fine Arts. In 2015, I relocated to Houston, Texas where I studied for four years at The Glassell Studio School of Art. I then moved to Portland, Maine and received a MFA from Maine College of Art & Design in May 2021. I now work as a painter technician.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

I find inspiration from the five elements of nature: earth, air, fire, water and space. In response to these elements of nature, I reflect on how we need to mold ourselves, becoming fluid to keep adapting to the new circumstances life brings to us. I am inspired by nature to create paintings with the intent to bring the viewers to wonder…the non-stop movement of Earth, the water in our surroundings.

My art is within the field of abstraction. I seek to create artwork that expresses movement and is directed by color and light. Bright colors are an important element in my creation. Blue is the predominant color I use in my work, because it is often associated with the sea and sky, or heavens. Through the use of color, shape and patterning, and by using different materials, I strive to express energy and gestural quality in my paintings. I also aim to investigate the notion of transforming subjective ideas into objects of art.

How has your work shifted and evolved over time?

I believe my work is in constant evolution. Ever since my journey as an artist began, I realized that art is not a static practice. I like to take risks with my work, experimenting with new materials and techniques, for example, incorporating glass within a painting. I am intuitive and the process of making art shifts overtime. Sometimes I plan a painting for a long time in my head first, responding to an inspiration from nature. I then make a few sketches and when the painting begins, it changes its course. It finds its own way but the same intent from my original inspiration is there. The experience and energy of being with nature reflects on the canvas. Abstract painting gave me the freedom and platform to express my experience of seeing nature.

What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed?

At the moment, I split my time between two studios, mosaic and painting, a part-time job as a painter technician at Maine College of Art & Design, and my family. I try to plan ahead the hours I want to spend in each area of focus to establish a routine. This helps me to stay focused and to keep the momentum going when I am in the middle of a project. I have my art studio at home where I enjoy painting the most, especially at night. I enjoy the silence of the night as it helps me concentrate and immerse myself in my painting. I find myself to be more creative at night. My mind flows and that is when the magic happens.

The decision to create an art space at home was great for me because I can concentrate more on finding the freedom to express my ideas through abstraction. We have long winters in Maine and it feels right for me to paint when a snowstorm is falling outside. For the artists that are starting their careers, I would suggest trying to create art in different places before settling in one place. See what works best for you. When does your mind flow better, day or night? Sometimes, we keep dreaming about the “perfect studio” but I believe the ideal studio is what works and fits you at that moment. Whether it is in your living room, a garage, a shared space or a private one. The most important thing is to find the time to create art, to do the work, and to take the ideas out from paper or your mind. It takes action and lots of discipline. It is very easy to get distracted with so much going on around us. The most important thing is to go back into the studio when you have a chance and look at your work again with fresh eyes and persevere even when it is the last thing on your mind. Use it as a creative outlet rather than something you must do.

The mosaic studio is a place where I go to continue painting while changing media, painting with tesserae (colorful glasses pieces). It is a place for the process of making mosaics which puts me in a meditative state. It works for me as a free ground where I let myself be free without judging myself too hard. My mosaic practice grew and I was able to connect with my local community doing workshops at The Children’s Museum & Theater of Maine as well as schools around the Portland, Maine area. I believe art is a powerful instrument to bring people together. Inspired by the elements of nature to create my art projects, I was able to start a conversation with our community about the importance of caring for our planet.

Which experiences have influenced your work as an artist?

I was born and raised in Brazil. As an immigrant to England and to the United States, I found the motions of life to be a common thread in my artistic practice. Life moves all the time and I reflect on the motions of life in my paintings, exploring the five elements of nature: earth, air, fire, water and space. For me, the interconnection of humanity and the earth and the necessity to keep moving and find a balance in a diverse community impacted my work. This impact is constant because, as an artist, I am always responding to the environment around me to express the experience through my art.

By embodying the mindset of the fluidity of movement of the body and earth as a true life forces, I am able to generate works that innately reach out and intend to capture the emotional sensibilities of the viewing audience.

The essence of movement in this sense becomes a powerfully shared experience between myself and viewers. Elements of lightness and darkness, mystery and space allow color and form to fluidly merge together creating a range of emotions within the viewer’s eye, and diving into the psychological experience of becoming the motion, becoming fluid, and becoming alive.

How has social media impacted your art career?

Social media helped me to introduce myself and my art to the public. It has also allowed me to make new connections with art appreciators as well as continue connections with artists I have met or who’s work I admire. I don’t rely on social media for selling my art but it has been useful to show my work, to connect with the international art world and to be inspired by other artists. I had online exhibitions during the pandemic which helped me to keep going, even in challenging times, because of the support I received. It is important to find a balance between online interaction and being present in the moment. I try to restrict my time online to be able to generate artwork as well.

What are your future goals and aspirations?

As an artist, my aspiration is to keep generating art that my community can connect with and admire, both emotionally and aesthetically. I would like to expand the conversations about the elements of nature and to create awareness of the importance of being “fluid”, meaning adapting to the circumstances of life . My paintings express a feeling about the ocean, or water, or movement with different ranges of emotions. It is an experience for the viewer to contemplate directly, and personally, finding the moment and space to reflect and be present, forgetting any uncertainty. This is what I want to keep creating with my art.

Guest UserAugust 21, 2022