Samuel Robin Spark
| Samuel Robin Spark | |
|---|---|
 Samuel Robin Spark in his painting studio in Edinburgh | |
| Born |
1938 Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Known for | Painting, drawing, writing |
| Movement | Expressive |
Robin Stark (born in Southern Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe) in 1938) is a Scottish artist. He is the son of Sidney Oswald Spark and writer Muriel Spark.[1] He was raised in Edinburgh (Scotland) by his Jewish maternal grandparents and supported through his formative years by his father. He worked first in the jewelry trade, and then in the Civil Service and did not study art until 1983, when he received a BA (Hons) degree from Edinburgh College of Art. Upon completion of his studies he was awarded an Andrew Grant Scholarship.
He had always been interested in art and although he had not taken any exams in the subject while at school he was convinced this was something he had to do. Udi Merioz, international artist and friend encouraged him to try and get into college, so he started to attend evening classes at the art college and prepare a portfolio for entrance as a full-time student. He got a place at the Edinburgh College and started his four-year course in 1983.
Beginning a career as an artist midway through his life took courage, determination, and a real sense of vocation. It has brought him a great deal of satisfaction and he would have always wondered if he could have been an artist had he not attempted it. He become art tutor after his studies, doing both teaching and painting.[2]
Prolific in his work,[3] has more than 1.000 paintings, pictures as a photographer and also short texts and articles about art, Jewish culture and his own family.[4]
Abstract and figurative work
Samuel Robin Spark expresses emotion through his predominantly figurative work. He intuitively takes liberties with perspective and proportions where it helps the composition.
There is a strong Jewish feeling in some of the pictures due to his education and family background and he always signed his name in Hebrew. In his work is evident the tradition of the Scottish colorists working in some of his pictures and also an interest in the underlying bone and muscle structure of the human body.
Lately his work goes into pure abstract symbolization, more than his previous figurative work.
In his work he uses pastels on paper that gives a quick finished work, and 'impasto' where paint is laid on the surface so thickly that the brush or painting-knife strokes are visible. Paint is mixed straight onto the canvas providing texture where the paint appears to emerge from the canvas.
Education
1951 – 1955 Daniel Stewart's College, Edinburgh.
1957 – 1959 National Service, R.A.M.C.
1960 – 1966 Retail Jewellery trade.
1967 – 1982 Civil Service, Customs & Excise and Scottish Office.
1983 – 1987 Degree course at Edinburgh College of Art; BA (Hons 2.1) & Andrew Grant. Scholarship.
1989 – ........ Major Israel Zangwill Scholarship.
Solo Exhibitions
Stenberg Centre for Judaism, London & University Staff Club, Edinburgh.
Richard Demarco Gallery, Edinburgh.
Jewish Festival Exhibition, Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation Community Centre.
Leith A1 Gallery and Marchmont Studios, Edinburgh.
Pen & Ink Miniatures, Kelly's Gallery, Edinburgh.
Peter Potter Gallery, Haddington & Rachel's, Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh International Festival.
The Brass Rail & La Grande Cafetier, Edinburgh.
Dunedin Gallery, Edinburgh.
Creelers, Edinburgh.
Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh.
Leo Beck center London.
W.A.S.P.S., Studios Patriothall Gallery.[5]
Works Shown
Royal Academy, Royal Scottish Academy, Heriot-Watt University, The Chantry, Co. Wexford, City of Aberdeen Art Gallery, Blue & White Galley & Associates, Jerusalem, Florida, Buenos Aires, Royal Scottish Society o Painters in Watercolors, Edinburgh Printmakers' workshop, Morrison (Portraiture) Award, Hebrew Society of Argentina sparing 1992 Art Exhibition, Society of Scottish Artists, WASPS.[6]
Permanent Collections
Heriot-Watt University, Sternberg Centre, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation, National Portrait Gallery of Scotland, Blue & White Gallery, St. Mary's Music School in Edinburgh.
Tutorial career
Israel – Blue & White Gallery, Jerusalem. Edinburgh – Marchmont Studio and Gillis Centre Studio. Lectures on Jews Art EJLS, Council for Christians and Jews and Garnet Hill Center Glasgow. Art Tutor Boroughmuir and various schools and community centers, Edinburgh.
References
- ↑ Lodge, David (19 August 2010). "The Prime of Muriel Spark". [Review of the book Muriel Spark: The Biography, by Martin Stannard]. New York Review of Books 57(13), 60.
- ↑ Buchan, Barbara (17 February 1989). "Meet a city man whose dream of art came true". The Friday People.
- ↑ Spark, Samuel Robin. "Samuel Robin Spark Web". Samuel Robin Spark.
- ↑ Spark, Samuel Robin. "Textualities". http://www.textualities.net. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ "The Edimburgh Star". The Edimburgh Star.
- ↑ "Patriothall Gallery". Patriothall Gallery.