Meet Darcy Roberts | Mixed Media Artist & Home Renovation Expert

We had the good fortune of connecting with Darcy Roberts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Darcy, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
Facing fears, being courageous, going for a long morning walk or kayak before i start my work day, planning healthy meals; often I will get so engrossed in my work that I will lose track of time and 5 hours can go by and i realize i need to eat RIGHT NOW. Working for at least an hour a day 7 days a week on art even if i dont feel like it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an experimental artist. I believe in following where my curiosity leads me. I believe in trusting my instincts and intuition because it has served me well to take a leap of faith even though its terrifying. I feel like being stuck in a rut or being comfortable with creating what you know will work is not going to help you grow and expand. What sets me apart from many artists is that I like to make my own one of a kind ceramic pieces to incorporate into mosaic works. I also collect old rusty antique tools, found objects, plastic, glass, etc. I like to mix materials, I find that mixing materials creates depth and layers and authenticity. Many times I have felt doubt because art is not a very lucrative career path, so i began to figure out that if I combine my love for renovating and flipping homes with my mosaic art and zen abstract paintings for staging, I can make a decent living and use all of the creative artistic skills I have. The biggest lesson I have learned is that practice makes perfect so the more often I make art, the more confident I become because each piece I make teaches me a new lesson to improve. I often have a tough time finishing what I begin so I realize that deadlines and pressure really help me get to the finish line. I also love teaching adults art in intimate settings. It is so exciting to see what they will make when given the proper tools and a few simple instructions. They teach and surprise me every time. I want the world to know that everyone is an artist (even if you gave up in elementary school) and it is never too late to take an art workshop and enjoy art again !

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I moved here to Pompano Beach Florida a year and a half ago from Redondo Beach California so I am still getting to know the area but I would take out of town guests to the pier, there are some good restaurants near the sand and I love Wilton Manors there are so many fun and funky shops and eateries there. I love to go antique shopping and i discovered this great spot called Odd Balls in Ft. Lauderdale so I enjoy taking people there. I also take out of towners to Baileys Contemporary Arts in Old Pompano 41 NE 1st St. it is where I have an Artist in Residence Studio for 9 months. It has 3 large galleries spaces downstairs, and 1 large one up stairs where 8 artists have studios for 9 months and each one gets a solo month long show. The first Friday of every month they hold a party in the street with a live FREE band , food trucks, and vendors and our studios are open for meeting the public. They also have many art workshops. I taught a mosaic workshop and plan to do that once a year.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to recognize my High School art teacher Mr. Ryder Martin, My Grandfather William A. Hafker for teaching me how to use tools in his wood shop when I was very young, and my former boss Cate Lyter for believing I could go very far in life when I was 19 years old.

Website: www.DarcyRobertsArt.com

Instagram: @DarcysArtLab