Robert Lemler, Incense, oil, 20 x 16" (50 x 40 cm)
Scottsdale Artists’ School: Have you always been passionate about becoming an artist or did your journey into the art world unfold organically over time?
Robert Lemler: Art has been a lifelong passion of mine. My journey began with a significant milestone—I secured a victory in a statewide Scholastic Art Scholarship competition during my senior year of high school. This accomplishment fueled my interest in the arts, inspiring me to pursue further education. At a state university, I studied fine art and art history, embracing the opportunity to deepen my understanding and refine my skills.
SAS: When observers engage with your artwork, what specific elements or messages do you aim for them to perceive or experience?
RL: My artistic approach leans towards representation, seeking to interpret motifs in a way that captivates the viewer’s interest. Each piece is an endeavor of a visual impression, crafting beautiful arrangements of shapes, colors and edges to evoke visual interest. In my creations, there’s no concealed or veiled message—only a sincere pursuit of the beautiful.
SAS: Could you share the details surrounding the moment you made your first art sale? What significance did this achievement hold for you?
RL: During my younger years, I can’t recall making any art sales to family or friends. The turning point in my artistic journey came when I was a student in a university program. I had created a series of charcoal head studies featuring Native Americans, inspired by photographs I had taken in Flagstaff, Arizona. The pivotal moment arrived when an art dealer saw these pieces and commissioned 10 similar works. Of course, I was thrilled by this significant validation of my artwork.
Robert Lemler, Summer Fun, oil, 16 x 16" (40 x 40 cm)
SAS: The transition into teaching is a unique path for many artists. How did the opportunity to teach arise in your career, and what motivated you to share your artistic knowledge with others?
RL: I felt the university art program I initially chose didn’t provide the essential foundation I was looking for. Seeking a different path, I attended workshops at the Scottsdale Artists’ School. As a student, I immersed myself in learning, eventually evolving into a teaching role, sharing my knowledge of painting and drawing with others at the school. This transition from student to teacher has been a fulfilling journey of continuous growth and shared artistic exploration.
SAS: Your artistic endeavors have garnered numerous recognitions. Can you recount a particularly outstanding and memorable moment where your work received an award, and what made it so meaningful to you?
RL: I was surprised and pleased to have been awarded the grand prize for the Raymar art competition in 2014. The quality and quantity of the monthly winning entries selected for the year end jurying was staggering.
Robert Lemler, Still Life on a Tablecloth, oil, 12 x 10" (30 x 25 cm)
SAS: Can you tell us about your teaching experience at SAS?
RL: My relationship with the Scottsdale Artists’ School began as a student. As a student, I had the opportunity to study with master painters and sculptors whose works I admired, including Richard Schmid, Bettina Steinke, George Carlson, Ned Jacob, Jeremy Lipking and many others. They all contributed to my understanding of how to teach the fundamentals of representational painting. It is a privilege to teach and an honor to “pay it forward” by sharing the understanding that was generously shared with me by my teachers. I found that teaching reminds me of the struggles and insights that I encountered along my journey. I empathize with the less experienced painter, trying to juggle the complexities of learning to draw and relate values, colors and edges. I hope to gently steer their progress while encouraging the originality that comes after the fundamentals have been mastered. My experience as a teacher has enriched my life in many ways, both personally and professionally.
Robert Lemler, Gondolier, oil, 24 x 18" (60 x 45 cm)
SAS: As an instructor, what is the core takeaway or transformation you hope your students achieve after being under your guidance in workshops and extended study courses?
RL: I wish for my students to persist in their journey towards mastering the fundamental skills of painting. I hope that through this progression, they can craft beautiful and unique works that showcase their individuality. —
Visit scottsdaleartschool.org for more information on the school and its upcoming workshops.