This month’s featured artist, Rob Manaraze, captures the true soul of a place by melding realism, memory and faith into paintings that feel like standing inside a moment you never want to lose. Guided by a lifelong dedication to truly seeing the world, he honors both the land and the Creator behind it in every piece.
Rob Manaraze | Landscape Fine Artist
How would you describe your work?
Realism describes the work I create with each piece needing to look “convincing” before I call it finished. Each layer draws it closer and closer to a clean and satisfying conclusion.
What was your journey to developing your artistic skills like?
I realized in high school that I had an aptitude for art and learned much from an inspired art teacher. After that, I graduated from the Art Institute of Philadelphia. I then honed numerous and various art skills through my t-shirt screen printing business. Now, focusing on fine art, I am absorbing as much information and knowledge as I can and from as many sources as I can. Other artists, the internet, schools – and unironically – Bob Ross, have all contributed.
How have you grown, personally, as an artist?
The key to producing quality art and drawings is actually looking. You have to truly see it to reproduce it. Art has personally helped me to be more observant, to be more present and to appreciate more fully the world God has created.
What is your secret for carving out time to truly be creative?
A swift kick in the pants always helps! Life fights for that time, and you have to do your best to preserve it. Creativity does not happen magically. Creativity, along with inspiration, usually shows up when you’re already working. Pick a time that you can live with, and just show up. It may not be glamorous, but be there. Adjust it when you have to, but keep showing up.
Do you have a favorite story behind one of your projects and, if so, why?
I still chuckle when I think of the time I was painting plein aire on a sand dune at St. Pete Beach in Florida. It was a particularly windy day, and I lost the comical struggle to keep my canvas on the easel. It blew off and landed squarely against my chest imprinting the scene on my shirt. All ended well as I was able to finish a really nice beach scene in my studio.
What are you currently working on that excites you?
My series of landscape paintings from local state parks such as Hanging Rock and Pilot Mountain have me charged up. I am excited about not only the paintings themselves but also the many and various products those images will be printed on. My website offers prints on canvas, paper and metal and on products such as mugs, journals, tote bags and more.
What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with fellow artists, especially those at the start of their careers?
As you develop your art, don’t neglect learning basic art skills such as drawing, perspective, proportions and color theory. Quality art has those elements correct and accurate. Don’t stress it and then not start until you understand it all. Just pay attention as you go and implement what you learn. Your art will keep getting better and better.
If you are interested in learning more about this month’s artist, you can find their work online at robmanarazeart.com as well as follow them on Instagram @robmanarazeart.
