Figurative art is defined as art that represents real-world subjects—recognizable human and animal forms drawn from life. For figurative painter Robin Jones, real life is just a jumping-off point from which she explores the more ethereal and shamanistic realms of human existence, blending otherworldly events and omens with affectionately realistic portraits of preteen and adolescent girls. In her latest series, “Wild Love,” she shows us the full range of her take on how humans interact with the natural world as she harnesses supernatural phenomena to demonstrate the ways that people, nature, and unseen cosmic forces combine to create a richly evocative—even magical—reality.
“I always look to convey the interconnectedness of all living beings on earth,” Jones explains, noting that our struggling planet needs new stewardship to help it meet the environmental challenges we face. “I paint young girls because they are among the strongest and most influential voices in environmental activism today. I like to think of my paintings as ‘portraits of the future’ because the subjects will be impacted in the future by the decisions and choices made now.”
In Dream of a Witch’s Sabbath, she shows us a girl apparently gathering flowers. It’s a typical vignette of innocence and carefree youth, but with a twist: the girl is surrounded by angel’s trumpets—powerful South American flowers traditionally used by Indigenous shamans in their spiritual rituals—as well as a dragonfly, which in many cultures symbolizes transformation and is seen as a messenger from the spirit world. The scene is not entirely idyllic, as the girl’s enigmatic expression invites various interpretations, from annoyance to impatience to assiduous concentration on the task at hand.
Another painting, Tilikum in Iceland, was inspired by the real-life story of a young orca named Tilikum who was famous for having killed three of his human trainers in fits of rage. “I had wanted to paint Tilikum for a long time,” Jones says. “I paint animals, people, or events that have moved me, and in the case of the whale, he was rebelling against captivity. I lament the caging of wild animals.”
Wings of Desire shows us another young girl in a stance of celebratory gratitude surrounded by a golden orb adorned with vines, flowers, a butterfly, and four ravens. The ravens, considered by many to be conduits to the spirit world and transmitters of wisdom, are pictured in a variety of stances that convey a sense of swirling motion, while the girl herself wears a beatific expression as she exults in the moment of pure connection and joy.
Jones thus takes us on a mystical journey through a spirit-filled world via these portraits, in the process underscoring some intriguing contrasts: youth as both innocent and wise, animism/spirituality versus religion, timelessness amid the linear progression of days, years, centuries. Her vibrant palette adds energy and immediacy to her subjects and the scenes in which they find themselves, combining a sense of celebration with a hint of magic in the air.
