Rob Summerlin
Working out of the back of his Subaru, Rob paints his scenes on location, and in doing so he submits himself to a variety of uncontrollable conditions. For all of the frustrations that may arise in that unfamiliar space, it’s those uncontrollables that are responsible for creating the one of a kind moment he’s trying to translate onto canvas.
Never knowing what unique combination of factors may coalesce to form that specific moment in history makes each painting the product of discoveries, discoveries that deepen Rob’s relationship to the natural world and keep him coming back for more each day.
Biography
Rob Summerlin was born in North Carolina and grew up in Savannah, Georgia. In 2012, he graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in Painting, and in 2022 he earned an MFA in Visual Studies at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Oregon.
Events and Awards
2025 Georgia Color
2025 Paint Cedarburg
2025 PAPSE QuickDraw
2024 Georgia Color Community PaintQuick – 1st Place
2024 Evanston Made Studio Tour
2024 Paint the Town Barrington
2024 Evanston Plein Air Festival
2024 Paint Cedarburg
2024 First Brush of Spring
2019 East Austin Studio Tour
2018 Savannah Plein Air Festival – 2nd Place
2016 East Austin Studio Tour
2015 East Austin Studio Tour
Artist Statement
Rob paints for the unpredictable. To foster unpredictability within his work, he begins each piece by painting as fast and as loosely as his body will allow. This animalistic approach dispenses with formulaic decision-making and lifeless uniformity, all while providing an entry point for intuition to guide the work. Beyond this phase, his adjustments are minimal. It’s that initial frenetic burst, when his connection to the scene is most raw, that determines a piece’s character.