Gary Robins is the Clarke Area Arts Council’s featured artist

Gary Robins of Murray is the Clarke Area Arts Council’s featured artist at the CAAC art wall located at Lakeside Casino’s events center entrance lobby.

Gary has been an artist all of his life. He has memories of drawing pictures in the dust that settled on farm machinery during his childhood, as well as drawing in his now wife’s yearbook when they were back in high school.

“I’ve always loved to draw or paint,” said Gary. “Every time I pick up a pencil I draw something.”

His wife, Deloris, put together binders full of his artwork.

“It didn’t matter where we were at he’d always have a pencil or pen on him and he’d draw on napkins or a paper tablecloth, and finally I said ‘If you’re going to do that get a notebook so I can keep them’,” said Deloris.

Gary enjoys drawing things that he sees out in nature or around their farm south of Murray. After seeing a fox and her little kits run past him one day he drew a detailed fox picture. He also does scratch art- taking a piece of paper with black paint over it and scratching the paint off until the while paper underneath shows through and forms a picture.

Gary’s art covers the walls of the Robins’ home. He has paintings, drawings and clay sculptures all around. He even painted a grape vine over the corner of a doorway.

Looking back through his family tree, Gary found other artists and hopes that art is something that continues in his family. Gary had no training during his childhood but has taken a few art classes as an adult to learn more about the craft.

Gary has had his art displayed in various place around Clarke County including Lakeside Casino and multiple banks. He painted the baptistery at the Church of Christ in Murray, and paints the family Christmas cards each year.

Gary and Deloris are the parents of Clarke County Supervisor Dean Robins, Chris Robins of Chris’ Photography and son’s Marty and Rick.

The artist reception for Gary Robins is 2-4 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Lakeside Casino’s events entrance lobby. The display will be up until Jan. 1, 2020.