ABOUT ROBERT ADAMS

Pictures have always fascinated me. As a child I spent countless hours looking at images in books and magazines. As I grew older I began drawing my own pictures.

In my early twenties I specialized in drawing with a black and white pen and ink stipple technique. The images were comprised of small dots meticulously placed with a technical drawing pen. It was a time consuming process that required patience and intense attention to detail.

After creating a portfolio of samples, I entered the Los Angeles freelance advertising illustration market. Realism was my chosen style. I freelanced for ad agencies including Foote Cone & Belding and Doyle Dane Bernbach. My work was seen in national and Southern California publications such as The Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

In my illustration work, photography had become an important tool for reference material. I also began photographing, for my own pleasure; subjects like auto racing and blues musicians. As I began to study the history of photography in depth, I saw an article about the street photography of William Klein, I immediately knew that was something I wanted to do. Making candid photos of strangers on the street was an awkward process at first, but with practice and experience it became easier and much more and more of a passion.

I also began experimenting with abstract photography using ice, lighting and reflective surfaces. Many variables in how the ice is formed, contoured and lit contribute to the appearance. As far as I know, it is a completely unique art form, which I developed through trial and error over a period of ten years.

Regardless of the type of art, my belief is that good art should primarily make the viewer think or feel something. I hope you see that in my work.