Industry Spotlight: Adeline Robinson

HM: For people who are out of the loop, who are you and what do you do?

AR: Hello! My name is Adeline Robinson and I am a wildlife artist & graphic designer with a focus on reptile, fish and equine art. I draw and paint reptiles of all different species and offer logos, portraits, fine art and graphic design work. I’ve worked in the exotic animal industry since 2007 and use my experience with animals to make my drawings realistic and anatomically correct. 

HM: Have you always been the artistic type and at what point did you start doing animal pieces?

AR: Yes! I was very lucky to have been raised in a household with many different types of pets and have been drawing them since a very young age. I started using my pets as models for my drawings, doing more and more research on anatomy and care guides as I got older. Animals have always been my main subjects and I am just fascinated by the diversity of so many amazing species and the beauty each of them has to offer.

HM: How much of what you do is commission pieces vs pieces you just feel like doing?

AR: Currently most of what I do is commission work with a few of my projects in between. I have a long list of personal pieces to keep me busy and I am actually in the process of going full-time with my artwork so I can really put myself into my work. I have so many ideas and animals I would love to paint, but haven’t had the time, so I’m looking to change that.

HM: How does it feel doing so many logos for so many different people?

AR: It’s a mix of emotions! I am honored that people enjoy my work enough to have my artwork represent their brand. I am excited, because I get to do what I love: drawing really neat animals and exercising my creativity in their designs. Lastly, there’s usually just a teeny hint of nervousness. I really want to exceed people’s expectations and like any artist, I can second guess my artwork sometimes. Overall though, I’m really thankful and excited to be working on these cool projects.

HM: What media do you prefer to work with or what media do you use the most?

AR: It’s hard to pick a preferred media, since they can all offer different techniques & results, but in the last couple years, I have been experimenting and playing with copic art markers with micron pens the most and have been having a ton of fun with them, I’d say I’m not doing digital work, It’s been mostly markers. The blendability of the markers is so satisfying, and the technical precision of the micron pens is pretty impressive.

HM: Outside of art, what are you keeping?

AR: I don’t keep much anymore since I’ve downsized. I’m actually at the lowest amount of animals in over ten years but my main project is breeding tree monitors. I keep macraei, kordensis, beccari and would love to add some reisingeri or prasinus to the collection next. Some of the other herps I’m currently keeping include Gargoyle geckos, Crested geckos, and my retired educational animals, a Merauke Blue Tongue Skink, Ball Python and a Reticulated Python. 

I used to keep many different species of varanids, rhacodactylus geckos, reticulated pythons, colubrids, arboreal boas, iguanas, agamids, etc. but decided to downsize so I could spend more time on my work as well as better focus and specialize on tree monitors. 

HM: Have you ever bred? If not, do you have plans to eventually?

AR: Yes, I currently have all my tree monitors in pairs, with one trio and have successfully gotten eggs from the kordensis, though eggs from them are yet to hatch. The female just laid last week so I have her eggs in incubation. Keeping fingers crossed that all goes well! I’m also breeding Gargoyle and Crested geckos as well. I used to mostly breed ackies & rhacodactylus geckos, and have assisted in the breeding of several other species as well at my old jobs.

HM: What’s your dream species?

AR: My number one goal right now is to have an infinity gauntlet of tree monitor trios, but a bell’s phase lace monitor, a crocodile monitor and a few crocodilian species are definitely in my daydreams. One day, I’d love to have a planted display terrarium with a species of Boiga or Atheris.

HM: What are your goals for your work in 2020?

AR: My main goal is to be able to create art that people love, to continue to better my artwork and to be able to use my skills as an artist to help aid in awareness and conservation for these amazing animals we have on our planet. I try to give back to the community as much as I can, and hope that the more I can do, the more I can help. I’d love to continue to develop my skills as an artist, and to be able to put all of myself and my focus in my art career.