Meet Robyn Cass of Southern California

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robyn Cass.

Hi Robyn , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been painting and crafting my whole life. I love all kinds of art. Several years ago a friend asked me to paint her shoes for her – a first for me! It took me 7 years to paint those shoes. I just didn’t know what to paint on them. But then it hit me! She’s a genuine “flower child” of the 60s so that’s what I painted on her shoes. All things from the 60s era of love, sex and rock and roll. I loved every step of the process and have been doing it ever since!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not always a smooth road, but it’s always been interesting! What I do, painting shoes, is such a niche so it’s sometimes hard to find my clientele. I often run into people afraid to actually wear the shoes but they are totally wearable! I have several of my own pairs and I’ve been wearing them for years. No fading, peeling, or cracking!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I paint on a lot of varied surfaces but my love right now is painting on shoes. I paint all kinds of shoes. I love painting doc martens and the 60s style black/white “saddle shoes”. With those I like to keep to the era and paint iconic images of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. I also paint a lot of checkerboard vans, and converse tennies. I’m known for giving my clients what they want and I put in a lot of research to make sure I know what that is. Researching projects is one of my favorite things before I actually start the painting process! I spent years in the academic world and research was a big part of that life. I’m happy I can incorporate it into my current life’s passion.
I’m proud of the amount of detail I can put in each project. I love the detail work!

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I’ve had a lot of supporters! My biggest cheerleader is my daughter; she’s also my biggest critic and I appreciate her feedback! Having another perspective is so important to me. I’ve also had a lot of support from local business (Poppies Art and Gifts in Ojai), and Oxnard Local Artists founder Dotty Pringle. Earlier in life my sister was my #1 fan no matter what I did. I always think of her when I’m working on a project although she’s been gone for many years now. I know she’d love every single piece; even the not-so-great ones! My circle of friends are very supportive too. I am blessed to have that!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @handpaintedbyrobyn805