Robbi is a photographer and a digital artist. Creating an image may be as simple as a

few enhancements to a photograph, or it may involve complex technical manipulations that

abstract one or more photographs into an image that is her vision of altered reality. Abstraction

allows her to show the potential that her mind perceives, not just what her eyes and the

camera see.

Robbi lives in Northern Illinois. She lived in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota for most of

her life, until retirement led to the move to Illinois. She earned both a Bachelor’s Degree and a

Master’s Degree from the University of Minnesota. She worked in healthcare for forty years as a

Medical Laboratory Scientist and Educator. Between family life and career, she didn’t have the

time or opportunity to explore her artistic side until after retirement. She thought of herself

primarily as a scientist during her working-life, but used her creativity for problem-solving in the

laboratory and designing education units and methods.

Although she had an interest in photography, she didn’t get beyond the point-and-shoot

stage until after she retired from her career. She bought a DSLR camera and enrolled in

photography classes at the Regenstein School of the Chicago Botanic Garden. She started out

in a program for documenting nature but soon discovered that she enjoyed the courses in fine

art and abstract photography. She has now completed two certificate programs at the school.

Through these courses, she explored techniques for post-processing using computer software

to create works of art from her photographs. Her science and technology background now

enhance her creative skills. She finds great joy in shooting a beautiful photograph but also

tremendous fulfillment when she finds hidden beauty in her photographs through post-

processing and digital artistry. When wandering with her camera she is drawn to the graceful

shapes in nature as well as to vibrant color. Though much of the year in the northern clime

where she lives is lacking in color, she can find it in her photographs with the help of her computer.

Portfolio: