Hard work brings inspiration for semi-impressionist artist and professor Rob Adamson

Mt. Olympus at Dusk by Artist Rob Adamson

A blob of paint drips down the side of the snowy mountain. Scrape, scrape, scrape through the paint with a pallet knife and the other side of the peak becomes starker and steeper. Maybe a layer of glaze in between and the dusky sunlight casts a sheen on dirt, rocks and trees. From his studio in Millcreek, which looks out to the mountains, artist and Salt Lake Community College professor Rob Adamson is into the process of creating not just the look but the feel of Mount Olympus.

Rob’s piece in this year’s SLCC President’s Art Show, Mount Olympus at Dusk, showcases his semi-impressionist style. Viewers who take a close and careful look can see the “tracks” purposefully left by the artist. “I like to show the process,” says Rob. Step back from the canvas and the image comes into view. Rob calls this “two-fold-ness” symmetry between imagery and abstractness. “It’s the best of both worlds,” he says.

Artist Rob Adamson receives Community Award from SLCC President Deneece Huftalin for his painting Mt. Olympus at Dusk.

Currently, on sabbatical, Rob is studying with the Hein Atelier of Traditional Art Apprenticeship Program. This life-long learner has a BFA with an emphasis in painting and drawing from the University of Utah and an MFA in painting and drawing from Brigham Young University. Rob is a member of the Plein-air Painters of Utah, the Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society.

Rob’s upbringing, fascination with architecture and relationship with nature can be seen in his art. “I paint what’s around me,” says Rob. Growing up in the Salt Lake Valley, crowded with people, buildings and surrounded by mountains, Rob’s subject matters range from portraits to cityscapes and landscapes. This plethora of talent serves Rob well as an instructor at Salt Lake Community College, where he usually teaches foundation and advanced classes in drawing, painting and design.

One of his favorite classes to teach is a Human Relations class for Visual Arts and Design certificate students. Rob teaches the soft life skills students need to be successful in the workplace, like hard work, effective communication and personal interaction. If there is one lesson he wishes every artist would learn, it’s that “hard work brings inspiration, not the other way around.”

“hard work brings inspiration, not the other way around.”

There is no question that Rob lives what he teaches. In addition to selling artwork professionally and teaching, Rob enjoys hiking and drumming in the Adamson Family Band. His artwork can be found at the 15th Street and Southam Galleries in Salt Lake City. You can follow Rob online on his blog or Instagram.

Comments

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...

SLCC Alumnus and U.S. Diplomat to Speak at 2025 Commencement

Salt Lake Community College’s 2025 Commencement speaker Branigan Knowlton will share his perspectives drawn from a 12-year career as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. In serving his country, Knowlton has honed his foreign relations and diplomacy skills in Hong Kong, Mexico, Colombia and Italy. Knowlton is also a proud Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) alumnus (2002). Knowlton currently serves at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. Before reporting to the embassy, he was detailed to the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport as part of the Transatlantic Diplomatic Fellowship program. In Bogotá, Knowlton worked for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, and in Hermosillo, Mexico, he worked for the Bureau of Consular Affairs. His first assignment abroad was in Hong Kong, where he worked for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. "I've actively sought opportunities that push me into the unfamiliar, even when ...

Recognizing SLCC's 2025 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering

The Distinguished Faculty Lecturer is a recognition of quality work by one of Salt Lake Community College’s full-time faculty and a charge to develop that work over an academic year into a public presentation. A committee chosen by the Associate Provost for Learning Advancement selects the faculty lecturer each year. The lecture takes place in the spring. Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering Dr. Andrew Vogt’s teaching philosophy is guided by two principles, curiosity and efficiency. “Curiosity leads us to study a topic and allows us to really understand the ins and outs of research, while efficiency is all about sustainability,” he says. Andrew describes curiosity as a pure, open-minded impulse to explore, such as the ease with which children learn new concepts with virtually no instruction. Efficiency adds maturity to that childlike impulse, creating structures and pathways for accomplishment. Andrew’s work has alwa...

Official SLCC Blog

Search This Blog