2014 LNVA Scholarship Winner Aubrianna Robinson of Groton

Aubrianna Robinson describes herself as unique, creative and happy, qualities that helped her win a scholarship funded by the Latin Network for the Visual Arts (LNVA www.lnva.us).

Robinson, a Fitch High School graduate who enrolled at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts last month, won a $2,000 scholarship administered by the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut. The foundation awarded a record 206 scholarships totaling $440,000 this year.

Co-founder of the LNVA Mimi Daumy said as the organization closes its doors after Latin Views 2014, its seventh and last biennial exhibit from Sept. 19 through Oct. 31, the group’s annual scholarship will endure as its legacy. The LNVA also awarded a $1,200 scholarship to Lisa Chavez, a New London High School graduate, who will attend Eastern Connecticut State University.

Robinson plans to pursue illustration at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts. The 17-year-old served as editor and contributor to Fitch’s art magazine and designed a T-shirt her classmates wore to honor a Day of Silence supporting the school’s Gay/Straight Alliance.

She pursued drama as an actress in the Groton school’s theater program and in the community to help raise money to alleviate hunger. She also received art and writing awards from the Connecticut Art Education Association.

Robinson credits her mother as her role model, saying, “She’s been there my whole life and she listens to me if I have problems or if I have trouble coming up with an idea for art. She is very, very supportive of everything I do.”

That support helped shape a young woman with well-defined opinions. “Everyone is born with a unique and important purpose,” Robinson wrote in her scholarship application essay. “The gift I was given and my purpose in life is to be an artist.”

‘Casino’ by Aubrianna Robinson

The first characters that Robinson drew were Powerpuff Girls, three little cartoon girls with a mission to save the world before bedtime. The animated television series ran from 1998 to 2005, but Robinson added, “I’ve been drawing since forever.”

Her career goals include recognition for her art, inspiring other artists to keep working their imagination, and creating, “A new, different and complete series of cartoon.”

It’s no surprise that her favorite band is a virtual, fictional, electro-pop band of cartoon characters called “Studio Killers” that employs 2-D and 3-D animation, unique fashions and unpredictable voices emanating from characters. “Sweeney Todd” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” rank among her favorite movies.

Robinson, her mother, stepfather and two younger sisters are a Navy family accustomed to frequent moves. She came from Washington State to Groton for her senior year in high school.

In her spirit of believing in a strong community and giving back, she made a video for sailors on deployment and received recognition from the Chief of the Boat in appreciation for boosting morale.

Robinson said she is excited to attend Lyme Academy College, especially since its recent partnership with the University of New Haven that creates expanded opportunities for studies.

She enjoys drawing teeth, as evidenced in her pieces called “Teeth” and “Braces.” In “Teeth,” she challenged herself to experiment with gouache, an opaque watercolor medium, learning to create shades of skin. “Braces” is an observational drawing in which Robinson stood in front of the mirror, holding a finger to pull one side of her mouth and expose the braces on her teeth.

‘Beautiful Way’ by Aubrianna Robinson

“Ruffles” shows her intention of creating movement, while “Beautiful Way,” (shown at right)with its psychedelic images streaming from the character’s heart, takes its title from a Beck song with the line, “Such a beautiful way to break your heart.”

The pieces are just a sampling of Robinson’s creations. Her bedroom walls are covered with her art – colored-pencil drawings, ink-and-marker posters and even her red graduation cap, which fostered an art lesson in using acrylic on unfamiliar fabric. She painted herself as an illustrator with a ruffled white skirt under her graduation gown and lettered the words: “Off to illustrate my future!”

Robinson and Chavez join four previous LNVA scholarship winners. The organization has awarded $7,000 to the six winners since establishing the scholarship in 2011.

The group strives to enrich the Southeastern Connecticut community through visual arts created by Latin American and Latin European artists.

The LNVA culminates its work this fall with Latin Views 2014: The Final Biennial. The exhibition features more than 70 pieces of art, showcasing 43 artists that represent 18 countries. The exhibit’s opening reception is 6 to 8 p.m., Sept. 19, with a meet-the artists’ event from 12 to 1 p.m., Sept. 20. The show runs through Oct. 31 at the Alexey von Schlippe Gallery of Art at the Branford House Mansion on the University of Connecticut’s Avery Point Campus.