POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH:  Improving one’s sense of wellbeing using photography, painting, storytelling, blogging, and motivational speaking – my expressive arts journey written by ©Karen Robinson.  Please click here for my latest blog news!

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INTRODUCTION

Born to parents Jack and Judy!  Our family consisted of three children with me as the oldest child.  My father was an alcoholic and my mother became the provider as the years progressed.  During my childhood, we moved continuously up and down the eastern coast of Australia.  My father painted in oils but due to his alcoholism, he waned in this quest.  Life was very difficult for me during my childhood.  As a child, I was interested in art and painting, but my creative energies turned elsewhere!

View 1 of 7 Abstract Figurative Painting Titled ‘When I was 10…’ Acrylic Paint on Canvas 60cms x 60cms by Abstract Artist Karen Robinson inspired Creating Writing Session June 2015 .JPG

AS A YOUNG WOMAN

As a young woman, I tried many different tasks and upon becoming a married woman and the birth of my children; I started designing and dressmaking for ladies’ wear.  From this, I progressed into “Exclusive Bridal Gown Designing” and received several “Gown of the Year” finalist awards which lead to a strong reputation within the industry.  During my thirties, it was all about raising the children, building my business, and gaining more and more experience within my field of designing and making “one-off exclusive bridal gowns”.

MY FORTIES

My forties consisted of raising the children and building another business “Ready to Wear” Ladies Bridal and Formal Wear.  I went into partnership and worked hard at providing for my family.  These years certainly tested my resilience both personally and professionally.

MY EARLY FIFTIES

My early fifties were all about working for the largest formal wear company in the southern hemisphere – Belgravia Formal Wear.  I was employed as a “Business and Product Development Manager”.  I worked with one of the managers to start up a new venture in Ladies Bridal and Formal Wear commencing with Belgravia’s first ladies wear brand called “Angeline”.  During this time, I had the opportunity to travel overseas to China setting up manufacturing contacts/accounts.  I also travelled across to New Zealand and along the eastern coast of Australia – setting up new retail accounts and introducing them to our new ladies’ wear products.  It was an extraordinary adventure and I feel very privileged to have been able to be a part of Belgravia’s ladies wear story – during my time with Belgravia.

Painting No. 25 – Title ‘Belgravia Work Place’ Aug-Sept 2008 Acrylic on Canvas 92 cms Length x 122cms Wide x 3cms Deep by Abstract Artist Karen Robinson NB All images are protected by copyright laws!

Painting No. 25 – Title ‘Belgravia Workplace’ Aug-Sept 2008 Acrylic on Canvas 92cms Length x 122cms Wide x 3cms Deep by Abstract Artist Karen Robinson Painting Story:  Belgravia Formal Wear Australia was my workplace for 2 1/2 years and ended up being the very last place of employment where I worked full-time.  Twelve months after leaving the organisation and after having some time-out in my working life, my husband was diagnosed with Lymphoma and then twelve months on from that my son was killed in a single-vehicle car crash.  These life events left me unable to take up again my said career.  I had little strength to do so.   Belgravia Formal Wear was a large corporation and the leader in Men’s Formal Wear Hire in the Southern Hemisphere at my time with the company.  I joined the team starting up Ladies Bridal and Evening wear.  They were interesting years working with different departments and different people with all types of personalities.  Some smart, some not so smart, some passionate, some dedicated, some hard-working, some not hard-working, some kind, some mean, some colourful, some dull, some very accomplished and some not…but all part of a team of people within the company and all trying to earn a living.  The overall view of the painting is representative of the organisation as such and each of the brick-like shapes is representative of the individuals working within the company.  Each brick-like shape is slightly different in shape and colour but overall – each individual component being each individual person, all working together, all conforming to the company’s vision to meet required expectations.   NB All images are protected by copyright laws!

SOME OF MY BEST YEARS

Some of my best years have been with my own family and watching my two children grow into fine adults with my dear husband.  This had been despite the difficulties we faced as a family during the years of developing and running the businesses.

Essendon, Victoria – Australia ‘Ben with his sister Kelly dressed up for a wedding event’ Photographed by ©Karen Robinson approximately 1988 (Ben 4ish and Kelly 3ish). Dressed up to go to Alf John’s event . Karen made their outfits for the wedding and they are wearing their brand new shoes.

In 2018, our wonderful daughter had a baby girl. Now my husband and I have the amazing opportunity to enjoy and be part of the life of our granddaughter.  She is such a little treasure, and we love her dearly.

Abbotsford, Victoria – Australia ‘Collingwood Children’s Farm with Maddie’ Photographed by Karen Jul 2021 Comments: Nana and Pa Rob with Maddie Day Trip to see the farm animals.

IN THE YEARS 2008 AND 2009

After much consideration, I decided to resign after 2 plus years at Belgravia and had some time out from work to reassess what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.  I decided to paint and go back to a passion I felt when I was a child.  It also allowed me to reconnect with my husband, son, and daughter.  Hence my art therapy story began.  In the year 2008, my husband was diagnosed with Lymphoma and I became his carer during his treatment and recovery.  He is now in remission and on the path to recovery.  Painting become a very important way for me to express my feelings and thoughts.

Fawkner, Victoria – Australia ‘Ben James Robinson’s Plaque at Fawkner Memorial Park’ Photographed by ©Karen Robinson February 2010.

On November 5, 2009, our 25-year-old son was killed in a single motor vehicle crash.  The loss of our son has been a great tragedy to us his parents, his sister, extended family members, friends and work colleagues.  It took some time before I took up painting again.

Painting No. 45B – Title ‘The Death of Our Son Ben’ Jan-Jun 2010 – by Abstract Artist Karen Robinson – Acrylic on Canvas 91cms Length x 91cms Wide x 3cms Deep NB All images are protected by copyright laws!

Painting No. 45B – Title ‘The Death of Our Son Ben’ Jan-Jun 2010 Acrylic on Canvas 91cms Length x 91cms Wide x 3cms Deep – by Abstract Artist Karen Robinson Painting Story:   Our son Ben was killed on 5/11/09 in a single-vehicle car crash.  Ben had just finished a 7-day shift at the Fosterville Gold Mines in Bendigo and was out with his Crew 3 work colleagues at their local drinking haunt.  At approximately 1.30am Thursday morning they headed off from the bar to home. Ben was able to get a cab, but his boss was not able to get one.  His boss said for Ben to take the cab and he would start walking home.  Once home, Ben decided to get into his car and drive back to pick up his boss as he was worried about him getting home safely.  This was a fatal decision Ben made.  After picking up his boss, Ben headed back home via the road back to his work.  This road was out through bush and farmland and Kangaroo area.  At approximately 1.3oam Ben travelling at approximately 140 kilometres and over 0.08 blood alcohol content, hit a kangaroo.  Ben lost control of his car and at high-speed collided into trees set on the side of the road.  Ben was killed instantly.  It was not until approximately 5am that Ben was discovered by one of the Fosterville Gold Mine People.  Ben made a terrible decision to get into his car that night but for a good reason to ensure his boss got home safely, which he did. But Ben our son would have known that he shouldn’t have been drink-driving and sadly getting into his car that night, cost him his life.  When we went up to see where Ben had his crash it was incredibly emotional, distressing and heartbreaking.  The decision to do a painting of Ben’s car crash was all about trying to communicate to all young people about drinking and driving and how in just one split second, a life can be taken.  That a young life taken is such a tragedy and that so many other people’s lives are deeply affected and changed forever as well for this loss…  This painting shows the split-second of our son Ben’s death.  The impact of his car of silver and crimson into the trees, the shattering of his car and his life.  The road through what is very beautiful county Victoria, a strange contrast to the tragedy we were all facing.  The blue in the crash is our boy’s soul, the gold is our treasured son, and the blue triangles are his soul reaching for the night heavens.  There is the road stretching into the distance and the gums trees in the Australian bush fields.  All images are protected by copyright laws!

Bagshot, Victoria – Australia ‘1st anniversary of Ben’s death at his memorial site just outside of Bendigo’ Photographed by ©Karen Robinson Comment: Tree includes a photo of Ben, his work helmet signed by his workmates and a large arrangement of flowers.

MOVING FORWARD…

After the death of my son, I decided to become a volunteer speaker with Road Trauma Support Services Victoria (RTSSV).  Like many other RTSSV volunteer speakers, I tell my family’s road trauma story to repeat road traffic offenders at Road Trauma Awareness Seminars (RTAS), in the hope that hearing about my family’s road trauma story, will help them rethink their risky driver behaviour; and in the hope that lives can be saved and serious jury reduced that is caused by road trauma.  Part of my volunteer speaker efforts includes presenting to community groups, associations, and schools to help advance their knowledge about the importance of driving safely and responsibly on our roads.

MY EXPRESSIVE ARTS JOURNEY CONTINUES…

I am hoping that sharing my expressive arts journey with photography, painting, storytelling, blogging and motivational speaking will inspire others to take these creative endeavours to be able to move forward in the most difficult of times.  They have brought me now to a much better place, where I find myself being able to seek joy each day.

Melbourne, Victoria – Australia ‘Karen Robinson Volunteer Speaking with RTSSV’ Photograph from ©Karen Robinson July 2015 Comment: Photograph featuring Karen Robinson telling her family’s road trauma story about her son Ben at one of Road Trauma Support Services’s Road Trauma Awareness Seminars to repeat road traffic offenders.

CONCLUSION

As an ongoing process, I will be blogging about my expressive arts journey “moving forward” and expand on how others have used/are using these mediums to assist physical and emotional well-being.  I hope you will join me!

© Karen Robinson – February 2014

POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH:  Improving one’s sense of wellbeing using photography, painting, storytelling, blogging, and motivational speaking – my expressive arts journey written by ©Karen Robinson.  Please click here for my latest blog news!