Robert Joyner | Garage Studio Artist

Hey, I'm Robert Joyner. I've been painting full-time for 16 years, and I'll be straight with you - my "studio" is a table in my garage next to the chainsaws and bike racks. In winter, I paint wearing three layers and gloves. It's not glamorous, but it works. When we bought our house during COVID, it checked every box except one: space for a proper studio. But seeing how happy my family would be here made the choice easy. I took one for the team, and I've got zero regrets.

My approach to teaching art is simple: build solid fundamentals first, then get comfortable being uncomfortable. I believe in learning through mistakes, embracing the messy process, and creating from wherever you are - perfect conditions are overrated. Twenty-five years ago, a chance conversation in Florida led me to Stonington, Maine. That rugged coast changed everything about how I see and paint. My hope is that finding this site becomes your Stonington moment - a small detour that changes your art for good.