Seaside Strokes

The local nonprofit Carolina Beach Mural Project recently announced NATALIE ROBINSON as the winning artist of its twentieth mural that celebrates the community’s rich history and culture. Robinson has been creating the mural on three sides of the elevator shaft at Sea Colony Condominiums on Carolina Beach for about two weeks.  

Aligning with specific project requirements, Robinson incorporated sand dunes and recognizable bird species into her mural, including American oystercatchers, piping plovers, and least terns. 

“Overall, the birds represent thought, imagination, transcendence, and divinity,” says Robinson. “The composition and placement of these elements is based on the stunning sunrises that grace the shores of Carolina Beach. My goal was to remind viewers to relax and remember that they are right where they’re supposed to be.”    

Robinson, who grew up in the small town of Belmont, just outside of Charlotte, has been drawing and painting all her life. “I still have audio recordings from when I was a kid passionately saying I’m going to be an artist,” she laughs. “I remember painting my favorite animal, a panda, when I was about seven years old. It was an oil pastel that I created in my after-school art class.” Back then, Robinson’s artistic inspirations came from Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein and Hayao Miyazaki.    

Today, Robinson takes her inspiration from just about anything and everything.   

“I’ve always had a deep connection to nature that’s been with me since childhood, and it continues to influence me today. But it’s really the small, overlooked things that resonate the most, like the patterns and shapes of clouds, the stickers on telephone poles, or the sights and sounds of a Waffle House restaurant at 2 a.m.,” she says. 

Robinson describes her artistic style as vibrant, playful, and bursting with color, a reflection of how she sees the world. “I aim to create work that taps into the inner child within each of us, inviting viewers to experience a sense of wonder and excitement,” she says. “And not take life too seriously. I want to evoke the sense of play we all felt when we were kids.”  

Robinson’s winning mural is titled “Fly High,” a name that emerged as she reflected on the risks she has taken throughout her career, particularly her decision to go full time as a muralist right after graduation from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a degree in graphic design in December. “It’s a testament to reaching one’s potential. If you’re doing something that feels scary, it’s a sign that you’re in the right place. That’s where you’ll learn, grow and soar. The sky isn’t the limit; it’s just the beginning,” she says.  

This is Robinson’s second attempt at becoming the winning artist of the Carolina Beach Mural Project, getting close as a finalist in last year’s competition. 

“Persistence was the key. The experience serves as a reminder to myself, and I hope to other creatives, that rejection can happen to anyone, but it’s important to keep going and keep creating. I believe in the mission of the Carolina Beach Mural Project, and I’m excited and beyond grateful to be chosen this year,” she says.  

Robinson is looking forward to the Artist Meet and Greet on October 18 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the condominiums. “I had the pleasure of meeting so many locals who stopped by to chat while I was working,” she says. “I can’t wait to connect with more members of the community and watch them enjoy the mural. I hope it inspires everyone to tap into their imaginative spirit. There’s a vibrant spark of creativity in all of us just waiting to shine.”  

Tickets to the Artist Meet and Greet, which include food, beer and wine, live acoustic music, a silent auction and a take-home ceramic bowl, are available at carolinabeachmurals.org. 

To view more of photographer Aris Harding’s work, go to arisharding.com.

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