New Ways of Thinking: Tim Cosens on Ray Robinson

Tim Cosens was a student of Ray Robinson’s while he attended H.B. Beal Technical School. In his second year at Beal, Tim was assigned to conduct an interview with a local artist and chose Ray, where they met for the first time.

Ray Robinson

Tim Cosens

“I recall this meeting so as to emphasize one point; previous to this day I was
enjoying my artistic training and completing all projects easily. The next day it was as if I had no clue how I could or should proceed. I believe that current terminology would designate this as “disruption.” What was this disruption, I could ask, and what should be done about it?”
 
Ray’s way of working was immediate: drawing on his experience and training while creating in the moment. After this first meeting, Tim went on to take drawing classes under Ray’s instruction and had many good conversations with him including memorable visits to his studio.
 
Ray is often known as a sculptor, though what he taught could apply to all artistic practice. Ray wanted his students to be independent and original. He was therefore hesitant to become a formal mentor, though his impact on his students is evident.
 
From Tim’s perspective, Ray’s drawings were more influential than his finished sculptures. Ray often used pastels and charcoal to draw, which has influenced Tim’s paintings through means of developing a paint-pastel hybrid that is firm enough to draw with but can also be manipulated with heat and traditional painting tools. Tim often reflects on what came to be his most insightful recommendations from Ray: drawing, perception and paradox.

Tim Cosens

Ray Robinson

Tim Cosens is an artist from London, Ontario, working with oil paints and pastel. Taking note from historic practices, Cosens uses wax in his paint to give it a certain translucency. Cosens often paints en plein air, later using these sketches as the starting point for his larger works.

Ray Robinson is a graduate of Slade School of Fine Art in London, England. His teaching career began at H.B. Beal where he taught sculpture. After, Robinson taught at Fanshawe College and then at Lambton College. Robinson favoured mark-making and using two-dimensional materials to create three-dimensional artworks.

Ray Robinson's Teaching positions:
     Bath Academy.....Bath UK
     Queen's University (summer).....Kingston ON
     London Library (Education Curator).....London ON
     H. B. Beal.....London ON
     Fanshawe College.....London ON
     Lambton College (Head of Art Dept.).....Sarnia ON