Robert Batterton

Figurative drawings in charcoal

Known for expressive figurative drawings and paintings that evoke another place and time. Chiaroscuro is often employed to give light and shadow a metaphorical meaning, as well as for its graphic qualities. Subject matter may be derived from Robert’s old family snapshots, observations of nature’s light effects, memory, and symbolism. Some of the more ephemeral images contain winged figures that speak of another realm or sense of a guardian presence. The figure of a dog, with its air of a companion/guardian, is often included in the work. His recent large scale charcoal drawings evoke a cast of characters and scenarios that speak of a small town – representational, yet sometimes, in a mysterious atmosphere.

Born in Texas, Batterton earned a BFA from the University of Texas at Austin and a MFA from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ