Roberta Goschke was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania. Her drawing interest began in childhood and continued through high school and a 20-year US Army career.
During her military service, she also attended the Art League School in Alexandria, VA. Roberta began life drawing sessions there in 1984 and continues this essential practice into the present. She brings the same passion for figure drawing to the landscape, water, boats and harbors, and still life, and views all subjects as endless challenges of decision making, careful observation of the mood and atmosphere.
She moved to Maine in 2000. Her artwork has been included in numerous exhibitions in Maine, Washington D.C., Virginia, and Maryland. Her artwork is in many private collections including Maine Senator Angus King. Roberta is an award winner of the Bangor Art Association 2019; First Place, Castine Plein Air Festival including the “Castine Captured” 2015 award; The Guerilla Painter Award, Wayne Plein Air Festival 2017; and Honorable Mention, Bath County Plein Air Festival 2017. Roberta maintains and works in her studio and home in Waldoboro, ME.
Artist Statement:
Painting and drawing from life keep me grounded in what I most love about art, going out and exploring and enjoying all the unique features and beauty in the world, no matter the subject. The great artist, John Singer Sargent, said “sketch everything and keep your curiosity fresh.”
My purpose in creating a painting or drawing is to reveal to myself and the viewer what attracted me to the subject through value, color, variety of edges, to show my sense of enjoyment and awe in the common place, humanity, strangeness, and grace.