Meet Adeline Robinson Bihlmaier | Exotic Wildlife Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adeline Robinson Bihlmaier and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adeline, every day, we talk about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
They say diamonds are created under pressure. I feel that relates to the very beginnings and inception of my business. After working in the animal industry my entire life, I had moved out of state for a job as a graphic designer for an auction company. What started out as an exciting venture working for a new business was soon met with false promises, terrible management and a toxic workplace. I did everything I could to put my best foot forward and thought that if I worked hard and continued to exceed their expectations, things would get better. They did not get better. This adversity paved a way for me to start carving out my own path. After late hours getting home from work, and feeling homesick for the industry I left, I decided to pick up a childhood hobby of mine for stress relief: drawing. I shared each piece I made, and soon enough I started receiving inquiries on commissions and pet portraits. As I continued to draw, so did my inquiries and requests. I got to the point where I was being asked to do logos and graphic design for small business owners and reptile breeders and was soon staying up until one or two in the morning, working on artwork. I thought “Why spend my time at a 9-5 working for someone else, when I am making more in a week doing artwork in the hours after my day job? Surely if I had the whole day to dedicate to it, I could push this even further” With encouragement from my friends and boyfriend (now husband), I decided to quit my job to pursue art full time. No business plan, no idea for the future, just full send.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a wildlife artist that specializes in reptiles & amphibians in a scientific illustration style. I have always been inspired by the amazing animals we share our planet with and hope to bring awareness to their beauty in hopes to raise conservation efforts for animals who are at risk of becoming endangered or extinct. My pieces are done in a realistic style, as I want to show the natural beauty these animals possess. Many of my subjects are victims of misconception and fear, because people don’t know anything about them, or the nature of their behavior. People won’t try to protect or conserve something they know nothing about, so my goal is to change that.

I’m proud of how far I’ve come. When I first started, I had a small flyer holder that was borrowed with a few prints in it (with no backing boards or protective sleeves, no less!). I went full time in February of 2020 and seeing my progress, not only with my artwork, but with my business management, booth setup, self discipline, health, and with the amazing community around me- it makes me feel humbled and honored to be able to do what I do. I have faced many challenges from the start (I literally started a few weeks before the pandemic shut down and on a single income) and have been able to come out the other end wiser, and even more grateful. I think one of the biggest things to remember when we’re facing our challenges is to remember why we do what we do. If you have a strong “why” then that makes those challenges worth facing and is the reason to get up in the morning on those tough days. Having a great support system is incredibly helpful too. Good friends cheer you on. Better friends tell you what you may not see, what you need to change and will continue to cheer you on.

After meeting me, or my work, I hope to help motivate others to go after their goals and passions. I hope they will want to learn about the natural world around us. I hope to inspire people to want to protect the wilds of this planet.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Some of the places I’d love to check out would be the Denver Zoo, the Downtown Aquarium, Denver Mountain Parks or Morrison Nature Center, as well as any natural areas I can find. I’m not big on city life, but I LOVE exploring different cultural foods! Urban Burma (Burmese), Queen of Sheba (Ethiopian), Jasmine Syrian Food, Unique Indian Cuisine, La Chiva (Colombian) are all places I’d go to and take a friend.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am endlessly inspired by the great painter, explorer and wildlife specialist Tell Hicks. He is my biggest inspiration when it comes to artwork. His attention to detail, anatomy, lighting, composition, depth, movement & everything I can think of is absolutely mind-boggling. I am in awe of every detail in every piece he creates and for his incredible determination to get back to creating artwork after his accident which has left him paralyzed. He still continues to create amazing pieces of art and every time I get to see him on video call at the shows I vend, It makes my whole day. His kind words of encouragement mean the world to me.

I am so so incredibly grateful to Brian Potter and Bob Ashley who run the North American Reptile Breeders Conference. When I first started attending their shows, I never knew that my entire life would change course into such beautiful journey. It is with their support that I have been able to vend since my very first show, and have such an amazing community and support system around me. They are so supportive of artists in the industry and have been there for me since the beginning. They do so much to support the United States Association of Reptile Keepers, raise funds for community members in need and support the next generation of herpetology enthusiasts.

I’d love to give a HUGE shoutout and massive thanks to our friend Danny Reiter- owner of Birds & Beasts Pet Shop. Danny has been an incredible friend and support in both our personal and professional life. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the encouragement and advice from Danny and we are so grateful to have such a wonderful friend to share this journey with.

Website: adelinerobinsonart.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adeline_robinson_art/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdelineRobinsonArt/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCufEOICaa5TQ4A_QzJCaikg?view_as=subscriber

Other: Patreon for art tutorials and behind the scenes artwork https://www.patreon.com/adelinerobinsonart Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@adelinerobinsonart

Image Credits
Adeline Robinson Chris Bihlmaier Robinson Sarah Grannis