Lynne Roberto Weaves Life Lessons And Childhood Magic Into Vibrant Stories And Artwork
Turning Childhood Wonder into Enchanting Stories
Immersed in a world of imagination and creativity from an early age, Lynne Roberto’s journey as an acclaimed author and artist is nothing short of magical. Born and raised in Pasadena, California, in a household where her parents crafted toys for a living, Roberto’s childhood was steeped in color, wonder, and an unparalleled opportunity for creative expression. She recalls helping her father as an official “toy tester,” an experience that laid the foundation for her vibrant artistic career.
“I was hardly ever told, ‘No, you can’t do that,’ but instead, ‘Let’s figure out how to make that work,’” Roberto shared in an interview with Novelist Post Magazine. This nurturing encouragement to think outside the box fueled her confidence to explore endless possibilities, not just in art but also in storytelling. Even as a young child, Roberto spun elaborate tales for her dolls and other toys—an early testament to the imaginative worlds she would go on to create in her books.
Her recent works, including the emotionally poignant Grandma Forgets: But I Remember and the beloved Jack the Bear series, reflect her ability to weave personal experiences and universal themes into deeply relatable stories. The character Mia in Grandma Forgets was inspired by Roberto’s personal caregiving journey with aging family members dealing with dementia. “I wanted the story to ease the way for children to understand that memory loss doesn’t mean that love is lost,” Roberto explains. Drawing from her own life, she skillfully brings warmth and reassurance to difficult family topics.
In her Jack the Bear series and other children’s books, Roberto’s talent for world-building and character development shines. Each toy in the series, such as Scarlet, Jack, or Oliver, is imbued with distinct personalities that reflect universal emotions like insecurity, grief, and resilience. Roberto credits her childhood feelings and experiences as inspiration for these traits. Jack, for example, was inspired by her own feelings of solace in the company of a stuffed bear she purchased following her mother’s passing. Likewise, the elephant Oliver, in Saving Oliver: The Elephant Who Went to Sea, draws from Roberto’s experience of finding a stuffed animal floating near her boat—a poignant encounter that sparked a story about resilience and hope.
“I want children to understand that even amid loss and despair, you can move forward and find happiness again,” Roberto explains, reflecting on Oliver’s journey. Balancing life lessons with the enchantment of magical storytelling, Roberto ensures her stories remain lighthearted while carrying a meaningful message. She achieves this in part by drawing on her diverse artistic toolkit: photography, crafting, and traditional painting. Her artistic approach even influences her books’ visuals. “I might review dolphin photos for inspiration or a harbor scene to shape a story’s setting,” she reveals, describing her methodical yet playful process.
Roberto’s artistic sensibilities go beyond writing; she is also recognized as a “Trusted Art Seller” by The Art Storefronts Organization, a mark of quality for her artwork. While she works in a range of mediums from paint pouring to furniture flipping, all her creative pursuits come together to inform and complement her storytelling efforts. Her art and books are like two sides of the same coin—a celebration of color, form, and sentiment.
Although she has earned accolades for her stand-alone works like A Gremlin Lives Here, Roberto admits that crafting a series like Jack the Bear presents unique challenges. “The stories grew because the kids wanted more,” she shares with a laugh. The authenticity of her storytelling extends to real-life anecdotes, such as kids gravitating to her books over other toys or an audition reader’s granddaughter insisting they buy the story to find out what happened to Jack.
For aspiring authors inspired by childhood memories, Roberto offers this advice: “Tell your stories. Write them down. Reflect on what mattered most to you as a child and build from there.”
Lynne Roberto’s tales, born from a tapestry of deeply personal moments, imaginative adventures, and profound love for life, serve as a guiding light for children and adults alike. Whether you’re reading Jack the Bear or considering one of her vivid artworks, you’re sure to take away a sense of wonder, creativity, and reassurance that even life’s hardest lessons can be met with resilience and joy.
Source: Novelist Post Magazine
EDITOR’S NOTE
Lynne Roberto’s Hidden Lake is an evocative and mesmerizing work of art that captures the timeless beauty of nature through an impressionistic lens. Measuring 20 x 16 inches, this painting feels like a window into the artist’s mind, where a dreamlike landscape unfolds with vivid color and texture. Roberto’s vivid imagination and skillful execution have resulted in a harmonious depiction of an autumn scene that leaves a lasting impact on the viewer.
The composition centers on a lake surrounded by trees, each painted with layered brushstrokes that echo the fleeting complexities of the natural world. The vivid interplay of blues and greens in the water and the contrasting reds and yellows in the foliage showcase Roberto’s masterful command of color harmony. The warm hues of the leaves create energy and vibrancy, while the cool tones bring about a sense of calm, balancing the painting perfectly. This deliberate juxtaposition of warm and cool tones demonstrates artistic sophistication, enticing viewers to fully immerse themselves in the scene.
What is particularly striking is Roberto’s choice to present the trees on the left with more defined forms while allowing abstract, playful brushstrokes to take over on the right. This contrast elevates the visual narrative, inspiring thoughtful exploration and highlighting the richness of the artist’s vision. The impressionistic style is ideal for this subject matter because it captures the fluidity of the water and the transient beauty of autumn foliage. The blending of colors and textures creates a feeling of movement and transformation, perfectly aligning with the ephemeral nature of the seasons.
The sky, painted in soft pastel hues, enhances the ethereal quality of the artwork. Its delicate tones are seamlessly mirrored in the lake below, adding depth and tranquility to the scene. The reflective quality of the water is handled with great skill, creating a natural interplay of light and shadow that suggests quiet contemplation. These elements combine to evoke a serene atmosphere that invites viewers to escape into the beauty of nature’s embrace.
Lynne Roberto’s Hidden Lake is not just a painting but an emotional experience—and one that resonates deeply with anyone who appreciates the changing seasons and the infinite beauty of the natural world. With its dreamlike aesthetic, harmonious color palette, and thoughtful compositional choices, this work is a testament to Roberto’s vision and expertise as an artist. It is a celebration of nature’s fleeting splendor, inviting the viewer to pause, reflect, and immerse themselves in the tranquil essence of the imagined landscape.
