IN THE MIX:

I met Donna Robb for the first time on the first day of school after dropping my son off in Ms. Copes’ kindergarten class.

Actually, I didn’t formally meet her. I spoke to her as she passed by. She was walking away from dropping off her son Max at Ms. Hoyt’s kindergarten class.

She was wiping a tear from her eye and memories of my daughter’s first day of kindergarten flooded into my mind.

Maya had started in Ms. Hoyt’s class two years previous and the first day of school nearly ripped my heart right out. As I tried to leave her at her desk she obediently stayed seated but reached out her arms to me sobbing, “Mommy please!”

Ugh. I knew a similar scenario had likely just played out for this woman so I told her, “It will get easier, I promise.”

The short, quick meeting made an impact on me.

Not for the memory it invoked, but because of something as superficial as the way she looked. She looked nothing like the rest of us.

She was obviously a natural redhead, but had added color to it, creating flaming red locks. I can’t remember exactly what she was wearing, but it was likely similar to the Renaissance-inspired, artsy yet casual outfits she still wears.

That was enough to pique my interest. I soon met her formally when our sons became friends.

That’s when I found out she was active in arts in the community. The 39-year-old Costa Mesa native had been on the cultural arts committee for about five years and helped create a butterfly sculpture that was displayed outside Costa Mesa’s City Hall.

Everything about Robb shouts artist. She is kooky, introspective and always coming up with something creative for her house, the school or just for her kids to do.

With the help of a few Sonora Elementary School teachers and parents, Robb put on a performance of “Alice in Wonderland” last year. She directed the play and designed the psychedelic scenery that was a treat in itself.

She also chaired Sonora’s chapter of the Reflections program. The program allows students from kindergarten to high school to submit anything that falls under the heading of art to be judged in local, district, state and national competitions.

Now you can see her work around Costa Mesa’s schools in the form of murals.

Before brightening the halls of Newport-Mesa schools, Robb grew up surrounding herself with music and art.

She said it started when she was 6 and she began submitting her artwork for the competitions in local newspapers.

She said for years she would consistently win the $5 to $10 prizes. She had her first work displayed in a bank when she was 11 and her first work sold out of a shop in South Coast Plaza when she was 17.

In the midst of creating her visual art, Robb played in one band or another, including orchestra work for which she plays the cello.

After floating back and forth between Orange County and San Francisco, where she played in several bands, Robb settled in Costa Mesa with her husband and two kids.

Her creative nature continues at home with murals and décor painted on her walls and floors. It is in this setting that she teaches my son guitar and other children various musical instruments.

Not everyone can be a creative and colorful light in their community. And anyway, the arts would lose their magic if everyone could do it. I’m just glad I found one of the people around here who can add a bit more music and art to my world.

I met Donna Robb for the first time on the first day of school after dropping my son off in Ms. Copes’ kindergarten class.

Actually, I didn’t formally meet her. I spoke to her as she passed by. She was walking away from dropping off her son Max at Ms. Hoyt’s kindergarten class.

She was wiping a tear from her eye and memories of my daughter’s first day of kindergarten flooded into my mind.

Maya had started in Ms. Hoyt’s class two years previous and the first day of school nearly ripped my heart right out. As I tried to leave her at her desk she obediently stayed seated but reached out her arms to me sobbing, “Mommy please!”

Ugh. I knew a similar scenario had likely just played out for this woman so I told her, “It will get easier, I promise.”

The short, quick meeting made an impact on me.

Not for the memory it invoked, but because of something as superficial as the way she looked. She looked nothing like the rest of us.

She was obviously a natural redhead, but had added color to it, creating flaming red locks. I can’t remember exactly what she was wearing, but it was likely similar to the Renaissance-inspired, artsy yet casual outfits she still wears.

That was enough to pique my interest. I soon met her formally when our sons became friends.

That’s when I found out she was active in arts in the community. The 39-year-old Costa Mesa native had been on the cultural arts committee for about five years and helped create a butterfly sculpture that was displayed outside Costa Mesa’s City Hall.

Everything about Robb shouts artist. She is kooky, introspective and always coming up with something creative for her house, the school or just for her kids to do.

With the help of a few Sonora Elementary School teachers and parents, Robb put on a performance of “Alice in Wonderland” last year. She directed the play and designed the psychedelic scenery that was a treat in itself.

She also chaired Sonora’s chapter of the Reflections program. The program allows students from kindergarten to high school to submit anything that falls under the heading of art to be judged in local, district, state and national competitions.

Now you can see her work around Costa Mesa’s schools in the form of murals.

Before brightening the halls of Newport-Mesa schools, Robb grew up surrounding herself with music and art.

She said it started when she was 6 and she began submitting her artwork for the competitions in local newspapers.

She said for years she would consistently win the $5 to $10 prizes. She had her first work displayed in a bank when she was 11 and her first work sold out of a shop in South Coast Plaza when she was 17.

In the midst of creating her visual art, Robb played in one band or another, including orchestra work for which she plays the cello.

After floating back and forth between Orange County and San Francisco, where she played in several bands, Robb settled in Costa Mesa with her husband and two kids.

Her creative nature continues at home with murals and décor painted on her walls and floors. It is in this setting that she teaches my son guitar and other children various musical instruments.

Not everyone can be a creative and colorful light in their community. And anyway, the arts would lose their magic if everyone could do it. I’m just glad I found one of the people around here who can add a bit more music and art to my world.

ALICIA LOPEZ teaches journalism at Orange Coast College and lives in Costa Mesa. She can be reached at [email protected]. ALICIA LOPEZ teaches journalism at Orange Coast College and lives in Costa Mesa. She can be reached at [email protected].