Arthur Caleb Robertson. Submitted photo.
Arthur Caleb Robertson fell in love with design during high school a few years ago. Robertson’s passion started in a Reebok shoe mock-up for a project at York Suburban, and continued with 25 T-shirt designs and orders in two years.
And though the now 21-year-old took a step back from the projects to start his collegiate career at Kutztown University, the idea of opening a screen print shop would not leave his mind in early 2012. When Billy Shellenberger of 31 Stars Photography took a chance on Robertson after a positive comment on a Facebook photo sparked the contact, Robertson’s business was born.
“Unknown to Billy at the time, the second after we talked, I ordered the press,” Robertson said.
And from there, Artc Graphics was born. (It is pronounced “artsy.”)
Robertson’s drive didn’t stop at the graphics — the Spring Garden Township resident formed an arm of the company called Artc Creative that works on other parts of the artsy world, such as commercials and wedding videos.
Now, Artc Graphics has a stand in Central Market that sells screen printed T-shirts, and is a good business front for Robertson, he said. Being part of the re-invention of downtown York is just another perk for this Christian-based company, Robertson said.
Five questions:
1. What is your biggest concern as a 20-something?
Being taken seriously. I love being a part of my generation, and I love being young and feeling free. Feeling this way has lead me to not caring about the things your typical business owner is concerned about. I’m just having fun, I’m not concerned about holding a job and getting my benefits. I know that there’s a plan for me, and as long I keep and hold to what I know is true, I’ll make it just fine.
This mindset and overall persona has led me to butt heads a few times with individuals and businesses who didn’t think I was “serious” enough for them, but that’s all right because they were obviously a little too serious for me.
2. What is your definition of success?
Simple: If you can honestly and humbly do what you love and live the life that you want to live. A “9-to-5″ may be a success for someone else but for me, that would be a nightmare.
3. What is your favorite piece of technology right now?
Depends how you want to define technology. If you go with the true sense of the word then, my Moleskin pocket notebook and a pencil. No screen, no stylus and no app will ever trump paper and pencil.
4. Is there one area that you butt heads with your parents about? (marriage, career, kids, etc.)?
You just opened up a can you may not have wanted to, because I can not tell you about how much I love and appreciate my parents! If you would talk to my mother, you would know immediately that I am one of hers, and the same goes for my father. Those two have taught me to be me even in the face of adversity. They also taught me a few things about love, faith, hope and forgiveness. But, yes, we butt heads, but we butt heads of love. I would like to leave school and travel and spread the Good Word because I know that I would be all right. Traveling into the unknown and having this organic and natural feeling that everything will be OK is quite a state of mind to be in. I can only pray that we all may feel like that at least for one day during our lifetime. So my overall point is, my parents would like for me to remain in school and pay an overly saturated tuition price to line the pockets of the big business that is “higher education.” However, I do love my design classes and art professors at Kutztown; I’m learning a lot for sure and I’m giving it my all.
5. Do you think school and other resources have prepared you for adult life?
School can prepare you for what you’re taught life is suppose to be. Is it better then having no schooling? Absolutely! However, the best teacher is experience. I would recommend that everybody starts something at a young age like me. Why are you waiting until you graduate to chase your dreams; sometimes they run a little faster than you and it will only get harder to catch up with them. My resources have taught me that making decisions is so easy now, because I’m operating on blind faith most of the time and I better act on it while I still have it. It’s fun, it’s exciting, you never truly know what will happen next, and I love that!
Want to be interviewed? Email bfehlinger@ydr.com.
