If you clock any time at the Glen Ridge Starbucks, you're almost certain to have seen Regia Marinho, a Brazilian-born artist who draws, tweets, makes high-concept shorts for YouTube and sells her wares on eBay from the coffee shop. Formerly the squiggler-in-chief at the Starbucks next to Whole Foods in Montclair, Regia moved to this Starbucks when she moved to Glen Ridge about a year ago. Although she likes people, she's almost painfully shy. When I introduced myself the other day, she actually started pulling up her sweater to cover her chin - like a turtle retreating into its shell. All with a surprised and delighted grin, however. I recognized her by her Facebook profile (she had friended me a while back) and the scribble on the back of her laptop.
"This is my office," she said. "The other day, I asked if I should just use it as my business address."
She was, at the time I introduced myself, overseeing one of her many auctions on eBay. She's sold more than 2,000 pieces of art there since 1999. Here's "Blush," a 9 x 12 original ink drawing on white paper, with a starting bid of $49. "Sun," on the other hand, a 24" x 48" original painting, has a buy-it-now price of $2,000.
Regia says that she discovered she was an artist in the early eighties and decided to quit her career as a civil engineer in Brazil, and move to New York as a single mother - because "it was the place to be for an artist." She then worked as a computer network administrator at the U.N. where she started painting portraits of Security Council ambassadors. (See photo.)
But when somebody was assigned to share her office, the shy Regia quit the U.N. and embarked upon the full-time artist's life.
Don't be fooled though by Regia's shyness. She loves observing and talking to people, which is why she spends hours at Starbucks. And if you find her looking down at her feet, or yours, this might be why.
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Comments (32)
Go Regia! I wondered when I would see her on here...
peace and plenty...
Hi all, Debbie surprised me last week, she came to Starbucks, took my picture and ask me some questions.
Thank you Debbie for write this great piece about me.
I welcome your comments.
Regia...Bem-venda to GR. I see you in the GR Starbucks all the time, best of luck!
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Regia ... The great artist of Montclair and best friend in star books. Nice to read about you and nice movie too.
George, your partner in crime .. haha
I go to this SBs often, but can't recall ever seeing Regia there.
This is a great SBUX. The staff there is very nice. Much more engaging than either the WF SBUX or the one on Valley Road. Although I have to give props to the gal at Valley location for remembering my drink: a quad, grande, extra hot soy latte, one week after my ordering it from her a week before.
Next time I go, today probably, I'll look for her and make sure I'm wearing my nice, new Nike cross-trainers!
Hi MellonBrush, I'm usually there after 2PM. May you see me next time. Follow me on twitter @regiaart
It may be mildly ungallant (but hardly un-Galant, I think) to note that there is some fair discrepancy between the gamine-like sort (a bit like Audrey Tautou) pictured on Regia Marinho's website and the lass pictured above. But I also realize we live, alas, in a youth-oriented society where among the young Ryan Seacrest's inanities pass for "social criticism" on Oscars night.
Still, I can't help wondering if occupying a seat for most of the working day at a local Starbucks, without ever ordering LOTS of stuff hourly or paying rent, is quite kosher. Shyness is one thing, squatting quite another.
J.K. Rowling wrote much of her first Harry Potter book while sitting in coffee shops.
Actually, Mrs. Martta, no, she wrote most of the first book while sitting at a 2nd floor table in one particular Edinburgh Italian restaurant owned by her brother-in-law. Which explains why she was able to take up valuable dining space daily.
And I too have sat there. Even took a picture from it of the street below. (Like, the waiter assured us, thousdands of other people.) It's near the University.
Cathar ---
Why is it that baristanet-monclarians tend to find negativity in most everything their fellow human beings do. Is there a law written somewhere stating that one should never sit in a star-bucs for extended periods of time? Do you know why a person would sit in star-bucs for long periods of time. Do you know all about that person's life to understand such behaviour?
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I have noticed that the star-bucs are usually crowded with people on PCs nowadays. This seems to go hand-in-hand with the down turn of the economy. Many people are simply studying there, using the internet access, updating resumes, networking ... etc
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Also, as for artistic types, which you obviously are not, perhaps the mood there enhances their creativity.
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I wonder why people, such as yourself, would seek to find negativity in this activity?
I've often wondered at the 'propriety' of people working on and monopolizing table space that should rightly be reserved for those customers who are looking for a spot to sit for a few minutes and quietly sip their high-priced caffiene concoctions.
There have been many times when I would have liked to have had a contemplative sit down; to have stared out the window at nothing for a few minutes, but was unable due to the entire shop being festooned with people and their laptops working, writing, researching, etc..
I would think that these stores would be best served by having two sections, one for transient, window gazers and another for folks who want to sit for hours at a time working on their doctoral thesis or composing soundtracks for Duncan Donuts commercials...
Hi MellonBrush2, Why not send this idea of having two sections in the store to Starbucks? here is the website: http://mystarbucksidea.force.com/ideaHome
Sidhartha123, come to Starbucks so we can make drawings and network with all our friends art lovers.
Sidartha123, while I may not play in the fields of creativity on the elevated level you seem to be claiming for yourself, I have in fact, mirabile dictu!!!, actually been paid for my scribblings before. This may not make me the "artistic type" you seem to be rating yourself as, but still, it's enough
I've also both worked and hung around in enough establishments to know that an occupied seat has to generate revenue at some point. So if someone in a place where I worked merely spent their days lolling or transacting other business while not paying at some point for the privilege if sitting there (even if by way of very generous tips), yes, I'd ask them to leave. That you disagree with such a policy indicates to me that you simply don't understand certain demands of our capitalist system. And that is not a matter at all of, as you called it, "negativity." But rather of making one's daily, weekly, monthly "nut" by way of economic survival.
Nor would I need, either as an employee or owner, to know a doggoned thing about a sitter's life to make such a determination. I can, however, hazard a pretty good guess about you based on your post above, that you're just a pretentious twit.
I go to the GR StarBux, buy a cup of joe and sit down every once in awhile. I'd stay a hell of a lot longer but eventually I've got to get up and get on with my mundane existence....Ahh! To be in Paris at some cafe watching the passing parade! Moi,Je m'appelle Monsieur Beni Oui Oui.
cathar:
Do the following. Look up the definition of "pretentious twit". Then sit in a quiet room and read your post to me over and over several times. A light bulb should go off in your head eventually.
Other than that, I hope that only great things happen for you and to you.
sidhartha ... hahaha
That is too funny. Hopefully that numbskull(cathar) has enough gray matter to understand your sly joke.
LOL
Is there a problem between the right and the left brain? or about who cares and those who don't care about other people?
Wonder if all those peeps in B+N sitting around with stacks of books on their tables are buying them....doubt it. We've got the hive mentality. We want to buzz around other humans even if we don't communicate directly. It can be a lonely existence if we don't come down from our mountain retreats every now & then....Isn't it cabin fever season?
"Is there a problem between the right and the left brain? or about who cares and those who don't care about other people?"
Do you care about the people who have to make a living at Starbucks, who hope it's full of paying customers so it's prosperous?
Starbucks is a life style of writers (many around), college students, people without job, moms with kids. All above spend lots of time in the store.
Starbucks to be more successful as a business depends on management decision not because I'm there for a performance drawing.
I would think that if the the baristas and/or managers at the Starbucks in question were having a problem with people such as Regia, they would say something. The fact that she is still there tells me they're Ok with it.
St. RoC hangs ten at Dunkin' Donuts, where you get a little coffee with your cream.
MellonBrush2:
My idea for Starbucks is not 2 but 3 different sections.
1- people that made noise (kids, college interviewers, sellers of wedding photos...)
2- people keep quite (artists, thinkers, bloggers,
searcher for job pro...)
3- people that love to dance (regiaart...).
I'm glad to finally be able to comment! (i was having some issues before)
It's interesting to see the direction this discussion has taken and since we're talking brands I feel I'd like to add some points. If you do any research on the Starbucks brand you'll see their mantra has nothing to do with coffee or profits, it's about "Rewarding Everyday Moments" Smart brands, like Starbucks and Barnes & Nobles understand that creating a welcoming environment is what separates them from the pack, it's what helps them create loyal fans, like my mom, Regia.
How many times have you read their brand name and thought about them in this little discussion?
Sure Starbucks needs to make a profit, but that is what *they* need, not what their customers want. And of course they know the difference between the two. No one, let alone brands, get too far by not caring about the people around them. If I were cathar's customer and s/he had asked me to leave any establishment, not only would I have never come back, I would have told all my friends never to set a foot in there as well. Guess who wins with that kind of mentality? Not the brand. And actually, not even cathar. So, yes, it does pay to care. Caring does translate in revenue (and happiness!). :)
Now, on to what I intended on posting in the first place! A big, warm thank you to Debbie for capturing a beautiful written portrait of my mom! My brother and I were delighted w/ how she captured all her little quirks. :) And talking about portraits, I also wanted to share the portrait my mom made of me for my birthday, which rocks! :) I just hung it on my wall! Thank you mom!! :)
Cheers to all!
keka :)
some people are considerate on their own, some need to be "asked" apparently. It's a good thing there are not 12 other Regia's sitting at all the tables all the time or no one else would ever get a seat, eh?
Regia: You're forgetting one very "important" group: The annoying SAHMs with their Hummer-sized strollers that block the aisle.
What a great story on a great artist!
Regia has been a source of inspiration, as she bravely quit a job/career that wasn't fullfilling her soul, and now dedicates full-time to her art. And what good art that is, luckily to all of us!
I'm impressed at the fluidity with which Regia navigates all sorts of internet communication, her enthusiastically and innovative ideas. With all of that on top of her beutiful drawings and paintings, she is bound for success!
Inspired by her I am braving my way as a writer, published my first short story at The Brasilians last week, more to come.
All the best to Regia and everyone who has the guts to follow their hearts!
Leaving some squiggle room.
A new article by Erin Roll of Glen Ridge Voice about artist Regia Marinho.
I just posted the scanned article here.
RegiaRichest blog
Follow me on twitter @regiaart