- February 7, 2025
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As a child, Roben-Marie Smith sewed and even made her own stuffed animals. Her creativity turned into a hobby that stayed with her when she became an adult.
However, when she went to college she majored in marketing and public relations, something she enjoyed but didn't fully fulfill her.
"It really wasn't what made my heart sing," Smith said.
According to Smith, her heart eventually won out and she turned to her artistic side to pursue her dream of being a full-time artist.
"It was something I always wanted," Smith said.
Smith, now the owner of Paperbag Studios, works as a full-time mixed media artist and has moved into teaching others as well. She also has plans to teach in Belgium. Her artwork is found of on a variety of items she sells, from stickers, to journals, to cards.
Next year, she'll be taking her passion for art and education a step further by teaching others how to create their own business. It's another part of Smith's passion for helping others.
"I have a lot to offer others," Smith said. "It's a direction I'm really excited to be taking."
But the Port Orange resident has found other ways to give back in her community as well. Smith, who has lived in Port Orange for almost 20 years, has been active at the Port Orange Christian Church that she has been attending for about 18 months with her husband Bobby Smith.
Smith has brought her teaching skills to the church as well. She recently has been helping one of the members come up with her own ideas for a new business and "spread her wings."
The Smiths also have been active in missionary work but have made sure to give back within their own community. That has included hosting teenagers at their home for Bible studies and working on rebranding with the church's website.
Smith is also involved in the Awana children's ministry and the peanut butter and jelly outreach program, which provides peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to the homeless. Around 300 sandwiches are delivered to the Halifax Urban Ministries program to be distributed, according to Smith.
And like her art, it's something she is passionate about.
"It really just stems from Christ's example of doing for others rather than just our own selves," Smith said. "It's not that we're told to do this but because we love our neighbors that we want to do that."
