CONCORD, N.H. — Robert Seaman, a talented artist from New Hampshire celebrated for his creative “daily doodles” that provided comfort during the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic, has passed away at the age of 92.
His daughter, Robin Hayes, reported that Seaman died on Wednesday at Maplewood Assisted Living in Westmoreland. He had been battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in recent years and faced complications after contracting coronavirus last fall.
Despite his health issues in his later years, Seaman remained determined to pursue his art. Hayes mentioned, “It was what got him out of bed. It’s what kept him going.” His daily routine typically included enjoying coffee and a morning doughnut, followed by hours of doodling, interspersed with lunch and naps. “It was his happy place,” she added.
Seaman’s last doodle, numbered #1727, was shared on Valentine’s Day and featured a bull and a matador holding a heart-shaped flag. The day prior, he had created a special doodle to celebrate Hayes’ birthday.
At the age of 60, Seaman left behind a career in real estate to dedicate himself to art. Just two weeks after moving into the assisted living center, the facility was locked down due to the pandemic. The restrictions prompted him to revisit his childhood passion for drawing.
In an interview from 2021, Seaman reflected on his initial thoughts, saying, “The first thought I had was to just do some kind of dark stuff that reflected the nature of the confinement that we were experiencing and the difficulties that were created by this pandemic.” This evolved into a daily commitment, and he began creating one doodle per day.
Hayes took the initiative to share Seaman’s doodles on social media, where she also offered prints and originals for sale. As a result, he was able to raise $20,000 for local charities and garnered attention from a broad audience. While sorting through Seaman’s belongings, Hayes discovered a collection of letters from people expressing gratitude for his work.
Lynn McIntyre from Hudson, New Hampshire, became a fan of Seaman’s work after seeing him featured on a local television show. She looked forward to receiving his daily doodles, even commissioning a piece (Doodle #282) that depicted her late daughter’s favorite things: dolphins, sunflowers, and the color blue. “He captured her love for these things perfectly with love and care,” McIntyre remarked.
Seaman typically started his doodles with pencil sketches, finishing them with ink, colored pencils, and watercolors. His artworks often displayed his fascination with science fiction, whimsical animals, and a touch of humor. He described his creative process in 2021, explaining that when he encountered a creative block, he would start drawing an object, leading to a flow of new ideas.
Born on September 7, 1932, in Smithtown, New York, Seaman was raised in an artistic household and later studied art history at Williams College. His journey included service in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and various jobs in the paper industry, advertising, and real estate before he committed to a full-time art career.
Reflecting on his career shift, Seaman expressed how liberating it was, stating, “I was full of anxiety, unhappiness, and depression, and the minute I made this jump, as risky as it was, all of that anxiety and depression lifted.” He began his artistic career with a Boston greeting card company, illustrating books and magazines, and later served as an artist in residence in Vermont while teaching drawing classes at the Sharon Arts Center in New Hampshire for over 15 years.
Carmela Azzaro, 82, met Seaman in a figure drawing class when he was in his early eighties. She described him as an inspirational figure, encouraging her to continue her artistic pursuits even in her later years. “Each day his doodles reminded me to make every moment of life count,” she noted.
Seaman is survived by his daughter, Robin Hayes, his son Brooks Seaman, two grandchildren, and his lifelong friend Appleton Adams. A celebration of life is planned for spring, likely featuring some of his beloved doodles, according to Hayes.
She added, “I think it was the people who loved his doodles and looked forward to them that kept him going. He was so grateful for that.” Seaman himself humorously remarked in 2021 that he would probably “kick the bucket” before he ran out of creative ideas. “Selfishly, it keeps me occupied and I love doing it,” he commented. “But also it does help some other people, which is kind of nice.”