We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rebecca Kolb. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rebecca below.

Rebecca, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

About a year and a half ago, I decided I was going to pursue a career in stop motion animation. But what took me so long to really commit to the idea? I think I was afraid of the risk. I was afraid of the possibility that I might never reach certain goals or live up to the title. Sometimes, I can still feel like that. I had always wanted to work in animation but didn’t know where I could fit into the pipeline. I felt like it was impossible to break into the industry.

I love working with my hands and using traditional art mediums, so I got an illustration degree. For about four years, I focused on growing my watercolor illustration business. I worked freelance, taking on commissions, learning the ins and outs of galleries and consignment, and vending at art shows and markets. I really enjoy my illustration business but at some point, I decided I still wanted to work alongside other creatives to create something bigger than what I could do alone. Once I figured out how I could continue doing what I love with stop motion fabrication, taking a risk was the only option. That’s when I really committed and decided that I would try, for as long as it took, to become a stop motion fabricator. Because what else am I going to do? What do I have to lose? There’s a period of rejection and self criticism you have to work to get past, but once you develop that protective shell, there are only experiences to gain.

Rebecca, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m currently a freelance Stop Motion Fabricator and Illustrator, and my business is The Spectral Studio. I create fairytale watercolor illustrations and make giclee prints, cards, stickers, whimsical art dolls, and needle felted creatures. My partner and I print everything in house, sign, and package every print by hand. I love using a wide variety of media from paints to fibers! I provide freelance services including puppet fabrication, model making, prop making, scenic painting, and storyboarding. I’m inspired by different aesthetics, mostly Victorian, Renaissance, Cottage Core, and Circus stuff. I also find inspiration in nature, books, film, and traveling. My art style is sort of Brothers Grimm meets Disney.

I grew up in Southern California, always going to art museums and surrounded by themed entertainment design and film. I was the art kid in school. Kids knew that if they sat next to me during class, they could get a free hand-drawn pen tattoo of anything they wanted. I probably should have paid more attention in class! AP Art was the only advanced class I ever took before going to college. It was always a no-brainer that I should grow up to become an artist as my profession. I went to the Laguna College of Art and Design and majored in Illustration with an Entertainment Emphasis. Going to art school is definitely one of the highlights of my life. Art has always been a personal, meditational therapy and escape for me.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I had to do a lot of active personal growth to get to where I am today. Once I had made the commitment to my career goals, I realized I would never be able to achieve them without relearning some things, because the only one holding me back was me. I had to change my mindset about myself and the world. I found my darkest thoughts about myself and for almost a year, I journaled the opposite of those thoughts and why I wasn’t those things. I needed to find my self-confidence. I listened to positive affirmations, made a motivational playlist, and read a couple self help books. A book that really helped me was “Think Again!” by Roger Crawford. It’s an old book but it has a lot of helpful tips. I also read and listened to a lot of stories of people who reached their goals to learn from their journeys. You start to see the pattern and recipe for success.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

For me, resources pertaining to art as a career have always been tricky to find. Artists are generally a more introverted bunch but the best thing you can do is network. I remember being told to network back in college and I understood the definition of the word but HOW do you network. You’ll learn all the do’s and don’t’s of networking once you start doing it and it becomes easier the more you get out there! Where do you network? You basically have to become a private investigator and find the people who know about the resources and discover new ones on your own. The best opportunities I’ve gotten started on LinkedIn, by randomly messaging people I admired. I got to have coffee with some of them and others suggested groups I could join where I could meet other creatives in my field. In my experience, in-person networking has led to the most meaningful relationships.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thespectralstudio.myportfolio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.spectral.studio/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-kolb/
• Other: Etsy – https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSpectralStudio

  Personal Shop – https://www.thespectralstudio.art/

Image Credits

Derich Hartfeil
Sean Parker
Elle Hygge
Erik Croswell