Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Joyce

Hi Rachel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

I began my art journey at the young at of six. My dad signed me up for local art lessons at a small fine art school, Mainstreet Art Center in Lake Zurich. I had always loved drawing and art classes in school, but it was here that my love of drawing slowly turned into a passion for creating. Mainstreet helped me develop a disciplined traditional style of representational painting, and how to turn my photographs into paintings. I continued these art lessons through high school and community college, until I transferred to DePaul University and moved to Chicago. It was at DePaul that I began branching out into abstract and conceptual work. Abstract painting deepened my love for creating as I finally felt like I was painting to express something from within myself. Once I graduated from DePaul in 2013, I painted as often a I could while also waiting tables. I wanted to create a larger inventory of work to be able to show them around not only Chicago but the country. I am lucky enough to have sold a great number of my pieces over the years and have completed hundreds of commissioned pieces. Since graduating, I have participated in numerous shows throughout Chicagoland area and across the country. My work is currently represented by Mainstreet Gallery & New Buffalo Art Gallery.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Choosing to take the road less travelled is never without challenges. However, I am lucky in that my biggest obstacle is and always has been, having enough time to dedicate to my practice. Working full time in the bar and restaurant industry can be both physically and mentally draining. Working a 14 hour shift is not exactly conducive to coming home and sitting down to create art. Luckily, my drive and desire to create has always pushed me to make having time for painting a priority. Along with struggling with a lack of time to spend painting, there is also the difficulty in attending art events when most of them fall on weekends which are peak working days for bars and restaurants employees. Even though I want to attend them all, I have to be very selective in choosing which events to take off work for and which ones I have to miss out on. I realize the importance of attending these events and networking to create a sense of community so I am making more of an effort to take nights off of work in order to attend these events.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

I find it somewhat difficult to classify my work into one genre or style of painting. I am a highly explorative and curious person and love to play with different mediums and styles. I was classically trained in oil painting when I was 12 years old and still love to use oils. However, I will often times start a piece in acrylics, maybe add some collage elements and finish them with a bit of oil paint. Although some pieces can end up being entirely acrylic, or entirely oil. I prefer to let the painting dictate what it needs rather than limiting it to certain constraints in order to fit in a particular box. I think it is exactly that, that I am most proud of; that I do not fear experimentation, or taking a risk and doing something completely different than what I might be “known for”. It’s much more fun that way, for myself and I think for the viewer. I like to keep them guessing.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?

First and foremost, painting. It’s my release, my journal, my way of expressing myself. Beyond that, being in nature has always brought me a sense of calm and happiness, as long as there are no mosquitos. The ocean and Lake Michigan and the sun on my face, although those could be considered parts of nature. For me, its the easy simple things in life that make me happy; sharing a cheese plate and wine with good friends, watching the sunset, seeing a beautiful moon in the night sky, a warm fire in the winter. These are all things that bring my calm, peace, and feelings of being at ease in life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://racheljoyceart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/racheljoyceart/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Racheljoyceart