We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rachel Christopoulos. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rachel below.
Rachel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
Trial and error. Like many modern day artists, I did not go to art school. But that doesn’t mean I just know how to paint because I had a heavenly epiphany! Throughout my years as an artist, I’ve been able to learn some interesting techniques from friends who received their own art degrees and even swap tips and tools with other creatives I’ve met around my city. With the accessibility of the internet and learning I credit a lot of my growth to Google searches sparked by curiosity over things I’ve seen.
The biggest thing I’ve noticed as a huge development booster on my personal journey with style and skill, is consistency with acrylic paints in my practice.
For many years I bounced between mediums which was fun (and occasionally necessary), but I never got really good at any of them until I began to use the same one over and over. Trial and error on the same surface with the same type of paint taught me so much! Books and Youtube are also great teachers for in-depth looks at color theory and the history of specific styles and pigments. Once you begin to pick up knowledge on these subjects though, the next step is making time for the application of everything you’re learning.
Carving out time to both learn and implement can be hard but it’s necessary to see growth in your ability.
Rachel, 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?
So I’m Rachel, my “professional” title is figurative acrylic artist, but I much prefer creative mastermind. I became a self-employed artist a few years back after wanting to see if I was up to and capable of the challenge. It has been a wild ride where I learn about blending art and business on the job and I’ve gotten very familiar with compromise and failure on my journey.
As an artist, I’m most recognized for vibrant portraiture (another half accident). I love to challenge myself and work with curious compositions of famous females and pop culture icons. You’ll find lots of electric hues and playful elements supporting the subject matter on my canvas. And though these are at the forefront of what I choose to paint, as you get to know me and my art, you’ll find lots of completed work done just because it looked like fun to paint. I try not to take myself or my art too seriously so I can still enjoy the simple act of creating something new.
Outside of these obvious art world contributions, I’m deeply devoted to helping beginner artists find their footing and learn how to successfully navigate being in business as a creative. I’m most proud of my creative community and the fellow artist friends I’ve been able to meet in person and online by simply sharing my work.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Just because said art is popular, does not mean it will be for you.
Let me elaborate: when I began to sell my work online 5+ years ago, watercolor, brush lettering, and illustration was really popping off. I thought I’d hit the jackpot! I had created the most in watercolor and I thought I knew what people would want. I thought I could reimagine some of the most popular ideas and I spent days envisioning my impending success.
So… that definitely didn’t happen. The work I was making I had no attachment to (other than my hopes for fame) and I was bored with it. And it wasn’t just me, my audience was bored with it too. I wasn’t contributing anything new or meaningful; I was simply regurgitating what I thought people wanted to see and buy. This led to a major art block and personal crisis over why I was pursuing my art and if it was even worth it.
After spending a few weeks feeling like my art career was over before it had even started, I switched mediums and began to paint in acrylic. I wasn’t necessarily good, I didn’t know what I liked to make, I wasn’t naturally inspired by anything… but it felt good. The pieces I had begun to make weren’t selling, but they were starting conversations. I was beginning to build a community around my work and my journey as an artist.
Since then, I’ve stuck with acrylic. I’ve done my best to paint what speaks to me and what I feel inspired by. Not every painting is a smashing success, but that’s okay. It’s my work and therefore it’s meaningful and necessary for my evolution as a professional artist.
While there is compromise with selling artwork in the market that doesn’t mean it’s not as equally important (especially when starting out) that you pursue your art first. You find your inspiration, your spark, and your passion. It can be hard to balance these selfish feelings with the urgency and pace of the online art world but I promise you, it’s worth it.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I love that I get to be apart of the modern day artist revolution. I get to be one of the artists doing it different. I don’t live in a big city, I don’t sell through galleries (as of right now), and I work from home. I love that hard work, dedication, and my wonderful collectors have made it possible to continue making art.
It’s simply an incredible time to find and cultivate a creative spark.
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