We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rachel Henderson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Rachel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

I truly hope to be remembered for making people smile, caring about my family, friends & clients and making happy faces & art for ALL and promoting positivity, creativity, peace & happiness in the world.
I love seeing face painting clients smile, giggle and be amazed upon seeing themselves in the mirror after I’ve painted them. My heart swells when I teach a canvas painting class to someone who swears they’ve never painted before and don’t have an artistic bone in their body but they are smiling proudly when we all pose for a group photo holding our paintings upon completion!

In recent years, I’m truly feeling happiness having a few special art students who I hope I’m encouraging to embrace their artistic talents and pass them on to others as well.

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?

Welcome to Rachel’s Creations, where art comes to life!
With a passion for creativity and a knack for turning ordinary spaces into extraordinary works of art, Rachel has been providing top-notch mural painting, stenciling, faux finishes, face painting, pregnancy belly painting, canvas painting parties, furniture work, and so much more since 1999.

Rachel’s art career began at a young age by taking crayons to mom’s kitchen wall! She made the leap to pursue her artistic dreams full-time in 1999, following a successful 10-year career in forensics as a Field Agent/Deputy Coroner Investigator. With a wealth of experience and a commitment to excellence, Rachel brings the perfect blend of professionalism and fun to both commercial and residential clients across the metro Denver area and beyond.

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What sets her apart is her unwavering dedication to bringing your artistic visions to life. She understands the power of color, imagination, and personal expression, and she thrives on transforming spaces & faces into captivating masterpieces. Rest assured, Rachel is fully background checked and can provide excellent references, ensuring your complete peace of mind.

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Rachel’s exceptional talent has gained recognition and acclaim over the years. She proudly participated in the esteemed 2000-2003 Parade of Homes in Parker, Colorado & Colorado Springs, and her remarkable work was featured in The Denver Post Lifestyle Section on January 9, 2000, in an article entitled “Drawing on Walls.” Rachel’s Creations has also garnered attention in The Denver Post Business Q&A in 2015, Voyage Denver (2023), The Canyon Courier/285 Hustler (2022), and more.

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Throughout her career, she has had the privilege of apprenticing and collaborating with world-renowned artists. She worked alongside the acclaimed John Pugh of Los Gatos, CA, on the magnificent Bed Bath & Beyond mural in Cherry Creek. Additionally, Rachel had the pleasure of collaborating with John and artist Manuel Cruz of CA on the stunning Park Meadows Mall Murals in the mid/late 1990s. In a truly exciting development, Rachel is once again teaming up with John Pugh on an upcoming mural at The Denver Zoo, slated for completion between 2018 and 2023.
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Rachel’s commitment to excellence extends beyond her artistic pursuits. She has been an approved preferred vendor for the Jefferson County School district since 2010, and she actively participates in community events that support various causes. From face painting for cancer survivors at Children’s Hospital picnics to contributing to local charity events and fundraisers, Rachel’s heart is as colorful as her paintings. You may spot her at the Mount Evans Hospice fundraising events, Camp Comfort, Resilience 1220 events, and more. Rachel is also the proud Co-President of Mountain Women in Business!

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Above all, Rachel’s genuine love for her craft shines through in every project. Seeing the pure delight on a child’s face after a face-painting session or witnessing her students proudly display their stunning canvas creations brings immeasurable joy. Rachel is dedicated to bringing color, joy, and brightness into people’s lives, while also fostering a love of art and the serenity it brings to both creators and appreciators.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Word of mouth referrals have been the best source of new clients for me which is the highest compliment! I strive to do a great job for my clients, communicate with them to make sure I’m fulfilling their needs and nothing is better than getting a new client call from someone who was referred to me directly from another client.

Another great source of new clients for me has been social media. I spend about and hour every Monday morning online doing a “Happy Monday” artsy funny or informative post about my business which I share on my business facebook page as well as about 40+ other local neighborhood facebook pages which I’m a member of to help promote my business. I share photos from recent events, advertise upcoming public events, business specials and/or to just provide a smile or laugh with an artsy twist! This has truly helped me cultivate great clients in my local area and build a following/good reputation in my community.

I’ve also found that when following my heart and helping a few local non-profits or charitable organizations in my community, it always comes back around in the form of new clients & friends!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I feel I’m very resilient and have pivoted several times during my almost 25 year career (as of 2024!). I began Rachel’s Creations in 1999 after a 10 year career in forensics primarily doing mural work for several Parade of Homes and in local friends homes and local businesses. In the early-mid 2000’s a shift in the economy made that work slow down and I realized that even in a slow economy, people always still have birthday parties, festivals, business events and that face painting is almost always needed even if mural work isn’t so I trained and found a love for that art form as well. In recent years, “paint & sip” brick & mortar locations and parties have become very popular and I had the opportunity to acquire supplies and start to provide those services at well and I bring the party to you at your location! Teaching canvas painting parties has become one of my favorite things to do!
During covid, I was unable to do most of my art work due to restrictions & people’s reluctance/caution to have gatherings but I was very fortunate to qualify for several grants for artistic and small female owned businesses which helped me get through the pandemic along with several part-time jobs I picked up to do what had to be done.
I’m thrilled that as of this year, my business is back and even busier than pre-covid and I couldn’t be happier to continue to spread happiness thru my artwork in all it’s many forms.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rachelscreations.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelmtnchick67/
• Facebook: https://twitter.com/rachel_creation
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelscreations/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachel_creation

Image Credits
Rachel Susan Baer Henderson Rachel’s Creations