Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rachel Morrissey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Rachel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I always knew I wanted to be doing something creative for a living. It was my nature, I needed to find a career path that I could use my imagination everyday. At first, I thought I could solve that by becoming a graphic designer, I had anticipated it being a wonderful way to blend my need for a creative life with something that could earn me a reliable income. In my undergrad I bounced between a lot of studio art classes and design classes. After graduating in 2009, (feels like a lifetime ago!), I jumped into my first job as a junior graphic artist for a real estate company followed by a couple more design positions in various company marketing departments. I realized after a couple years, that these jobs were not filling my cup for creative endeavors, I needed something more. I started taking adult education classes after work, mainly painting classes. There was one instructor that saw what I was making in these classes and started to float the idea of getting an MFA in painting. I had never really considered going back to school for painting, because at that point I succumbed to the idea that I would work my day-job in design and paint at night (which worked for a really long time, and worked again after graduate school). BUT the more I showed up for my painting; in class and at home; the more I wanted that to be where I spent all my time, and the design jobs started to feel like so much more of a burden. I ended up quitting my day job and pursuing my MFA full-time at Massachusetts College of Art & Design and graduated in 2016. Upon graduation, I felt the compulsion to have a reliable and steady job again, I didn’t think I was ready financially (and emotionally! As amazing as grad school was, it was also a punch to the gut for my confidence in my work) to take the leap as a full time artist. I dove back into some design jobs while trying to carve out studio time on the side, painting at night on my dining room table, dedicated studio corners and finally a dedicated studio space at home. When I had my first child in 2018, something in me shifted, my need to create my own work was so much stronger then it had been before. I couldn’t ignore the impulse, I needed to start spending more time painting and less timing at the office, so I found a position that was more part-time. In 2020, when the pandemic hit, and I was pregnant with my second kid, I knew I needed to make a big change. I couldn’t balance working in design, being a Mom AND being an artist; something had to give. I ended up leaving the design field to pursue my painting full-time as well as care-taking to my two young kids. I now have a very dedicated studio practice, a lot of odd hours, but it works for us as a family for now.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I have been drawing and painting since I could hold a crayon. It is in my blood. There is nothing in this world that could stop me from creating and using my imagination. I have always been a very determined person, and there isn’t much in life that could deter me from following my dreams. That is how I have made all my big decisions; the decision to pursue studio art in undergrad, the decision to pursue a post-bacculaureate at SMFA, the decision to pursue an MFA at MassArt, the decision to quit my day job and pursue art full-time, the decision to join as many different and varied artist communities through critique groups, adult education classes, artist parenting networks, etc… (I honestly think I could be a student forever, I love to learn everything I can about my craft and practice!)
I have a very dedicated studio practice. I make a daily sketch and writing about my experience of the day with the kids and life. I sort through the daily sketches and pick through those which ones I want to turn into paintings. I definitely consider myself mostly a painter, but I have been dabbling into some mixed media with collage and cutting up wood panels for some future projects I have in mind. I also do A LOT of sketching on my ipad, because it is definitely the easiest way for me to get my ideas down if I am with the kids.
The work I make is mainly story based, I pull mainly from my experiences with the kids. I make narrative paintings that give form and context to my invisible struggle with mental health, motherhood and daily life. My paintings contain imagery of unknowable strange plants as romantic associations for motherhood and fruitfulness, while weeds and vines represent the tension of my ongoing battle with anxiety. The work is always evolving and changing depending on what season I am in with the kids and my own more personal experiences.
I am most proud of the way I carve out time for myself amidst the chaos of raising two young kids. But I find my art-making my lifeline. I dip into the studio with any time I can, sometimes for minutes and sometimes for hours at a time. This past year I had my first opportunity to showcase my work with a prominent New York City gallery. I poured myself into the work I made for that show, really gave it everything I had. I still am a little bit in awe that I pulled it off!
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
I think more specifically; in the professional art world; there need to be more opportunities for artist-parents, especially women identifying artists. There are so many doors that are not open to us, because of the way society works. Gallery openings are usually at night, (when kids need to be in bed), residencies are usually for people that can take many weeks/months at time to dedicate themselves entirely to their art (parents cannot take this time away from their families) grants & fellowships are not very inclusive to artist parents, teaching opportunities are not always very flexible to accommodate parenting schedules, the list goes on. I think our society in America as a whole fails to support people with young kids in so many ways, but I don’t need to go into that here!
I do want to recognize that there are many organizations and places that have created a supportive environment for artist mothering parents but there is still so much more that can be done. I think there need to be more opportunities created specifically for artist mothers/non-binary artist parents in mind, residencies with flexible scheduling that allow shorter stays or children/spouses to come along, more grants specifically focused on parents providing funding for childcare and studio space, more fellowship opportunities with institutions that provide childcare, more galleries adding artist mothers/ non-binary artist parents to their rosters, more artwork being bought and sold at auction by artist mothers/non-binary artist parents, AND more artwork being showcased by publications that includes themes in parenting.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I do feel an obligation to make work that connects me to other artist parents, parents of all kinds and folks that struggle with anxiety and depression. I have a sacred daily practice project where I do one sketch and a journal entry summarizing my experiences of that day through visual language. These sketches are my hope to give viewers the chance to understand my paintings at a deeper level, while also providing other creatives, parents and those struggling with mental health a forum for discussions around life as an artist/parent in an art world that doesn’t easily enable our contributions. Artist parents shouldn’t have to hide the parenting part of themselves from the art world.
I think that if I keep putting my work out there, the paintings will make others feel heard and seen, (sometimes give a good laugh or cry) that these paintings serve as a thread that connect us and our similar experiences. The knowledge that my paintings serve as this connection will continue to propel me forward on my art journey.
I also want my kids to see me, their Mom, as someone who doesn’t give up on their dreams; even if society has deemed my choice to be an artist as something ‘other’. I want them to see me working hard at my goals, to see me achieve them but also see me fail and pick myself back up again and again. I think there is something invaluable in that. I show up everyday in the studio for myself, but even more for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rachelmo.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelmorrisseyart/