Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rebecca Lane. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Becca , thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?
I am happy to be a full-time artist. It is a source of pride and privilege and I truly feel so grateful to get to live this lifelong dream every day. I know I put a lifetime of work into this goal of mine, but I also know there are other folks just as talented and capable as I am who may have circumstances keeping them from achieving the same, so I truly feel beyond lucky to get to call this my “job.” I still have to pinch myself that I get to create whatever my lil’ heart desires and can afford to pay my bills as a result! I don’t have to wonder what it would be like to have a “regular” job because I have had more jobs than I can keep track of. I got my first job in 6th grade as a dishwasher to help my family buy groceries and other necessities. Since then, I’ve been everything from a dog walker, to retail worker, receptionist, and even Paint Night instructor (just to name a few). All the while, I have always known I wanted to be an artist and started selling artwork on the side from the time I was 14, I just didn’t always know being a full-time artist would be a real possibility!
Becca , 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?
My name is Becca Lane and I am the “One Lane” behind One Lane Studios! I’ve been a lifelong lover of animals and art-making, and always believed I would have to choose one or the other when it came to having a passionate career. I’m happy to say, I was so wrong! I spent many years as a pet portrait artist, and while I loved that work, my creative world expanded exponentially when I began to start passion projects showcasing some of my favorite critters just for the fun of it! Much to my surprise, I very quickly found that my passion projects were far more successful than my commission work to the extent that it no longer makes sense to continue commission work at this time. A large part of my artmaking has always focused on portrait work and more so, capturing emotion and personality. My current body of work has an emphasis on color, nostalgia, fashion and oftentimes humor. I find a particular joy in the challenge of depicting misunderstood animals in an undeniably lovable light. Some good examples of this would be my little jumping spider, Stella, all dolled up in her butterfly clips, or Gertie, Bertie and Bart, the “wacky inflatable arm men” snakes. This is undoubtedly influenced by my childhood growing up with tons of pets; from your typical cats and dogs to more peculiar animals like snakes, tarantulas, rats and hedgehogs. I mean it in no uncertain terms when I say I have a deep love for every animal I paint as if they were a real living being in front of me.
My acrylic paintings are highly detailed with pockets of hyperfocused realism as well as looser painting techniques throughout, so naturally they often take a long time to complete! Because of this, I knew I needed to find a way to make my work more financially accessible for those who may not be able to afford an original, while also finding a way for myself to be able to afford to keep making this work as a full-time artist. This is where art prints, stickers and more come into play! As someone who grew up with a lot of financial struggles, it is important to me to have forms of my art available for all budgets (including free giveaways), because at the end of the day I care more about the joyous impact of my work than judgments about “selling out”. As long as I’m happy, my collectors are happy, and my artwork is bringing some joy into this world, I couldn’t feel more proud.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
Something I think some non-creatives may not understand is just how much work truly goes into being a professional artist. Quite honestly, this is something I don’t even think many artists understand until they enter the world of professional artmaking! I sure had no idea. I’ve been selling artwork for about 14 years now, but only full-time for a little over 2 years and I am truly astounded with the sheer amount of hours that fly by running an art business. I sometimes can go 2-3 weeks in a row where I work 16 hours a day nearly every day while “catching up” on creative projects and admin work. Artists are often depicted in the media as being either super-rich socialites or slacker outcasts struggling to accept a “real job.” In my time as an artist, I’ve come to see artists as some of the hardest workers I know. Some work full-time jobs on top of running an art business and I’m amazed that they’re able to find time and energy to channel their creativity. But alongside my amazement I don’t feel surprised; I think this makes sense because so much of this drive comes from our unrepressive passion. For many of us, “artist” isn’t just a career title so much as it is a part of who we are at our core. Artmaking is as unavoidable as breathing or hunger.
How did you build your audience on social media?
As someone who makes most of my sales online, having a social media presence is super important to me! When it comes to building an audience on social media I’ve found what works best for me is to just be my most authentic self. I share behind the scenes of making my paintings, running my business, and also just living my day-to-day life alongside my 3 dogs, 3 cats and countless foster kitties! I think there is so much value in sharing who you are as authentically as possible. I feel like in doing so I’ve gotten to witness this community around One Lane Studios build with folks who I truly get along with so well! Followers initially come for the art, but so many of us connect through messages and DMs as internet friends. I also like to do tons of giveaways and games on my stories that go beyond just art-related themes. One of my favorites is funny pet photo contests where I get to know peoples’ furbabies and share them with the rest of the One Lane community. Some folks have also come to love my own pets, too! It’s so refreshing to have this corner of the internet where I feel seen and understood for who I am, not only as an artist and small business owner but more importantly as a human. These connections have to be one of my favorite parts of running my art business! There is a genuine interest and care that is shared both ways and I feel a real sense of community with those I talk to every day in my comments and DMs. As cliche as it may seem, my greatest piece of advice for someone trying to gain a social media following is to be yourself, and be consistent about sharing your work! Those who are meant to come on this journey alongside you will stick around, and those who aren’t will fall away: both outcomes are a good thing!
Contact Info:
- Website: OneLaneStudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onelanestudios/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OneLaneStudios
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@onelanestudios?themeRefresh=1
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@onelanestudios
Image Credits
Becca Lane, One Lane Studios