Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rebecca Prince. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Rebecca, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Life is a journey of transformation, education, and self-improvement. I believe that by the end of our time here, we should look back and see how much we have grown and changed since the beginning.
In 2018, I made a conscious decision to forego the traditional New Year’s resolutions, and instead opted for a “Word of the Year.” This word serves as a guide for my decision-making throughout the year, challenging me to expand my horizons and progress toward my goals. This year, I chose the word “uncomfortable.” It is a word that poses great risks, as it prompts me to step outside of my comfort zone and take on new challenges.
Only a few months into the year, I’m already seeing the impact of this word in my life. It has compelled me to interact with people in new ways, tackle problems that I would have previously avoided, and stay committed to seeing my projects through to completion rather than simply dreaming about them. As a result, I have embraced new opportunities that have made my art more accessible to the public, which has increased my sales.
Rebecca, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My life has been shaped by a skin disorder called Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex, or EB for short. The condition causes painful sores on my hands and feet when exposed to heat and friction, similar to a 3rd-degree burn. As a result, many activities were off-limits during childhood, such as sports and outdoor activities in the summer. To compensate, my family encouraged my creativity through projects like drawing, painting, and making jewelry.
Although I don’t often discuss it, my feet greatly impact my daily decisions, including the type of job I can have due to physical limitations. This search led me to find what turned out to be the perfect job. I was the administrative assistant for the art department at the University of Dallas. The job allowed me to see how being an artist could be possible. I was participating behind the scenes during critiques, preparations for exhibitions, and artist talks, I saw how to write artist statements and bios and connect with galleries. However, I didn’t have any use for this knowledge at that point. I knew I was creative and could make art but no one else did. I hadn’t picked up a paintbrush in years, I didn’t have a reason to. Then I went on a life-changing trip…
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
In 2016, my husband convinced me to travel to Uganda to meet George, a child he had sponsored for 7 years through Compassion International. Inspired by this experience, I decided to sponsor a child myself and chose a 4-year-old boy named Rogers. Witnessing the positive impact that Compassion has on children, families, and communities, I felt compelled to raise awareness and encourage more people to sponsor children. To achieve this, I painted portraits of the children we met and organized exhibits to share their stories and promote Compassion’s cause.
Despite facing challenges due to the pandemic, I continued to create art and explore new mediums during the shutdown. Eventually, in February 2022, I left my job at the university to pursue art full-time. Through my journey as a full-time artist, I have come to realize that success doesn’t always mean making a living solely from my art. However; my husband and I are embracing the process of learning, experimenting, and creating while also advocating for important causes such as poverty and injustice. If you share a similar passion and would like more information on how to help, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me using the contact information provided below.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
As a small business, it is important to keep good records. Whether it’s recording all the details of my paintings, tracking expenses or even entering them in exhibitions and competitions, it is difficult to keep track of it all. One of the best systems I’ve found is Artwork Archive. This is an online system that makes this task much easier. I recommend it to any artist that needs a great way to track expenses, inventory, or contacts.
In addition, they also have a database of exhibitions, competitions, grants, residencies, and resources. It’s not free but it is well worth the small annual fee.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.princeartstudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/princeart_studio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobertRebeccaPrinceArt
Image Credits
Angela Criston Pitts Rebecca Prince Robert Prince