We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rebecca Thompson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rebecca below.

Rebecca, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I’ve always loved tapping into my creative side. I had taken a few art classes throughout my years in school and kept a stack of filled sketchbooks in my bedroom closet. I literally remember my first self portrait – it more closely resembled something a child is scared to find under their bed than my reflection. My love for art and drawing stayed consistent throughout high school, but was never challenged. I never pushed the limits I set for myself. Fast forward years later, I’m well into my twenties still hanging onto those limitations. I had fell in love with a new medium, acrylic paint on canvas. I had so many unfinished masterpieces collecting dusk in the back of my closet, begging to be completed. My self-imposed limitations accompanied by ADHD kept those paintings exactly where they were.

I remember feeling so unmotivated, so uncreative and definitely not like the artist I longed to be. All of these feelings were amplified during the quarantine of 2020. I was stuck at home with all my unfinished projects staring at me. One of those projects was an old pair of canvas shoes with paint on them that barely resembled flowers. I had shared my half-done project with a few friends and to my surprise one of them asked me to create a custom pair of shoes for her son who’s birthday was approaching. I remember saying “I’ll do my best” with little confidence in my abilities. That first pair of Toy Story themed shoes had a very simple design, but the important part wasn’t the complexity, it was that I had finished a project. And better yet, it was met with joy, happiness and encouragement.

After that reaction, I was ready to dive into this new lane of art. My sister asked me to create a pair of Disney’s Aladdin themed shoes. I had big plans for this pair, but was still questioning if I was capable of bringing those ideas to life. I remember sitting at my desk with a plain white pair of shoes in front of me and saying to myself ‘just try it’. That was the very first time I created something that stretched my artistic muscles. Any feelings of self doubt clocked out. I pushed what I THOUGHT I could do to the side and just did. I’ve painted countless pairs of custom shoes since, and still look back in awe of what I was able to create that day.

Rebecca, 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 Rebecca Thompson. I go by BeeteeCustoms on social media. I am a self-taught artist based out of Saint Paul, Minnesota. My choice of medium is paint, specifically acrylic. I specialize in creating “wearable art”. The most frequent thing I customize is shoes, but I also love painting on hoodies, jackets, denim, tote bags, hats and the list goes on. Recently, I have fallen back in love with my original form of art, acrylic paint on canvas.

No matter the means of expression, I want everything I create to resonate with someone. I want my art to make at least one person happy. Don’t get me wrong, if no one else sees the vision behind a piece, I won’t lose sleep because I know I created something that mattered to me in that moment. With that being said, seeing a client’s face light up as they lay their eyes on my work truly feeds my soul. Watching someone’s eyes take in every carefully placed brush stroke validates my purpose. I strive to make a positive impact on every person I have the opportunity to cross paths with. Connecting with others is at the core of who I am. I need and appreciate my time alone, but adding to other people’s happiness fulfills me. My art has been such an unexpected, rewarding way to align with my purpose.

The thing I am most proud of is also the thing I want potential clients/followers to know about me. As corny as it sounds, I am proud of the genuine care I put into each piece of artwork. I remember every single custom shoe I’ve created. I remember the conversations I’ve had with my clients to make sure our visions come together and evolve into the best outcome. I remember brainstorming, for hours upon hours at times, a design that would hopefully inspire that look of awe. I say all of that to say, every piece of art I have made and will make is a result of a deeper, inherent aspiration; to align with my purpose. It’s so much more than just brushes and paint.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I definitely already spoke about this in the previous question, but it is the most important reason and motivation behind my art. Reminding myself that my talent can do more for someone than just make them look fly is why I have stayed persistent when giving up would be so much easier. Using my skills to bring joy to others will always be the fundamental goal.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

People that know me personally are very aware that I don’t always have the best memory. However, there are specific situations, phrases or even feelings I recall that helped make me the artist I am today. In grade school, I participated in a beginners art class and brought home more than just mediocre sketches. I don’t remember the instructor’s face or name, but I’ll never forget the simple bit of advice she gave me when she noticed my frustration. My sketch wasn’t looking like the reference photo and I couldn’t understand why. She told me to “look at what is there, not what you think is there”. Such simple, seemingly obvious advice. As basic as it was, it taught me how to take a step back and see things for what they are, not what I assume they should be. I learned to break down complicated, detailed images into smaller, more manageable pieces that I then put together to make one beautiful, cohesive piece.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @beeteecustoms