Artgirlrachel's Blog

New work coming soon!

artgirlrachel — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:59:43 +0000

I have a lot of new work to post here and at my etsy shop, so come back soon to see what’s new!

finding place at running with scissors

artgirlrachel — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 17:52:07 +0000

“finding place – new prints and paintings” opened with a fabulous party on July 29th! I want to send out a quick “thank you” some of the other running with scissors artists who helped out with the opening; Kate Ankler, Ariette Scott, Leslie Wicks and Robert Nason. Also to the family and friends who are so supportive. I was so pleased at the support and response this new body of work received!

The show will remain on view through Aug. 25th by appointment at 54 Cove. Street, Portland Maine. Contact Rachel at artgirlrachel@gmail.com for more info or an appointment.

Here are a few photos from the opening (from of Robert Nason):
Click to view slideshow.

Upcoming Solo Exhibit!

artgirlrachel — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:10:57 +0000

I realize that I haven’t posted in a while and you might be wondering what I’ve been up to. Well, here it is! I’ve been getting ready for my solo exhibit at running with scissors in Portland, Maine! All new prints and paintings, working with the ideas of landscape and abstraction. See you there!

Getting Ready for a 3-foot Canvas

artgirlrachel — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 18:25:15 +0000

I am currently creating a new body of work for a solo exhibit in August at Running With Scissors. I have been working on new screen-prints, and have also challenged myself by buying a big canvas t paint for the show! I haven’t done a painting this big since 2005, and I’m also trying to work more abstractly, which is a very new thing for me in painting. My show is primarily abstracted landscapes in bright, transparent colors. I’ve started a few smaller paintings to prepare for the larger canvas. I’d love your opinions on the; what’s working, what’s not. These are both acrylic on paper.

My favorite parts of this painting are the rocks and the base of the main tree.

Trying to simplify colors and shapes without losing brightness to achieve results more like my screenprints.

An Approach to Painting Figures

artgirlrachel — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 23:47:15 +0000

I stumbled upon a article today on artistnetwork.com that seemed to fit well with how I like to depict my figures: simplify while still catching the essence of the person. I wonder if I would have a harder time painting someone I don’t know? That would be an interesting challenge in the future.

Richard Schmid: The Power of Simplicity

Drawing of the Day – 2/2

artgirlrachel — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 22:47:34 +0000

I have found a new website that I have had a lot of fun exploring lately: http://www.wetcanvas.com/ . My friend Karen recommended it to me, and I’ll admit that for a long time I didn’t think much of it. It’s a little “clunky” and hard to navigate. BUT, once you do figure it out it really is a great resource! There are links to demonstration videos, forums for inspiration, discussion and critique in every subject and medium, and probably a whole lot lore I haven’t discovered yet!

In my exploring I ran across a painting posted by Angus Wilson of the most wonderfully stylizes still life of tulips. The image can be found here: http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=869972

I so admire those who can abstract a still life like that in such a bright, bold and colorful style! And with such a dynamic composition. I think I will attempt something like that, and my quirky sad little geranium could be the perfect subject. It doesn’t get very much light in my first floor apartment, but the poor little thing does the best that it can. So today in my art journal (a new year resolution of sorts) I’ve done a drawing of my little plant as a preliminary sketch for that future painting.

I started with the pot and worked my way up, getting bigger as I go, so that pot is way smaller than it should be. Even so, I think it’s a great starting point for another piece, helping me understand the image a little better and discover some really interesting parts to highlight in future interpretations.

Getting Over a Bad Case of “The Block”

artgirlrachel — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:47:05 +0000

We’ve all been there. I think a new art school graduate may even be extra susceptible to it, suddenly out on your own with out classes and assignments and professors and a built in peer group. Over the past few weeks, I’ve had it bad: creative block. Winter blues and colds can exacerbate it, and holiday craziness certainly doesn’t help at all.

I can’t say I’m cured yet, but I am on my way to a full recovery with the help of a few tips.

1.) Even when I wasn’t able to create myself I kept reading art magazines, blogs, anything to keep that part of my brain stimulated.

2.) Don’t beat yourself up over it. This was hard for me. I have these high expectations of myself, and for this or that I wasn’t able to fulfill them. My art-making schedule would get compromise, or when I would keep to my schedule I would go into the studio and get nothing done, being completely uninspired. I would feel like such a failure. I had to force myself to be O.K. when these things happened. This is NOT an excuse to get out of my obligations to myself and my art, but and understanding that sometime it just doesn’t work out as planned.

3.) I had to just do something. Paint, draw, collage, anything. I have told myself that I will create these wonderful thoughtful projects, but sometimes just creating anything will have to do. Sometimes in the evening I would sketch my rabbit or cat, simply because I felt I needed to draw and I like them. Certainly not the most conceptual or sophisticated subject matter, but I had to let myself not care and just be pleased with me drawing.

Tonight, I got out my paints and painted a “sketch”, just to paint and practice painting and art-making. I keep a folder on my computer of images I fins interesting and may want to make make art from. This is one of those images, an portrait of my partner getting ready for an outing. While it doesn’t fit into any of the big projects I plan for my art, I am letting myself let any art making be successful, and the means to greater creation in the future.

Call for Art!

artgirlrachel — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 21:13:07 +0000

Hope.Gate.Way. is very excited to announce the February 2011 art exhibit, “Portland in Winter,” and we are inviting you to be a part of it! Please submit one 8”x10” original photograph (as well as one high resolution jpeg if using digital) on the theme “Portland in Winter” by Friday, January 28 to Hope.Gate.Way. Digital images may be sent to artgirlrachel@gmail.com. Please e-mail prior to January 28 to confirm a drop off time. All persons are invited to submit, no prior experience needed! Hope.Gate.Way. does reserve the right to approve all works for exhibit.

The exhibit will be up for the month of February. There will be an opening reception Friday, February 4th from 5-8pm, during Portland’s First Friay Art Walk

Hope.Gate.Way. is a community space run by Chestnut United Methodist Church and New Light. We are located at 185 High St. Portland, Maine.

New Print: Peaks of Beomeosa

artgirlrachel — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:04:28 +0000

Here is a new print I just finished. The image is based on my trip to South Korea this past May. The most wonderful place we visited was Beomeosa Temple in Pusan. The space was so peaceful and beautiful. This print is capturing both the beautiful temple rooftops and the mountains. This print was made using zerox lithography with a transparent green screenprint on top.

Please pardon the slightly crooked image.

Re-binding a Special Old Book

artgirlrachel — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 03:23:35 +0000

A elderly friend of mine, who knew about my recent bookbinding class, came to me the other day with a request. She had a old prayer book that was her mother’s. It had no cover and she kept loosing pages. She asked if there was anything I could do to recover it.

After a little bit of thought I told her I would do my best. It did present some challenges that I had not faced before in bookbinding, like how to attache a wide but flexible spine to an already bound book. Here are some pictures documenting my process and results, including some little extra touches like the fabric corners.