Meet Rachel Handley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Handley.

Rachel, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When I was three years old I almost drowned in our family jacuzzi. As I lay flat on my back, looking up at the sun rays dancing on the water’s surface, I wondered why I couldn’t lift myself up. I knew how to swim — my dad taught me. Why couldn’t I move a muscle? Just as the realization of my fate struck me, a hand reached down and pulled me up by my shirt. It was my grandpa. He had probably only turned around for a few seconds before he noticed me under the water.

Though this is a distant memory for me, I have to wonder why I never became scared of water. Why, later in my adolescence, did I become so drawn to the ocean? How could I race in, get sucked under a wave, tossed back onto the shore like a tangle of seaweed, only to feel the adrenaline signal to my brain “Again!”? It is mysteries like this that I think are what caused me to pursue art. You will hear from many artists that they feel an overwhelming urge to express what words alone cannot. So we adopt a new, visual language to try and bridge that gap. And that is something I try to do every time I create. Regardless of the mystery involved in the subject, there is always a new threshold to reach and that’s what keeps me driving forward.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’ve been incredibly lucky that my family has always supported me pursuing art. Not a lot of people have that so I’m just very grateful. My mom is super creative and she was always making scrapbooks and drawing pictures for my siblings and I. We were always around that and had access to card stock, pencils, glue, scissors, etc. Drawing became a habit for me in middle school and I’d always be doodling in class because I found that it helped me pay attention, much to my teachers’ vexation. Once it became clear that I was really focused on art, my family definitely helped me nurture that interest. I have an uncle who teaches at Art Center in Pasadena, and he encouraged me to sign up for their summer classes for high school students. So the decision to study art came pretty naturally to me.

That being said I’ve struggled a lot with my development as an artist. Despite taking art classes in high school, my fundamental skills were not where they needed to be to pass the portfolio reviews required by most art schools. That and art schools tend to be more expensive than public schools. I ended up going to San Jose State University where I got my BFA in Animation/Illustration in 2018. That is where I finally learned the basic fundamentals that really helped me improve. However, I was constantly at odds with how I should present my work or what style to focus on. I felt I had to create what I thought others wanted to see. When I made personal art it felt like a waste of time, but I know that’s not true now. With everything you create, you learn from and can add to your repertoire. And if something doesn’t work out you can always discard that information. After I graduated and started freelancing I have been able to see a clearer path for where I want my art to go.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I’m a freelance illustrator with experience in graphic novel illustration, video game design, and animation. I also have a passion for mixed media work, combining both traditional and digital mediums. One thing I’m quite proud of is having gotten to a place where I can combine my hobby and my work. Of course, art as a whole is a huge passion, but in my free time, I always liked to do paper collage just to express myself more freely. I’ve started to incorporate that into some of my illustration work which is a pretty great feeling. It’s funny when I think about how some of my biggest art icons are people like Fred Otnes or Joan Eardley. What they did is so much different from the kind of thing I learned in school. I try to keep them in mind when I’m considering mood or composition. When I get stuck, I look back at artists I admire to remind myself I’m still learning and there’s not always one way to do something.

As for what sets me apart, I think that’s something that’s become increasingly hard to do with social media. There’s this incentive to do what everyone else is doing because it may get you more likes or followers, but you don’t want your work to be a regurgitation of everything you see on Instagram. I make an effort to avoid that. I think working with mixed media is one advantage on that end. When you combine different mediums you get different results, and I’m always looking for ways to include unique shapes or textures.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Well like I mentioned before, my family’s support has played a big role for me. That and I’m fortunate to have a close-knit friend group that are also artists. That group is a huge source of inspiration for me because we’re always bouncing creative ideas off of each other. Even though I’m living in San Jose, I’m lucky I can keep close ties to L.A. through them and working remotely with clients. Being surrounded by creative individuals helps me to get out of my head and see things from their perspective. Some are visual development artists, some are character designers, one is a fashion designer — all of the creative in ways I wouldn’t think of. Communicating and collaborating with them is a great way for me to get new insights and push my own ideas further.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rachelhandley.com/
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tooth_thief/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/toothoothe

Image Credit:
Rachel Handley

Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.