Art & Life with Rebecca Marie

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Marie.

Rebecca, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I am originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana. I lived there through my 3rd year of college, at which point I moved to Los Angeles. I worked in accounting firms (first as a file clerk then moving to their computer department) to support myself as I finished collegeand eventually graduated from Cal State Northridge with a degree in Fine Art. I continued working and painting, and because of my combined programming and art experience, got a job doing computer graphics for commercials and later for movies. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years, working my way up to become one of the few women visual effects supervisors at that time.  During this time I also studied for 3 years with a Norwegian painter who had his own school in Los Angeles, learning more about painting and the kind of artist I wanted to be. In 1995, myself and three other partners started our own visual effects company, Hammerhead Productions, Inc. We worked on hundreds of films over the course of 20 plus years. Throughout all of this, I kept working on my own art, though at a slower pace. As the industry changed, it became apparent that it was time for me to focus solely on my art, which has always been my passion. Three years ago, I got into Ten Women Gallery on Montana Ave, and two years ago, I became a member of Tag Gallery on Wilshire Blvd. At TAG this last March I was part of a three-woman show called Femina Spina, focusing on female strength. Being able to work on my art full time has really allowed and forced me to grow as an artist, push my work, and find my voice.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I have always been drawn to the mixture of abstract and representational elements working together. Traditionally trained in oil, I moved to acrylic when I started mixing textured papers into my work.  Currently, I layer acrylic paint and textured papers to create my paintings. I use this combination of paper and paint because of the textural component that the paper adds and the unexpected direction it takes the work. My work varies in size depending on what the painting calls for.

My latest body of work is an attempt to create intimate small works which capture an expressive moment in time, covering a wide emotional spectrum. Focusing on the female, each painting is intended to hold its own sense of agency and empowerment without compartmentalization or objectification as they are combined into larger installation groups. Using paint and textured papers to fuse abstract and representational elements, the personal and emotional pieces work in unison to portray the strength and complexity of a woman’s emotional journey. This allows what is familiar to be viewed through a new lens in order to transform not only the viewer’s perception, but my own as well.

I feel that all art is a journey of transformation of both viewer and artist.

How do you think about success, as an artist, and what do quality do you feel is most helpful?
I believe that there are several different types of success. I feel successful when I know that I captured what I wanted in a painting. Constantly pushing myself and continuing to grow as an artist and being true to that is success. If someone makes a connection with my work, I have been successful because I’ve been able to evoke something in the viewer. Getting recognition from respected peers and critics and selling my work are also forms of success. I think it’s important to not hold one standard for success but to realize that those standards and goals change as we change.

I personally think that an essential characteristic to being a successful artist is to create what is true to yourself and to allow for something beyond yourself to come through in the art.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My work can be seen currently on my website, my Instagram (both listed here) and at the three galleries listed below.

Website – rmarieart.com
Instagram @rebecca_marie_art

TAG Gallery taggallery.net
5458 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
310-829-9556

Images from the group show I was in earlier this year can be found at this link.

https://www.taggallery.net/feminaspinainstallationimages

Ten Women Gallery tenwomen.org
1128 Montana Ave.
Santa Monica, CA
310-393-6254

Ten Women Gallery tenwomengallery.com
2719 Main St.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
424-433-8116

Contact Info:

• Website: rmarieart.com
• Email: art.rebeccamarie@gmail.com
• Instagram: rebecca_marie_art

Image Credit:
Rebecca Marie (photos of work)
Riquel Dixon ( artist photo)

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