Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachael Chan.
Rachael, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
For as long as I can remember, my life revolved around art and I have always identified as an artist. When I was three, I picked up an oil pastel and drew a portrait of my grandma. I made her green and emphasized her crazy curly hair. The feeling of the pastel to paper was invigorating. I gave it to her and she was overjoyed, and the feeling of creating became addicting. I drew everything I could see, from family portraits to my stuffed animals.
I am very fortunate to have parents that support me with my art career. They took me to art classes all the way from kindergarten to middle school that were mainly focused on foundational skills. I took a break from them during high school, wanting to do more than just learning how to paint an orange. Once I got to Art Center College of Design, I eventually had a chance to break out of fundamentals and see what else I could create. Creating and discovering has always been part of my life and I haven’t stopped since.
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?
It definitely was and still is a bumpy road! But I am glad it’s that way. If it was a smooth road, I wouldn’t have had the chance to improve as much, not only as an artist but also as a human. Art-wise, I have always struggled with being a perfectionist, which inevitably lead to me being my own harshest critic and never finishing pieces because I can’t push through the “ugly stage”. Giving myself deadlines and time constraints ironically freed me, forcing me to push past my perfectionism.
I also worried a lot about style, wanting to look like my idols. After years of struggle, I finally realized that style is something that comes naturally. It simply can’t be forced or it just becomes a lesser version of what you want to look like. My style is my voice, and I don’t want to live life speaking someone else’s.
I definitely still struggle with both, but actively working against these tendencies has made the process of creating art more fun!
Please tell us more about your art.
I specialize in creating art that exudes happiness. Overall, I’m most proud of my color and my style. Mostly because those were the two things I struggled with the most growing up. I constantly worried about what colors I should use and how I should draw, but now, both come natural to me. I love that when I create, friends tell me that they can tell it’s mine across all mediums. I draw, paint, sculpt in my voice, and that is what I am most proud of.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I change my mind about my future almost on a daily basis. One day I want to be a gallery artist, and the next I want to create ceramics. I used to be extremely frustrated about how I couldn’t make up my mind, but recently I have accepted this about myself. I have accepted that I don’t want to stick to just one path.
For the near future, I’m looking forward to opening up my own online shop and possibly a YouTube channel! For the far future, I’m excited for a lifetime of journeying through the world of art.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toebeanzart/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNh2LFAyqW08_womkfbewFg/
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