I'M RACHEL BECK
BORN:
Rachel was born in Arizona and grew up in southwestern Colorado. EDUCATION:
Primarily self-taught, Rachel started drawing as a child with crayons, pens and pencils. Later, she progressed to painting after taking an oil painting class in Durango, Colorado, with renowned wildlife artist Edward Aldrich. She has participated in on-site and online competitions and has won several certificates. She has had local gallery representation and has had her artwork in several local businesses. PROCESS:
John Muir’s quote, “Into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul,” is a favorite quote of hers. She draws inspiration from experiences and her photo references from recent trips into the mountains. She paints primarily in oils, they give the painting a juicy, more natural look with the added depth that only oils can give. Using a variety of brushstrokes and shapes she adds interest and the bold colors are also an additional “wow,” factor. INSPIRATION:
Her inspiration comes from a love for the great outdoors. Hiking and horse riding are some of her favorite hobbies and being out in the wild have greatly influenced what she paints. For many years, she painted in realism. Later, she decided it was time for a fresh start and she began to incorporate a more abstract theme to add freedom and looseness to the paintings. FUTURE GOALS:
Working from her humble studio near Mesa Verde. She continues working on her new portfolio. She loves painting real places with abstract colors and shapes to create an eye-catching prismatic effect. Her goal is to remind the viewer that we are part of something bigger. Nature and the Universe are very much the same thing. The future is full of possibility and she hopes to expand her horizons to more venues and a wider audience.
