Today we’d like to introduce you to Abigail Rainey.
Hi Abigail, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Since I can remember, even as a very little girl, I was drawn to light and color and in them found so much joy and beauty. As I grew up, I picked up drawing and watercoloring. I ADORED children’s books and wanted to become an illustrator. When I started college, I decided to pursue Art Education so that I would have a “fall back” if being an independent artist didn’t work out. I was surprised to find that I absolutely loved teaching, and decided to pursue my Masters of Fine Arts in Visual Art so that I could become a professor. Throughout high school and undergrad, I illustrated my own things just for fun and enjoyed my course work but didn’t quite find my voice conceptually.
In grad school (shout out to the amazing Department of Visual Arts at Texas Woman’s University!), I had the space and motivation to really dig deep and think about why I wanted to be an artist, what art meant, and what my voice would be in such a wide world of visual art. This is when I returned to my foundational early impressions of the world, of beauty, and of God – my memories of light and color that I experienced as a four and five year old. I thought about what it was that drew me to light, and why I’m still so mesmerized by the simplest shadows and reflections in my everyday life; this was my path to deciding to focus on beauty in the mundane and how glimmers of light are as glimmers of the heavenly in our everyday lives. Throughout grad school, I continued to pursue illustration as a fun, creative outlet when I needed a break from my research. I built a little paper goods business around my watercolor illustration work, starting sticking a few small boutiques with my cards, and now mail hundreds greeting cards to my online community every month through my Stationery Club, a snail mail membership.
Since finishing my program, I’ve taught art at several institutions here in north Texas and though I can’t share details yet I recently accepted a position as Visiting Professor of Foundations at a university.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been times where I’ve questioned my work and it’s value
I struggle with the duality of being an entrepreneur and desiring to make a living from my work while also seeking to make work purely from my heart and being authentic to the concepts that are important to me
I’m very privileged and grateful to say that I’ve had relatively few struggles along the way, unlike so many artists I know! The support of my family, husband, community, grad cohort and professors has been essential and they are a huge contribution to making it possible for me to thrive as an artist. The only thing that comes to mind is something that I believe every artist has to come to terms with in their own way — the duality of making a living and pursuing creative authenticity. Sometimes these two very different but in my opinion equally valuable realities magically align, and I can savor the feeling of creating something meaningful and compelling while also supporting myself and my family. But often, this balance is a hard one to find and it feels like one or the other must be compromised.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My studio operates in two parts – through my small business, I create greeting cards, prints, watercolor coloring pages, handbound journals, and other paper goods. I create my illustrations with watercolor and pencil, seeking to create work that draws on the joy of the everyday with a philosophy that centers on analog, handmade, simple ways to show love.
My conceptual research continues to explore the beauty in the mundane, working primarily with diluted acrylic and pencil on salvaged fabric canvases. In these paintings, use simplified, softened color palettes and delicate, minimal rendering to extract and celebrate small, everyday objects and moments.
One of my favorite things that I hear from people who have viewed my work in person, is that it is peaceful. They experience a sense of calm and serenity, and are drawn to contemplativeness. This response is particularly meaningful to me – I feel honored to create an opportunity for people to slow down, experience peace, and consider the hidden beauty in their own lives.
What were you like growing up?
As a young kid, I was very shy and sensitive. I was happiest with my watercolors and stack of picture books on a quilt under a tree on a sunny day. This is where I thrived and where my creative life began! My siblings were also super important to me and I don’t remember a season of childhood that wasn’t filled with playing outside, singing together, putting on plays, etc!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://abigailraineyart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abi_bydesign/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-rainey-b49a63190/
