Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Prince.
Rebecca, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
As a child, I loved to color and draw. Much of my time was spent creating art and doing crafts. During high school, I was encouraged by teachers and family to pursue art but was not convinced that being an artist was a valid career path. I was unsure of what I wanted to do so I simply joined the workforce and put off going to college until I was thirty. By that time, I had discovered graphic design and thought it would be a great way to make a living while being creative, so I enrolled in college to learn all I could. After getting a degree in graphic design I went out to find the perfect job. Turns out graphic design was not the right choice for me… too many people telling me what to do and stifling my creativity, so I quit and became a barista.
Then one day, when I least expected it, I discovered my dream job… administrative assistant for the art department at the University of Dallas in Irving. “What?” you say, “How is this her dream job?”. My job allows me to use my creativity and design skills and engage with art and artists. It keeps me learning and inspires me to work on my own art. As an introvert, meeting so many artists, talking with them about their work and going to numerous exhibitions, I am constantly pushed out of my comfort zone and growing as a person and an artist.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
When I first started working at UD I was not interested in being an artist. In fact, I had not picked up a paintbrush in eight years. It wasn’t until May 2016 that I became interested in creating art again. My husband talked me into going to Uganda to meet the two boys we sponsor through Compassion International. After returning from that trip I had so many emotions I needed to process. I also felt compelled to support Compassion International in a deeper way. The images from our trip spoke to me and I felt they could also speak to others as paintings, so I began a series of thirteen portraits featuring children we met while in Uganda. That series has been used to spread awareness of the wonderful work Compassion is doing in Uganda and throughout the world to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. When one of those paintings is sold the total purchase, price goes to Compassion International to support children in need. Painting consistently for 18 months in order to complete the portrait series has helped me continue to paint almost daily.
Now I look for causes to support, competitions to enter and shows to participate in to keep me motivated. I am still in the very early stages of “being an artist” and most days I wonder if I even want to be one. The “business of art” scares me, but I am enjoying painting too much to quit. I recently started a new series that depicts how cell phones are taking over our lives. I am gathering reference photos from the world I live in and capturing them with my cell phone, making me part of the problem I am trying to depict.
What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?
I recently discovered Art House Dallas. They work to cultivate creativity for the common good by having events for visual artists, songwriters, musicians, and writers. It’s a great place to meet people, gather resources and collaborate with other creatives.
In my experience, other great places to meet artists are local art associations, workshops, demos, art receptions and events. Dallas is filled with such a variety of galleries that you can usually find multiple receptions to attend each weekend. The more you do the more you find to do. It really is a great place to be an artist.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I will have a few pieces in the 2018 Irving Art Association Animal Exhibition August 26-September 28, 2018. The gallery is located at Jaycee Park Center for the Arts in Irving, TX. I post what I am working on to my Instagram @prince_beck regularly and it is the best way to keep up with me at this point.
Contact Info:
- Email: beccaprince@yahoo.com
- Instagram: prince_beck
Image Credit:
Robert Prince, Rebecca Prince
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