Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel English Walter.
Rachel English, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
My story begins and subsists in my heritage. Both of my parents are exceptionally creative people who raised my brother and I to be resourceful, and to work with our hands. We lived in Austin, which was a wonderful place to grow up and explore what artistry is, amid a close-knit and passionate community. Though it had always been my favorite pastime, studying art became a distinctive pursuit while I was in college, and once I earned my BA in studio art from the University of Texas, I immediately jumped into painting full time. This summer, my husband and I moved to Oak Cliff, and I’m excited to be immersed in a new hub of artists.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My paintings depict great forces of nature, like the energy of celestial bodies, thunderstorms, and shifting landscapes. I love the way they compel us to pause and observe, feeling ever so small in their midst.
Weaving between lifelike and dreamlike stylistic approaches, I strive to be meticulous in conveying a sense of realism, while giving ample weight to the emotional influences at play, as these subjects have deep connections to my feelings and memories.
I believe it’s healthy to re-calibrate our perspective from time to time, to be humbled by the immensity of the universe, the symmetry, and the potential. I don’t tend to subscribe to the idea that contemporary art must be provocative or confrontational to have value. To me, it’s okay to appreciate something simply because it pulled you in for a minute, and maybe you’re not sure why. In such a way, my work aims to awaken the human spirit, to ask questions, and to empower our small part in the extraordinary design of the cosmos.
Artists face many challenges, but what do you feel is the most pressing among them?
This is a tough one, but, I’d have to say that one of the biggest challenges faced as an artist is also one of the things that makes the job great: the internet.
Being able to self-market and share artists’ work with the world instantly is a pretty awesome thing. On the other hand, I think it also poses a set of challenges that not only threaten the virtue of making and collecting art, but it compels us to buy into a culture of commercialization over individuality, and competition over community.
The social media surge has obsoleted major steps in the process of living as an artist; not only can ideas be published cheaply, easily, and quite frankly without much forethought, but they can overwhelm the market that was once a reserve for the long-suffering, hardworking artists that had negotiated resources, saved their pennies, and earned exposure over time. It seems as though these days, collectors are more likely to miss out on a personal connection with the artist, and the artist is more likely to miss out entirely.
I think that a challenge like this, while not inherently dangerous or oppressive, deserves a response. At the end of the day, I believe social media is a really good thing, and it definitely isn’t going anywhere. So, perhaps the way we address this challenge is to ask ourselves: “How can I adapt to the times in a way that helps me thrive, as both an artist who wants to stay true to herself, and as a human being who craves interpersonal connection?”
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Check me out on the World Wide Web that all the kids are using with their electric computer machines these days! I have an online portfolio and print shop at rachelwalter.com, plus an Instagram account (@rachelwalterart) where I post pictures of my paintings and my life as an artist. That’s the best way to receive updates on when and where I’ll be exhibiting or releasing new projects.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rachelwalter.com
- Email: rachelwalterart@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelwalterart/
Image Credit:
Rachel English Walter
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
