Hi, welcome to Rebecca Elizabeth Draws and my first blog post.
First things first, a little introduction.
I’m Rebecca, although to most I go by Becky.
I decided Rebecca was a great alias to go by when I first set up my art page on Instagram and sounded far more professional than Becky but really, I’ll answer to anything.
(and Elizabeth, like most 90s kids, is my middle name if anyone was wondering.)
I’ve been creative as long as I can remember, sewing sequins to old cushions whilst listening to famous five, photographing inanimate objects before it became trendy, and writing a Christmas play for me and my minions (my little sister and friends) to act out.
At school art was my favourite subject, so much so I chose art and art textiles for my a levels and lived in the art department for 2 years. These were some of my favourite times. Although I was never a fan of letting anyone see my work before it was finished, a perfectionist through and through. To see my work at its ‘ugly’ stage was mortifying to me so I would spend my lessons gathering supplies, thinking of ideas, chatting to my friends and when I would appear the following day with something where there was once nothing my teacher would say ‘the fairies have been doing your work again’. There was something magical about that time after school where I would watch reruns of my favourite shows (a lot of Sex and the City and The OC were watched back in those days) and crack on with whatever project I had.
After school I wasn’t ready to decide about uni and probably my first mistake was made, I went to college to study art foundation. I went from being in a room of maybe 10 students and feeling like my work was special to being one of hundreds. With all the choices and maybe a little bit too much influence from sticking close to my friends I stuck down the fine art route. To then go onto study art textiles, deciding that it wasn’t for me and transferring back to fine art. If that confused you reading it imagine how I felt after years of back and forth. Studying and learning art for the sake of learning and never creating for fun. Art was my escape and after this I felt I was done, it wasn't a safe place for me anymore but rather something I saw as a punishment.
It took me quite a few years after uni to want to create again, and quite a few more before it became anything of the regular practice and escape it once had been. Looking back those years set me back but I wouldn’t have been so sure that creativity was my passion if it wasn’t for that.
This brings me to a few years ago, a move to Japan and setting up a life on the other side of the world and a small gift before I went, a travel watercolour set. When I had time to myself, I taught myself how to create videos, another creative outlet, and I painted. Those first paintings were awful but I had fun and I started to get my groove back. It took another year, moving back home and then a covid lockdown to give me the full time to really get stuck back into it. Those long summer days revolved around painting, figuring out my style (still figuring that one out) and watching terrible documentaries.
I guess that all brings me to now, a few years of drawing and painting, getting my iPad and drawing some more, and finally make the leap to post them online. These artworks are my escape, I have tried painting in muted colour palettes, in less vibrancy but I’ve learnt that I paint with every colour of the rainbow, and I’ve begun embracing that. My artwork is places I love, ideas I love, animals and creatures and much more. I hope my art brings a little joy to your day and makes you dream of magical places. If I could translate to you the way creating makes me feel then this would be it.
If you made it this far and I didn’t bore you to death with my story then thank you, I appreciate you stopping by and checking out my work.
Lots of love
Rebecca Elizabeth xx
(or Becky)
