January flew by, and it’s hard to believe February is already here. The painting plans I had kind of stalled—there’s a lot I can blame it on: work, the kids, just not enough hours in the day. But the truth is, I haven’t quite found a balance for everything yet.

A new year brings with it the promise of a fresh start, a chance to reinvent ourselves and commit to new resolutions.

A majority of the commissions I receive for portraits come around the holidays, often featuring family members or beloved pets that are no longer with us. I think the holidays, a time when we gather with loved ones, make us more acutely aware of who is missing.

Since diving into the world of event painting, I’ve had to dust off some tools I hadn’t really used since art school. Rulers. Yes, rulers! The kind I used to draw hallways and stairwells back in college. In portrait painting, perspective doesn’t always play a big role. But in event painting, where I’m capturing the essence of a room, even the slightest deviation in line can distort the entire space. It's incredible how a few carefully placed lines can transform a blank canvas into a bustling room. 

I have many things and many people to be thankful for. Above so many, my sister.

Hello! Welcome to my very first blog post. I decided to start this blog to document my journey into Live Event Painting! 

Let me start at the beginning. Who am I?? My name is Rachel and I’m a portrait artist. My studio is in the beautiful Holland, MI. Aside from painting I keep busy being a mother to my 6-year-old son and my almost 2-year-old daughter! I’m also a wife to a very supportive husband who encourages me even when ideas seem a little wild!