International selling British artist Rebecca Campbell lives and works in London. She trained as an illustrator and this has led to her unique, narrative style of work. Her paintings have been described as “delightful, enigmatic and highly imaginative. They have an impeccable sense of color and design, coupled with a touch of humor. Rebecca’s world is one of variety, eccentricity, and joy.” Her influences are eclectic: a love of nature came from growing up in the Irish countryside with a menagerie of animals and birds, as well as being surrounded by the most beautiful gardens. She has traveled extensively; the biggest impact came from her three months spent in India, seeing firsthand the Mughal miniature paintings with their rich earth colors, bold design, and exquisite attention to detail. These influences remain the bedrock of much of her work today.

In this episode, 
-Rebecca shares how saying yes to new opportunities gave kick start to her career
-How she got the opportunity to work along with famous international brands
-She shares how her stay in India and Mughal Art has influenced her work.
-How her decision to join art school had a significant impact on her vision of herself.
-How her shift from one medium to another has impacted her life and made her who she is today.
-How she manages all her social pages despite being new to it.
-She also shares how she overcomes all her challenges as an artist.

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AUTOMATED TRANSCRIPTS

00:00.00
charukaarora
Hello Rebecca Welcome to the Arts two Hearts podcast.

00:03.25
Rebecca
Oh very nice to meet you and thank you for asking me.

00:06.73
charukaarora
Thank you for coming I I think I I saw your work and I think I remarkably remember and been following your work when I saw your collaboration with good Earth. It’s an Indian brand. Um. That I Absolutely love I Really enjoy this static their story and their products and it was so nice to see your work then and ever since then I thought you know I needed to bring you on the Podcast. So with Welcome and thank you before we get into all of those things. Um. Can you introduce yourself who you are what you do for people who are listening to this episode.

00:41.31
Rebecca
Okay, so I’m an artist and I live in London and I went to art school when I was None and studied illustration which I loved and then from there. It’s sort of. Progressed I’ve done all sorts of different things from painting murals furniture doing illustration work and I seem to be a painter now. Um I grew up in Ireland in the countryside and it’s got a huge impact on my work I love painting lots of birds plants and animals.

01:05.62
charukaarora
Wow.

01:13.67
Rebecca
Um, and then yeah I’ve been lucky enough I went traveling to India after I went to art school and and just I just fell in love with India and the mogul painting. That’s a huge influence on me.

01:16.90
charukaarora
Yes. Yeah I read that I was going through your website and I read that you you stayed and visited India for a couple of months you saw miniature painting and you know I don’t know. Did you even like did you learn anything here when it came to Minia you or something.

01:38.88
Rebecca
Um I couldn’t well it was just it was just looking at them. Um, but also the whole sort of colors of India you can’t help be just completely blasted from every side. Um a magic color and vibrancy. So yes, that definitely.

01:40.51
charukaarora
Or was it just looking at the work.

01:53.27
charukaarora
I I love that because while I was reading your statement and like just generally I hate thought statement but generally just what you had to say on your website and it said like you know.

01:58.85
Rebecca
Pulled into my work I think.

02:11.56
charukaarora
That your visit to India has had a huge impact on your work till now and when was your visit to India. Yeah I’m saying your website said like you know on your website. You said your visit to India had a huge impact on your work.

02:17.42
Rebecca
Sorry Could you repeat that question I missed the beginning.

02:28.74
Rebecca
Yes.

02:31.60
charukaarora
And um, but um, how long ago was that visit None question. How long.

02:34.76
Rebecca
Um, so um, so it was after I left art school so I was 22 23 and doing what people do backpacking? Um so I went and what.

02:44.90
charukaarora
Curtness. Wow.

02:50.90
Rebecca
Failure to save some money and then traveled out through the far east and spent the last three months traveling actually on my own round India and how am I going to survive in India by myself and then I just thought how does anybody survive here it fight along? Um, but I was just totally blown away by it.

02:56.74
charukaarora
Wow! yes.

03:10.45
Rebecca
So yes, um, and I I just can’t believe how much to play you know in my work and you know to end up working with good Earth was just extraordinary.

03:12.35
charukaarora
That’s not go ahead. Good.

03:20.30
charukaarora
Yeah, yeah, no, but you know what’s even more extraordinary is that sometimes like why when I um I saw your work and I um I saw your collaboration also and in general to your work I did see a lot of into indian influence. Um. But what’s even more strange is for some reason I believe that you may have like some more engagement with being in India or being associated or like just having influence and I think sometimes like even as an artist to see something in a grander scheme of things like you know you visited your. India I don’t know maybe twenty years ago if I’m wrong I mean right? and you fast forward 20 years in your life. It still has a huge impact and those three months still have like a huge saying who you and what you do did you even think that would happen like.

04:00.95
Rebecca
Yeah.

04:14.20
Rebecca
I Not in a million years. No not mean yes, right? Don’t think you do with life. It’s like you know another thing is I collected ornaments of elephants when I was little and I know what it’s um, an elephant charity. So it’s just funny how different things feed in you never expect.

04:15.76
charukaarora
When you were coming to India it.

04:24.50
charukaarora
Oh wow.

04:33.81
Rebecca
Um, and yeah so I just think with life Somehow everything keeps keeps coming back.

04:39.65
charukaarora
Yeah that’s like that’s when I read that you you visited India so long ago and even today you know you’re using that as an inspiration that still brings you and like you know brings you joy and inspiration. It’s so remarkable and even some like a reminder sometimes like. Sometimes we don’t even understand um, how some even a list little incident and experiences can bring so much impact in our lives. Let’s talk about yes, go ahead, go ahead. Okay.

05:06.26
Rebecca
I Know definitely none and else just agreeing with you.

05:16.33
charukaarora
I also read that you were born and brought up in the countryside Ireland like you know, can you describe how that was because I read that you had a huge influence about that in your own work today.

05:28.38
Rebecca
I was actually born in England but my parents moved to Ireland when I was 2 and we lived in the countryside. It was only thirteen miles outside Dublin but it was very very rural then um and it was an extraordinary place partly because they have.

05:33.52
charukaarora
Okay.

05:47.42
Rebecca
So much rain. So they have amazing gardens. Um, also um I guess probably not a very good thing but again, um the english.

05:48.58
charukaarora
It.

05:59.10
Rebecca
Um, you know had been in Ireland for the last four hundred years and on the back of the r I had built enormous houses and exploited the irish but in having done that created the most amazing walled gardens and so there was that sort of grandiose style that I kind of grew up with seeing.

06:06.20
charukaarora
Yeah.

06:18.47
Rebecca
Um, and then the Irish humor. You know the people So lovely. Um, and it is just a much more relaxed way of thinking about things and yeah, the humor is definitely and entered into my work I think.

06:30.99
charukaarora
Yeah I mean the gardens um the elephants birds and you know something that I really like about your work and there’s something I Also read in a few reviews of your work but like how simple raw organic or like. They almost like feel like I mean I wouldn’t I don’t know how to say it right? like like like sometimes you feel that you’re not trying too hard like it’s just as it is like it’s There’s a lot of ease into your work I feel like.

07:05.52
Rebecca
Well, that’s very nice to hear and yes I mean I think that they do look quite simple but I can’t begin to tell you how much you know I do end all little drawings to try and perfect the compositions and things.

07:13.36
charukaarora
Yes, absolutely.

07:21.67
Rebecca
So there’s a lot of thought process behind them but actually wants to do the paintings that yeah, you’re right, They look quite simple but I quite like.

07:26.27
charukaarora
Yeah, and I think that’s the that’s the charm about it because I think in an age where we’re all trying to be perfect. It’s it’s the imperfection that stands out and I think that the naturalness and I think the organicness of something. But that’s getting even more expensive and rare.

07:45.46
Rebecca
Um, no, well. That’s very kind of you to think like that. So thank you and it will take that.

07:53.75
charukaarora
How was your journey like you said you know when you started you started really long ago your career as an artist and it’s come a long way I think you’ve seen you’ve seen Oh my God This is a very interesting question.

08:00.90
Rebecca
Yeah, I’m really old. Ah.

08:11.40
charukaarora
You see the you change and you’ve been working all these years and even with the work that you said yeah and you’ve transitioned like you’ve seen the traditional pattern then you’ve like like the modern age. The decades let’s talk about that. How has your like how you started your grid.

08:13.28
Rebecca
I am Thirdic Ira yeah

08:29.53
charukaarora
Your career as an artist what it took till now.

08:31.99
Rebecca
Okay, well yeah, you’re right I did start before the internet was even at um, yeah and I went to art school when I was 18 and um I came out with an a one size portfolio I mean just.

08:36.40
charukaarora
Yeah.

08:49.68
charukaarora
Oh wow.

08:50.29
Rebecca
Huge and I used to turn up at published officers and they had tiny desks. Um and they used to rail their eyes in despair as I you know opened up this enormous portfolio. So now you know you just send a few digital images to them. It’s extraordinary age.

09:05.80
charukaarora
Yeah.

09:09.34
Rebecca
And so you’re right I have seen huge changes I think you just have to keep going with the times its importance try and keep up in some respects. It’s much easier now you know your work is much more accessible and then sort of things like you know Instagram and things like that.

09:13.76
charukaarora
Yeah.

09:27.27
Rebecca
I Mean the downside I think is there’s just you know there are so many artists and all competing with each other um and all trying to be visible. So yeah, it’s been a rollercoster I will say um but I think all artist.

09:31.51
charukaarora
Yeah.

09:37.41
charukaarora
Yeah.

09:43.58
charukaarora
I Absolutely what? what’s even like interesting is that your work um varies over a lot of mediums like you’ve experimented and put a mark for yourself in very different zones like you’ve done books. Um.

09:45.91
Rebecca
Ah, fact.

10:03.29
charukaarora
Products collaborations finite um like a lot of different experiments with a lot of different things as ah as an artist to see where it goes can you talk about a I think in the in the time that you started I’m sure. I don’t know how how the idea of being an artist like felt at that point like even today if you go and tell someone that you want to be an artist. It may not be the best best I don’t know reaction that we can like you know it’s still. It’s still building up. People are still finding the ways and routes. Into it. How was back then? what moved you forward and how have you experimented these different mediums.

10:47.37
Rebecca
So you’re right I mean my father was horrified that I wanted to be an artist and so yeah I got it from the start and I mean understandable because you know being an artist. You don’t have regular income and it’s you just? yeah, it’s.

10:51.60
charukaarora
Um.

11:06.15
Rebecca
It’s a difficult road. But I think someone said you don’t choose to do art art chooses you I think that’s why true and I would I trained as the illustrators Really so that you know I had a sort of I guess a professional training as a way of earning a thing.

11:10.95
charukaarora
I Love dad.

11:18.50
charukaarora
Yeah.

11:22.28
Rebecca
And the trouble was I came out of art school with so many different styles that no one knew what to commission for me and I think it was you know I I fell down flat really? Um, and then I found a way So then I started producing furniture really as a vehicle for just for people to see my work. And I think all artists are actually entrepreneurs and you just find different ways of working and also I love working on different projects and um, you know I’ll always say yes to and like that’s your thing I always say yes to everything because um, you know this could be challenged and yeah you know.

11:43.72
charukaarora
Absoluting.

11:59.80
Rebecca
I mean for example, working with good earth I’d never designed for a dinner service before so sun I was like Landmas and things I mean how fun was that. So yeah I think it’s.

12:01.95
charukaarora
Yeah. And I read that you yeah even with the good or thing I read that you um I think I was reading reading architectural titest and it said like you been,, you’d been working with oils and when you figured that you needed to work with cers and oil wasn’t the best.

12:25.78
Rebecca
Yeah, yes, so yeah I mean that was again a huge learning curve because I’ve always found watercolors very difficult. Um, but I have to say working with Anita Lal the head of good earth.

12:26.59
charukaarora
Combination you transition and explode watercolors. How is let’s all the talk about this project.

12:44.23
Rebecca
I mean she was incredible. She saw something on me she you know and it was just she was in lockdown in Delhi and ice and lockdown in London and we just did the whole thing walk through Whatsapp so I did drawing in London and sent her photographs and then started doing the watercolors and between us it was.

12:52.50
charukaarora
Just Wow. Wow.

13:02.35
Rebecca
It was definitely a collaboration of granting ideas off each other and then coming up you right coming up with the and desire. Um, and again it just pushed me in a different direction though I was very happy.

13:09.28
charukaarora
Ya absent.

13:18.35
charukaarora
Did you like have you ever imagined your work in a home bill was this like like did you manifested this or this came out of my surprise.

13:28.13
Rebecca
Ah, no I mean this was a total total surprise I’ve always thought it nice to do ceramics or but yeah, no, this was a total bolt out of the balloon. They contacted me through Instagram. So yeah, um, it was um.

13:32.15
charukaarora
Um. No. Yeah I mean I I Love that you know, let’s also talk about finding these opportunities and having these projects that we all love and like we want to be but um, you know, Ah how how did it happen. Let’s talk about that. How did it come to life. Um, how did they find you? How did this project started.

14:05.23
Rebecca
Um, so yeah, it was through the wonders of Instagram and I think that they’d been following. Um, another Instagram account parts of Hindustan and who fla appear in my work and also as I mentioned before I do a lot of work with elephant family.

14:15.66
charukaarora
Um, yeah, yeah.

14:23.10
charukaarora
Um, yeah.

14:24.76
Rebecca
And they good athletes also worked with elephant families. So there were so one and 2 crossovers. So I think that that’s where they found me through those channels. Um, and then they asked if I’d like to work with them.

14:36.32
charukaarora
Oh Wow Um, how. Give me one moment. There’s a lot of noise from the back end none mine My my nephew and niece.

14:44.58
Rebecca
Yes, like your children. Ah.

14:53.87
charukaarora
Um, I’ve been staying back home for the couple of days just give me 1 step.

14:58.43
Rebecca
Ah, okay, there was.

15:03.82
charukaarora
Um, yeah, no, no I’m just waiting for them to melt down so that we can have a piece of of peace to ourselves I think so it worked sorry okay.

15:04.42
Rebecca
Do you need to go I could be sometime. But.

15:22.18
Rebecca
Um, Hazards of children.

15:23.34
charukaarora
Oh yeah, yeah yeah.

15:30.66
charukaarora
Not the best I did to have recordings at home when children around. Okay, there was something in all these years that you’ve worked what has been your biggest struggle being an artist you’ve seen it All. You’ve seen a lot of different times as you know. And you carried your portfolios to you you know sending emails. Um, you know all of that What has been something that has stayed for you all that you feel is still like one of the major highlights of being an artist something you’ve worked through.

16:05.73
Rebecca
I think um for me, you know having I guess supported myself over the last thirty years or whatever has been amazing and I’ve had so many highs and it is addictive. Um, and I still can. Ah.

16:19.40
charukaarora
Um, I know.

16:21.95
Rebecca
Thrill when I sell a painting and I have exhibitions and you know I Yeah I Just think it’s Amazing. So that somebody wants your work and so that’s fantastic I Think the lows are the lack of security and I find that very very wearing and. Always worrying about money and thinking Oh My God I’ve got nothing in the pipeline or you know, just yeah, the lack of certainty I think but I chose to do this So and I’m still going.

16:41.11
charukaarora
Yeah.

16:51.94
charukaarora
Yeah I think this is something that we roll. Um, and also I think I love what I even love about even having this conversation with you and noticed is is your mindset like you know, even though you started early early and you know a lot of artists today. Recognized with the idea that they’re not only artists but they’re also on entrepreneurs in themselves small businesses and themselves and operating like one and that’s how we can make us career sustainable. Do what we love and you know change with you know, adapt and like take ownership of of our work. Um. Really like you said the same thing in the beginning when we started a conversation and that’s honestly that’s not something that a lot of people coming from the like coming from your experience or even from today you know, not everybody embraces and understands that ah did you a when you signed up. Ah. Being an artist. Whatever that you know in itself means did you think that this was a path of being being an entrepreneur and and finding things for yourself.

17:53.74
Rebecca
Oh God Absolutely Not no and you know I was I can’t say I was ever a business woman or you know and um I was really bad to begin with about pricing and all sorts of different things. So No I’ve. I’ve really had to learn how to do all that. Um, after art school I did have a job working in an office for a bit um ah doing the artwork for and magazine. But I was also in charge of um, some other things like the accounts and so. Although I you know I thought this job is leading nowhere I I learned Actually how to do accounts how to do marketing and all these different skills that you need and you don’t I mean I’m sure it’s different now in art schools but I wasn’t taught anything at art school and I mean that’s criminal.

18:40.70
charukaarora
Oh no, naturally.

18:46.10
Rebecca
You know we’re so unprepared when we leave your youth knees when you leave you’ve got this portfolio of work and your it’s no, that’s just the beginning. So yeah, it’s a tough.

18:46.40
charukaarora
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

18:56.10
charukaarora
Um I I love you know I love this because um, this conversation has been going around for for a long while now especially in the arts. You know today I was listening to this episode I don’t know if you’ve heard of Jana Cta she’s like a. She’s like and she was a photographer is a photographer and do this huge digital marketing expert and she has a podcast and she had one of the I don’t remember actor’s name actually but but these were 2 girls from the office main leads came in. Um i. Forgive me. Ah I don’t remember but they basically Tv the basically tv actors highly celebrated Tv actors and now they’re like you know building having their own podcasts and all of that and they she was sharing her experience and she shared like you know I came from a film school I came from an acting school.

19:32.93
Rebecca
1

19:51.45
charukaarora
And I I think one of the biggest struggles that she she talked about this episode was that I did when we came out, we had no idea we thought that acting like we would just pretend and play roles and that’s how it’s all going to be and that’s all we do like for us as artists we think like you’re going to draw and paint and like. You know we’ll find some like you’ll find a project or a calorie or like an agent someone who’s going to do everything for you and you’re just going to sit in a corner and do that which was absolutely untrue for all of us and that’s how she said it also like when they started actors and I find this so interesting because it was such a. It was such a light.

20:21.60
Rebecca
Um, yeah.

20:30.75
charukaarora
But moment for me when I was listening to this podcast and she was like you know when we came out as actors we operate like small businesses and I was like oh my God This is so interesting and she was like finding roles and she was like when when the office started if a for quite a while it felt like they would have to shut the showdown with every week.

20:39.38
Rebecca
Press.

20:50.71
charukaarora
And they were they always were like these artists who had to think about where to get their next work from or like even as artists you know, having that financial goals and making sure that you you’re covering yourself for the month and making sure you have projects lined up and all of those things and it was so it was so amazing to listen to that and something that. Ah, be still talking about and having this conversation. That’s a huge gap as creative that we’re not being trained for to work in the real life.

21:14.99
Rebecca
Yes, yeah, no, it’s very true I think yeah now as you say absolutely fascinating that actors have that problem as well. Yeah.

21:24.79
charukaarora
How did you deal with that. How have you? um because you’ve really picked up like it’s not that you have I think for most of people even today you have a wonderful website. You’re very much their own social media. You’ve had these wonderful collaborations so you let. I mean you doing pretty well with the time that we are in today. Um, how how how was it dealing with technology in changing times for you and how have you trained yourself keeping up with everything how has that been.

21:56.21
Rebecca
Well I can’t say I I’m an expert. Ah I feel very kind. Um I think it’s important to keep up otherwise you know you just can be going to become a dinosaur. Um, it’s actually quite far.

21:59.21
charukaarora
Oh you’re pretty good and.

22:15.57
Rebecca
Um, and yeah I mean for example, my website. You’re very kind to say hope then it’s good. But I just got so fed up asking somebody else How to do it or if they could load up more images and all the rest of it So I got someone to teach me how to do it and she set up.

22:35.39
charukaarora
Ola.

22:35.76
Rebecca
Paramet market and I can now do it myself? Um, and yeah I’m I just think it’s much easier if you can take control of things. Um, and again Instagram I you know I knew nothing about.

22:44.31
charukaarora
Now.

22:52.22
Rebecca
But it’s such a great tool for artists because it’s so visual and it’s a whole new world. Um, and it is amazing. The things that can come through it So I just look at exciting things and I think it’s important to always learn. Always you know, keep going.

22:59.96
charukaarora
I Love that.

23:06.29
charukaarora
I love that? Um, let’s also talk a little bit about your work. How how do you find I think one of the biggest um I think before even go that None more last question about this is finding the balance between creativity. And the ever-evolving role as ah as an entrepreneur artist and like you know admin and like website and like orders and like all of these things. How do you find your creative balance is.

23:37.76
Rebecca
I don’t think I do um um I only worked deadlines I’m useless without deadlines. So yeah, it just if something needs to be done that day. You just do it. Um I don’t have a timetable and thinking. Okay now I do the website or whatever. I mean I have an exhibition. So. For example, I’ve got a show coming up and I’ve just had all my work photographs. So in the next few weeks I will be uploading them onto the website and creating new page and things. Um. So I guess it’s just thinking about things and yeah, invoicing and things I try and do things none thing in the morning and then I don’t have to think about it for the rest of the day and just get on with painting.

24:17.12
charukaarora
Oh wow and how does um I think one of the major things you’ve you’ve had 30 years let’s say um, we don’t have anybody looking over our heads. You know, no boss and nobody most of this time. Sometimes not even projects like sometimes nobody has you don’t have a show a project that you know that gives you like the momentum to keep going. How do you keep yourself in check and inspired and still make the work and do the work when there is like no per se pressure. Um. Externally, that’s giving you a purpose.

24:55.97
Rebecca
I Find that really difficult. Um I mean I’ve been so lucky over the last I don’t know how many years I’ve always had something to work towards um but I mean for example, this summer I’ve now finished the work for my show and I definitely want to take some time off.

25:01.83
charukaarora
Yeah.

25:12.64
Rebecca
Um, but I am thinking about 1 in 2 projects. So yes, there are things in the back of my mind and I think yeah I actually be great to try and work on those but um I’m not going to say anything because I probably won’t do it I’ve left the whole. Um.

25:25.43
charukaarora
Ah, but but I think with artists we’re also a box full of ideas that like there’s so many ideas but just so little time.

25:33.85
Rebecca
Yes I think that’s very true, Very true. Yeah.

25:38.32
charukaarora
Okay, yeah, now let’s come back to your work. Can you talk a little bit about a how does a typical day look for you.

25:46.59
Rebecca
Um, so a typical day is that my studio is an 8 minute cycle ride from my house or a 20 minute walk which is fantastic and it’s in a big warehouse with about 40 people and I have to say that’s been another big saviour for me actually being in a.

25:54.52
charukaarora
Okay.

26:06.35
Rebecca
Place with other artists and so you’re right artists always work on their own and it it can be extremely lonely. But this place is great because there’s so many other people around different disciplines from Ceramussis textile that Jewelda’s painters.

26:13.84
charukaarora
Lily.

26:19.39
charukaarora
Wow.

26:22.83
Rebecca
So that’s where I go every day and my space isn’t particularly big. Um and I suppose at the moment. My working day is because I’ve got this show in September um, so I’ve just spent the last six eight months producing 24 paintings and I set a theme to each.

26:38.41
charukaarora
None

26:43.34
Rebecca
Exhibition that I have um and this one is a festival of color because I just think we need to celebrate things. Um my day has just been filled with creating these paintings.

26:47.34
charukaarora
Brown Love died.

26:54.59
charukaarora
Wow And what do you like? how how do you keep yourself Inspired. You’ve been working um for a really long time that means you’ve done a lot of your ideas you’ve given out a lot of births of ideas. Um, how do. Keep yourself inspired going with time forward like how does that work for you.

27:18.50
Rebecca
Um I think time because times changed so much I Mean for example this this exhibition I’ve called a festival a color because I just think we need to celebrate and. You know there’s so much bad news I think we just need to remember to celebrate nature or you know happiness or any of these different things and my last show I called still life because suddenly our lives became very very still so in a way my shows have been reflecting the time.

27:43.52
charukaarora
Yeah.

27:48.88
Rebecca
The ah the show before that I call gardeners world and I didn’t know when I set the theme um because it was before these lockdowns but actually everyone started like gardening and celebrating their garden so that was just sort of coincidental but a happy 1

27:56.70
charukaarora
Yeah.

28:02.87
charukaarora
Wow! Love that No like amazing. What are you excited about for you know from here. What is that you’re looking forward to in your work in your life as a creative anything anything. Your heart’s really calling you for something that’s really exciting you and you want to wish for.

28:23.78
Rebecca
Um I have so I really enjoyed working with good earth and I would love to do some collaborations and work on different projects I think that would be really really fun. Um, and so I’ve already got a couple of shows lined up and so I’ve got to work towards those for paintings. Um, and I think.

28:27.69
charukaarora
Yeah, yeah.

28:34.40
charukaarora
Down.

28:42.71
Rebecca
Just being open to opportunities I Yeah I Never really plan in a thing but you know hopefully things will happen.

28:44.51
charukaarora
I Love that. Ah, yeah I Think that’s very true. Let’s can you also talk a little bit about how has that you’ve done a lot of collaborations like um, let’s say with the ah elephant Family. Can you hear talk about what that is. Then the better. You did a commission for commissions I guess for them then you did good Earth How has all these projects been for you. What have you learned from them. Um, but say when it comes to commission projects as an artist.

29:18.47
Rebecca
So elephant family was very special. Actually it was um I went to a talk in the beginning of the 1990 s by somebody called Markhand who actually bought an elephant and rode it across India and then realized through the.

29:31.27
charukaarora
Wow.

29:34.32
Rebecca
Um, doing this the plight of the asian elephant and he set up this charity elephant family and you know I didn’t know that he’d done this until I received an email from the charity I think in 2009 asking if I’d like to paint an elephant I mean you know how could you resist.

29:48.68
charukaarora
Wow Yeah, right.

29:52.65
Rebecca
Um, and so I ended up painting None elephant sculptures that were part of a big exhibition that was displayed all over London and they sold for phenomenal amounts of money that raised lots of money for the charity and then they’ve done different projects since then and I’ve become more and more involved. Right? honored they invite asked me to be an ambassador in 2015 I think and I actually went on a trip with them to India in 2017 and then did an exhibition in London again to raise more money and then this year they did eggs.

30:21.90
charukaarora
Wow.

30:29.42
Rebecca
And they had um, an egg for each era of the queen’s seventy years on the rain. So um, they were displayed around the streets of London and I did the 1960 s sort of flower power. So that was fun to do like in an amazing charity I think because they’re quite small. They.

30:42.00
charukaarora
A.

30:48.78
Rebecca
Know where the money is going on the ground. So yeah, that’s been an amazing collaboration. The opera was actually an opera um place in London holland park opera and they commissioned me to do 4 paintings for the 4 operas they were going to put on that that. that summer and they going to be used on their programs and things unfortunately the whole season got canceled because of covid so it never happened but it was a fun commission to do yeah and good earth and none other things. So yeah.

31:10.90
charukaarora
Um, go right. I love that? Yeah, wonderful. Wonderful Thank you so much Rebecca I am social to have had you and thank you so much for sharing so much about your work. But before I let you go and wrap this up. Ah, you ready for a rapid fire. It’s it’s such a I think it’s rapid fires are my favorite favorite. The no, we’ll figure that out.

31:34.52
Rebecca
Oh God okay.

31:41.32
Rebecca
Know for my worst I can’t give it a quiet. Okay, give it a guy.

31:49.71
charukaarora
We’ll figure that out I don’t think you I don’t I don’t think that’s going to happen. Okay, yeah, so you have to be quick. You have to give me what comes None to you and you have to be just just be your set. There’s no right and rock. Okay.

32:04.23
Rebecca
Okay.

32:07.42
charukaarora
Okay, here we go 1 thing you want to convey through your work in the arts. What’s that 1 word that describes you the best.

32:11.30
Rebecca
Happiness.

32:20.78
Rebecca
Upbeat.

32:21.23
charukaarora
If you could have a studio anywhere in the world where would it be wow I thought it would be India.

32:25.64
Rebecca
Mexico.

32:32.76
Rebecca
I’m sorry I know I’m when I said that but I yeah feel like I know India but I’ve and I’ve been to Mexico any once to go back.

32:34.40
charukaarora
Um I think maybe both oh yes, yes, that makes sense hundred percent no No no, you have such a good rational behind that. No absolutely okay, your biggest source of inspiration.

32:53.38
Rebecca
I’d have to say the environment nature.

32:55.23
charukaarora
Um, who’s your favorite woman artist any point of time amaze. Um, who’s your go to person when you’re in Chapel or in need of advice.

33:01.44
Rebecca
Paula Rago

33:08.28
Rebecca
My sister.

33:11.14
charukaarora
Okay, this is more than a word so you’re allowed. Um I’m sure there must have been many, but there’s is there a particular moment that you can share with us. Ah, your favorite moment as an artist. Something’s a moment or an experience that made you feel grateful for who you are what you do something that you cherish. A lot.

33:32.40
Rebecca
Oh gosh. Um I think for me the most extraordinary moment was when I got a call out the blue when this gallery in London fened me and asked if I’d like to exhibit and I thought oh I don’t do paintings I only do murals. And that was twenty years ago and I’m still showing with that gallery and that absolute that fan call changed my life.

33:55.35
charukaarora
Wow I love that? Yes, so good. Okay, if you were to meet younger Rebecca today. What advice would you give her.

34:09.16
Rebecca
Don’t be an artist I’m kidding Um, don’t worry so much.

34:12.10
charukaarora
Ah.

34:17.96
charukaarora
Yeah, the younger Rebecca would get confused with what’s happening with future Rebecca ah, okay.

34:23.59
Rebecca
Yeah, yeah I think don’t worries that I with it.

34:34.91
charukaarora
Ah, she would be worried about you and like what what is happening okay shout out to an artist you currently loving on social media someone that you someone’s work that you’re enjoying on social media particularly anybody.

34:50.90
Rebecca
Ah, Jethro Buck Jethro Buck he’s an english artist but um, he’s again being very much influenced by indian mogul paintings.

34:53.99
charukaarora
Ah, sorry again. Okay.

35:04.87
charukaarora
I have to I have to check it out. Absolutely as a woman. Okay as a woman creative on now. What’s that 1 word of advice you want to give to other artists listening to this episode.

35:17.57
Rebecca
Keep going.

35:20.81
charukaarora
Love that. Thank you so much Rebecca I am so glad that we take this though I forgot to ask you 1 question which is have you come to have you come to our grand visited Taj Mehel oh oh wow

35:29.48
Rebecca
Like yes. I have been to the tama hall I’ve been twice and the mini plot and yes, absolutely yeah, no I’ve ah I went there thirty years ago and then about ten years ago

35:40.47
charukaarora
So way. Oh you’ve seen that too.

35:50.17
charukaarora
Oh ah, you need to come back and when you do I’ll take you around. Yeah I I not this is my hometown so we’ll give you like I’ll give you a home full whole to not only art I think Agra is such a. It’s.

35:52.78
Rebecca
Ah, loved it. Okay, cool. You’re on.

36:07.89
charukaarora
Such a beautiful place of um culture Indian culture. Great Indian food and of course art and architecture like it’s such a perfect mix.

36:13.40
Rebecca
Yes, yes, no I thought it was a beautiful place I Loved it.

36:22.36
charukaarora
Amazing. Thank you so much Becca before I let you go can you share anything that any new project that you’re working on anything that we can support you with people very they can find you follow your work and just you know support you.

36:37.12
Rebecca
Um, well thank you as I mentioned I’ve got the show exhibition on in London starting I think it’s on the none of September runs till the eighth of October with a gallery called Jonathan Cooper and as I’ve mentioned it is a festival of color. So it’ll be None new paintings. Um. So yeah, I’m very excited to see how that’s all going to go.

36:58.53
charukaarora
Oh wow! Amazing and I will take all this information from you and then add it to the show notes. So anyone who’s interested. You can find Rebecca’s website Instagram her collaboration with kodot um, the elephant family and some of her works. Everything in the show notes when you’re finished listening to this episode make sure you click in the link in this bio so that you know you can not only listen but also see what we’ve spoken about and find a transcript of this episode on the website. Thank you so much Rebecca I am so thrilled to have you have you know on the show and thank you so much for your time.

37:38.36
Rebecca
All It’s been an absolute pleasure and thank you so much for asking me and it’s been lovely to meet you see you in aggrab.

37:43.28
charukaarora
Same Yeah yes, very soon. Hopefully very soon. Okay.

37:47.37
Rebecca
Yeah, okay I.

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