QA& With Erika Rachel

Whenever a woman is following her dreams or developing her talents, we must cheer her on. Meet Erika Rachel, she is a self-taught abstract artist who decided to become a full time artist professionally in early 2013 as a means of supporting herself after a difficult divorce and the loss of her father.

She has definitely been around and is gaining tremendous popularity. Erika has been covered by press outlets such as L’Etage Magazine (“Conception Contemporary Art Fair in NYC”), The Bucks County Herald ("A-Space Gallery's Solo Artist is Self-Made”), Posture Magazine (Winter Mendelson Editor-in-Chief: “You’re Invited: Erika Rachel’s Closing Reception”), and Crafty 88’s ("Interview with Artist Erika Rachel”). And her work has been exhibited at the Guild Hall Museum (East Hampton, NY), Ashawagh Hall (East Hampton, NY), Paul Labrecque (UES, NYC), Dop Dop (Soho, NYC), Art Expo (Pier 94, NYC), Artworks (Trenton, NJ), Hopewell Valley Vineyards (Pennington NJ), Prallsville Mills (Stockton, NJ), and annually at The “A” Space Gallery (New Hope, PA).

We had the privilege of catching up with Erika to get to know her a little bit better what follows is a conversation that would leave you inspired.

1- They say that artists create out of emotions. Seems like your art stems from the struggle that you have enduring your divorce. Do you continue to draw out talent from these painful emotions?

To some degree, I think every artist uses their work as an outlet. Everyone goes through tough times, not just artists, but as they say “life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” So, I guess you could say I made lemonade out of lemons. That’s where I started, but my work has evolved into much more than that. Its a way for me to express my concepts and views in a way that people can connect and relate.

2 What is your thought process when you paint?