Who is Rachel Christopoulos?
I honestly don’t feel like I really have a background as an artist. I dabbled with creative mediums throughout school because it was fun but it was never anything serious to me. By the time college rolled around I wanted to pursue a serious career (not art) so I didn’t get back into art until I married. My husband gave our income a bit more reliability and from there on I didn’t look back; I just wanted to see what I could do.
How would you describe your artistic style? Who are your major artistic influences, and how do they impact your work?
I love the unique approach to work by women like Ashley Longshore, Sarah Stieber, and Sari Shryack. I consider my work to be figurative pop art, this seems to best encompass pieces like my Milwaukee pickles, Iris Apfel, and Wisconsin scenery. I just make them go together.
How do you overcome creative blocks or challenges in your work?
I make something else. If I’m feeling particularly rusty or muddy when apply paint I take a break and I make something else with something else. Now that creating is my full-time jobs creative blocks are the reminders I need to take a step back and rest. When the painting is ready to come, it will.
How has your artistic vision evolved over time?
This past year I had the opportunity to sell directly to Wisconsin residents at art fairs and it was awesome. In the past I’ve created more commercial work and focused a lot on portraits but having niche pieces and nods to Wisconsin was something that really excited me as an artist. It’s such an amazing feeling to see others get excited not just about your work, but the local subject matter too.
Can you highlight 1 artwork of yours represented at our gallery and stories behind it?
I made this 16x20 acrylic painting of Milwaukee pickles this summer. It was a personal project for me, I just love pickles… but the amount of input and obsession that came with it when I brought it to my first summer fair was a surprise! I didn’t realize it had a cult following!
What are your short-term and long-term goals as an artist?
I would love to open up a small art gallery over in New Glarus. I would love it to be a place of color and new art and even be able to host small events in the space too. Seeing new places like Overt Space open up in the small towns of Wisconsin gives me such joy for the next generation of artists seeing current day artists doing it in new ways.
How do you find inspiration in your daily life?
I try to be really open to interesting shape, color, and what I’m enjoying. I paint my daily cup of coffee, what’s in my fridge, and the landscapes around my home now. In the past I was looking for the best of the best inspiration but now that I’m a little more pressed for time I try to appreciate what’s right in front of me.
It’s fun to approach a generic beer bottle and add a rainbow of color to it or paint that one house down the street when the sunrise hits it just right. Learning what inspires me and being open to my surroundings has greatly improved my painting practice.