Fairy tales, fables and stories all come alive through Rachel Eleanor’s work. The 24-year-old Gainesville, Georgia-native uses ink, watercolor, chalk, collage and more to create magical creatures that leap from the page. Since 2013, the West Midtown dweller has been almost-literally painting the town through her design and illustration work with Indie Craft Experience, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and more.
She chatted with CommonCreativ about books as inspiration, promoting her work and the artists she admires.
CommonCreativ: What first sparked your interest in art?
Rachel Eleanor: It all started with my first magnadoodle and chalkboard. I’ve always loved line drawing especially. My mom used to do scrapbooking and cardmaking with rubber stamps. After she dropped the hobby, I took her stamps and supplies and fell in love with ink and paper. I owe a great deal to my parents: They read to me every night, which gave me an enormous appetite for storytelling. My mom used to make me look up every word I didn’t understand in the dictionary, and explained the symbolism and mythology behind characters to me. My dad would read to me using different voices; I still remember the growling deep voice he’d use for Aslan when he read me The Chronicles of Narnia. We made a weekly visit to the library as a family and would bring home dozens of books. Everywhere we went, my parents made me bring a book and practice reading aloud to them, so my love for illustration actually blossomed out of a love for language and storytelling. It wasn’t until I was 16 and began digging into drawing that I started to think of myself more as an artist than a writer.
CC: You work across several mediums—which did you start with and how did you transition to others?
RE: I enjoy many mediums, but they all relate to the fact that I prefer direct methods that give me immediate results. I’m a mark-maker. I deeply admire artists that are methodical and process-oriented, because I can’t handle that biz. I want to see the final mark promptly and with minimal dry time. That’s not to say I won’t invest time developing a project; I’ll devote weeks to research and development, but I still strive to make my final images convey a sense of immediacy and almost clumsily sweet simplicity.
Before I had any training, I worked with super basic stuff: pencil, paper, stamps and ink. I got more training in college and dipped into printmaking, watercolor, traditional drawing and digital illustration. In school I began practicing visual note taking, which is now a daily discipline for me. I interned with Shannon and Christy of Indie Craft Experience and stumbled into hand lettering and my love for the humble Sharpie. They were the first professionals to hand me a Sharpie and butcher paper and encouraged me to “go ham.” I did a lot of hand-lettered signage for them before I even knew what hand-lettering was. I designed two of their swag bags and did a few other projects and workshops for them, and any signage needed for their events. I even got to teach Alli Hannigan two hand lettering workshops. So fun! I worked for the High Museum in their education department for a year and spent all my free time doodling and developing my sketchnotes. Now I’m back in school at Portfolio Center studying design and illustration. Today I’ve been digging into gouache, pen and ink. I used an old-school calligraphy pen for the first time a few weeks ago and it’s been a game-changer.
CC: How would you describe your artistic style in one sentence?
RE: Simple, sweet, folk-inspired, whimsical and line-centric.
CC: What inspires you?
RE: Everything. Most especially stories and trivia: history, science, myths, legends, folk tales, biblical narratives—I love them all. I’m an avid reader and podcast-aholic (I listen to five or more most days). Since my hands are normally busy, I find that listening to audiobooks and podcasts keeps my brain ticking away rather than wandering. Walks also recharge me—or even sitting in a window. I’m basically a cat and want to be in the sunlight.
CC: What have been some of your greatest achievements as an artist?
RE: I can’t take credit for any of them—God has been so good. So far, my greatest achievements have been the moments when I’ve been able to teach others the joy of working with their hands. I love teaching workshops on visual notetaking and hand lettering…they are skills anybody can carry anywhere. It brings me so much joy to see people who don’t consider themselves “creative” taking those skills and running with them.
CC: You’re pretty active on social media—how do you effectively promote your work?
RE: I feel pretty lame at this….but I’m learning. I simply try to post when it feels authentic, not purely promotional. Right now I post to genuinely share with friends and the universe little things that I’m working on. Currently, there is no shopping cart or end goal I’m trying to drive anyone to. I recognize that one day that will be more of a necessity, but I’d rather get there organically while I’m still in school rather than trying to manufacture a “following” the moment I open a shop.
CC: Who are some of your favorite artists (local or otherwise)?
RE: If I’ve learned one thing in design school, it’s that in order to make something simple, unique and beautiful, you have to have an enormous number of influences or else you risk mimicry. This is my excuse for listing ten million favorite artists. In ATL: Katie Bush has been a dear friend and super influential in encouraging me on my journey along with handmade mavens Shannon Mulkey and Christy Petterson. I love all the illustrators of the Paper Ghost Studio as well as many artists involved in the Free Art Friday (#FAFATL) movement. I’ve had the privilege of working with Catlanta and Evereman through my job at the High. R. Land is fantastic. One of these days I’m buying one of his giant “Pray for ATL” signs. My favorite illustrators include Carson Ellis, Bill Watterson, Jon Klassen, Oliver Jeffers, Dinara Mirtalipova, Anna Bond, Edward Gorey and Ryan Andres. Children’s book illustrators are the coolest people in the world. Directors and animators are major influences as well: Hayao Miyazaki, Wes Anderson, Tim Burton, Pendleton Ward….I love all of their work! And finally, a few musicians who are wonderful storytellers: Sufjan Stevens, the Decemberists, Josh Garrels and Andrew Bird.
CC: What do you think about the current state of Atlanta’s art scene?
RE: I’m excited and impressed. People love to hate on ATL, but our art scene is so inspiring. Three summers ago I volunteered with Living Walls, and through Indie Craft Experience I’ve met so many incredible creatives (William Massey is on the top of that list) working to make this city better for the people living here. Who needs to run off to San Francisco or Portland? I’m a fan of sticking around and making my city better and more beautiful.
CC: Where do you like to hang out in Atlanta?
RE: A better question is with who? My husband and I love having friends over to our sunny little apartment to cook. In addition to home: coffee shops. My most frequent stomping grounds include Revelator Coffee and Amélie’s. Chattahoochee Coffee Company is a new favorite now that the weather is getting so pretty, and Dr. Bombay’s is a special occasion hang out when I’m on that side of the woods.
CC: What’s next for you?
RE: School, school, school! It’s my life right now. But, I’m hoping to become more involved with the Paper Ghost Drawing Society this year and maybe collaborate with them in some capacity. I’m also hoping to finish up a collection of illustrations and get prints out for sale this year.
CC: Why do you make art?
RE: I do it to spread joy and tell stories. We encounter a lot of darkness every day, and I want to be part of the light. It’s my expression of love for God and all creation. It’s just how he made me, creative like him. I’m content to share what I make with those I encounter in my small life, and that is more than enough.
