Check Out Rachael Nerney’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachael Nerney.

Hi Rachael, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I am the quintessential born-with-a-paintbrush-in-hand story. I’ve always been creative but became a serious artist when I enrolled at the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2009. After college, I worked as an in-house store artist for Whole Foods where I expanded upon my graphic design and installation skills. I started working for Miller Gallery in Charleston in 2017. My path has drastically shifted since. Working hard from the ground up, I learned so much about what it takes to operate a fine art gallery. While I began working as a gallery associate, I have evolved to be a represented artist. In January 2019 I had my first duet exhibit at Miller Gallery with Julia Deckman. That was one of the most pivotal moments of artistic pursuit. At the end of that year, we were nominated as the Best Exhibit of 2019 by the Charleston City Paper. Now I am focusing the majority of my time painting at my home studio in addition to creating mural installations and custom designs.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Overall I would say that it has been a fairly smooth road, transitioning to being a full-time artist. I have continually followed my heart and my gut and they haven’t let me down yet.

The first struggle for me was the financial risk I took leaving my full-time position with Whole Foods after college. I started working as a grocery cashier at 15 and continued working my way up for years. This was the only industry I really knew. Withought a job lined up, I quit and took an entry-level position in Charleston’s art gallery scene. I knew I wanted my days to be full of art, whatever that meant. I haven’t looked back since. That leap of faith is what has gotten me through each year as I have gradually expanded my art business while building connections in this incredible community.

What I have realized is that my creative business has no paved path, only I can get myself further along to see what lies ahead. I think that is the real struggle as a creative. Forging our own path doesn’t create a predictable schedule, work-flow, or income. It also means we personally have to identify how we view success and what we are trying to achieve with our work. There are times that can be extremely difficult, even overwhelming. But there is also an undeniable beauty and priveledge in it, too.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an artist who loves to capture the small details of life through color, light, and texture. I am known for my food-inspired original paintings. What sets me apart is I am deeply passionate about the process of my creative work. My paintings have an element of whimsy to them. When you view them from afar, it is usually easy to tell what you are looking at. When you get up close, you can see layer upon layer of unexpected bold colors. I specialize in fine art, murals, and design for individuals and businesses.

My fine art is represented by The Miller Gallery, Art & Light Gallery and The Gallery at Sweetgrass at Wild Dunes Resort. You can view my mural work around Charleston at Park & Grove, Julia Deckman Studio, RL Jones Center, and Rancho Lewis.

My artistic training is unique because I had formal training throughout my life. From an abundance of art classes through public education as well as private classes, I was fortunate to have a lot of exposure to art. Enrolling in SCAD was a dream and a privilege. At SCAD, I studied Illustration because I loved the focus on problem-solving. My art processes I use currently are a combination of my foundational education along with self-taught practices. The paints, surfaces, and mediums I choose have all been selected through trial and error.

The artwork I am most proud of is my mural at the RL Jones Center in Mt. Pleasant, SC. The 115ft mural was created in June of 2021 and is my largest mural to date. This project was my greatest success for multiple reasons. It pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I created something on a scale I had never attempted and it was my first commission through a town. I was also proud to have completed the project in 2 weeks in the heat of a Charleston summer.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
There was nothing that made me happier than sitting on a blanket with paper and crayons. It would occupy me for hours. Dress-up and playing pretend were my favorite activities alongside drawing. I was driven by curiosity and open to trying new things like dance, gymnastics, and girl scouts. While I was always quiet in a crowded room, I was full of love for all my family and friends.

Contact Info:

• Email: info@rachaelnerney.com
• Website: rachaelnerney.com
• Instagram: @rachaelnerney

Image Credits
Kate Blohm