Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Hopkins
Hi Rebecca, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up on James Island in a family of creatives, so I was always encouraged to draw and sew. I didn’t draw as a habit until around age 20, when I was traveling for work. I realized I took lots of pictures but never looked at them after posting them on Facebook, so I started carrying a sketchbook.
In 2019 while visiting Austin, TX I found a book about the Urban Sketchers movement, which is a global group of people who draw on location. I realized that’s what I had been doing with my sketchbook for about 10 years. I was fascinated to see different the media used for urban sketching—and started experimenting with ink, markers, and watercolor.
After about 6 months of experimenting my husband gifted me with some watercolor classes at Redux Contemporary Art Center in Charleston. I made friends with my teacher, and she eventually encouraged me to apply to rent a studio at Redux.
I have been a resident artist at Redux since June 2020. Having the space has allowed me to expand my practice and take up oil painting. Before, I was just painting on my couch, but now I have the space to work with big canvasses.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I work a 9-5 so I often feel frustrated at how long projects can take me, though my job is fulfilling in a different way. If I could make art full time I would, but between health insurance and student loans it’s not really an option right now. I’m lucky that my job provides reasonable work-life balance, and I enjoy what I do.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work is concerned with how we use urban, suburban and rural spaces, especially with regard to how we move from place to place. I am interested in perception and how it is impacted by technology as well as our own preconceived ideas. I began my studio practice with watercolor but have launched into oil painting.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Within my practice I feel a tension between my desire to work quickly and loosely, and my feeling that I should be more controlled and accurate. I try to compromise by doing a lot of prep work before even touching a canvas so that I understand how the composition, values, and colors of a piece will work together. My prep work involves several cycles of sketches and studies.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rhopkinsart.com
- Instagram: @rhopkins_art
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/LjQj5d1sn3wSUkQt/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Jared Bramblett
