Tuesday, October 29, 2013

30/30: Rachel Whetzel



30 artists...30 days. Spend the month of October with me at The Altered Page to meet the 30 spotlight artists in my book The Mixed-Media Artist: Art Tips, Tricks, Secrets and Dreams from Over 40 Amazing Artists. See them in action in their studios, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Mixed-Media Artist.


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"Thrift junkie. Free spirit. Believer. Artist.


Photographer. Mom to boys. Rust lover. Worm farmer. Blogger. Creative soul. Rule bender. Spider saver. Coffee drinker. Cream lover. Chook farmer. Goat milker. Sailor mouth.


Music listener. Phone talker. Garden grower. Beek. Mess maker. Risk taker. Chewy mom. Gritty gramma. Good intender."


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Having had the opportunity to meet Rachel during an Oregon road trip I took earlier this year, I can vouch for the fact that she is all those things she listed in her artist statement above. And more. Somehow she left out all around cool person. She has her fingers in many, many pies and shares all the different pieces on her blog. This variety is one of the things I really like about her and admire in her art.

In case you missed it, here is the link to a post that Rachel wrote for my blog this past May. It highlights her journey from scrapbooker to mixed media artist. It also presents her thoughts on inclusivity in creativity, which I wholeheartedly share. She talked about Blurred Lines long before Robin Thicke. Like I said - all around cool person.
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GIVEAWAY

For every comment you leave in October on one of the 30/30 posts on my blog, you will have that many chances to win a signed copy of The Mixed Media Artist. I will be giving away a total of 3 copies. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have (but only 1 per post please). Please make sure I have a way to contact you. Winners will be announced in early November. 

58 comments:

Mrs Pretzel said...

Totally cool to look at my shelves and see that there are several project I ACTUALLY FINISHED up there!

Bill said...

Goat milker and a coffee drinker? That's my kind of person! I've always loved goats and can't live without coffee.

Carol said...

The irritant thing is to create, no matter what label is applied. Another meat artist. Loving this!

Carol said...

I meant important , not irritant . And neat, not meat. Forgive me. It's late!

Unknown said...

I like her combinations, passion is obviously coming through her works. Nice...

Dianie said...

I was instantly moved by Rachel's work the first time I saw it.
She has amazing talent!

~Diane

Jo Murray said...

Rachel's lust for life is infectious. She's a 'boots'n'all' kinda gal and obvious embraces her art with gusto. Great to see more of her stuff.

Angie said...

Very talented artist with a wicked sense of Humor/Humour!

Laura in CT said...

I enjoyed reading her thoughts on scrap booking and art journaling, as I've followed a similar path myself. Fingers in many pies? A gal after my own heart.

Mia said...

Interesting pictures and objects!

Marit said...

Fun, fun, fun to see Rachel next to me on your blog Seth. (Now you have me wondering... are we 'neighbours' in the book too? Hmm... curious!) I agree: 'ubercool person' has to go in that list too!

elle said...

Self imposed! True. I SO resisted scrapbooking and now I'm studying ways to store papers! Great post/s!

Anne Marie - Toronto said...

A real person with a quirky sense of humour. She's my kinda gal!

Unknown said...

Rachel seems to share a problem with me-unfinished-itis!

Mrs Pretzel said...

Thank you all for the love!! Very happy to be here, and to be part of this.

Irma said...

I'm finding myself transitioning from scrap booking to more mixed media projects - delighted to read about Rachel's journey.

Darlene K Campbell said...

I'm a fan Rachel. I love "in process" projects lying around. That's what happens to creative souls bursting with ideas. I like to work on more than one project simutaneously, too.

Lori W said...

Rachel rocks!!:)

Chris said...

I especially like the journal cover!

Sherry Smyth said...

Such a great description of self...when you can say those kinds of things about yourself you know there is a tremendous spirit inside!

Angi in hana said...

i like her! actually i have liked all these artists! i am going to miss this when it is done seth! aloha, angi in hana

Sandy said...

Rachel's comments on scrap booking and mixed media struck a chord with me. I quickly moved from photography to scrapbooking briefly to collage and mixed media. It's a joy to read about and learn from a kindred soul!

Debbie Doughty said...

Nice article and comments :) Rachel has been one of my favorite people for a very long time, and I am proud to call her friend!

Debbie Doughty said...

I forgot to add that I think her self-description should say Worm Farmer (not work) and Geek (not Beek)... Can't wait to see the book...

Peg Englishman said...

Her work comes across with a sense of ease, enjoyment, and tranquility. love it! :)

Mrs Pretzel said...

The Work=Worm is right, but Beek is a slang term (like Chook is for chickens) meaning Bee Keeper, so that one is right. :) (although Geek is right too.)

Maggi said...

Woo hoo! This is awesome, can't wait to get a copy of this book!

Unknown said...

I love your list....especially spider saver!

trish quilty said...

what an interesting and out of the box artist. Loved her artwork and the description of herself. Go Rachel.

Tarnished Rose said...

She's an awesome artist!

Marilyn

donna joy said...

enjoyed perusing her blog today-thanks~

Hester said...

Fun stuff creator as well

cindy said...

Love this artist! Inspiring! Cant wait for your book!

Barbara I. said...

I love the cover of The Daily Journal. Looking at her blog I can see what you mean when you say that Rachel has her fingers in many, many pies. She is a busy lady.

bkisrael@gmail.com

aunt said...

Love your art, especially the wide variety. I'm quite taken with the skeleton guy!

Mrs Pretzel said...

:) Some days, I accidentally leave my HEAD in a pie...

Robin Panzer Art said...

Rachel, all around amazing artist and person with boundless energy. Love collaborating with her on any topic!

Deborah J Bein said...

assemblage, assemblage.....ah.....
dbein@hvc.rr.com

Candice Thomas said...

This is someone I would like to know!

Elizabeth Sanchez said...

Holy smokes amazing!!!

Karen said...

Very cool-I'm getting very excited to get my hands on this book! cairnlae@hotmail.com

Hue and Me Art said...

So enthusiastic and thrifty. Love the cool art you make.

Lynda said...

Wonderful melange of artwork...

Anonymous said...

I loved reading the story behind Rachel's journey from scrapbooking to mixed-media from a Pulse interview. Thanks for including her, Seth!

Linda M. Cain said...

Love this wonderful artist! The Skellie piece really is my fav!

~Linda

Mrs Pretzel said...

He was such fun to make, Linda!

Mickie said...

Oh yes, yes, yes!! Love her work and can truly relate!

Lura said...

really nice work. i hope i win this book so i can really look at all the great things for days and days. thank you so much. xox

Barbara Mason said...

Coffee drinker and sailor mouth and makes art, my kinda gal...but what is a Chook?

Mrs Pretzel said...

I've been waiting for that question, Barbara!! Chook is an Australian slang term for Chicken. :) I think Chook sounds so much more fun!

Jorin said...

I love having fingers in many pies, otherwise, it's boring ;-).

Christine Kiehl said...

I'm a thrift junkie too! I love how she mixes totally unrelated items together! Very cool. She's very beautiful too! THanks for sharing her work with us!

Hester said...

Nice art

Laura S Reading said...

Not only do I appreciate her pieces shared. I also love her studio and her smile. I will head over to learn more, after I read the piece she wrote for your blog.

Patty H said...

What an amazing talent!

Gillian Pearce said...

I particularly liked the peek into the studio. That always fascinates me.

Anonymous said...

i freaking LOVE rachel! although we live in the same state, i haven't yet met that fantastic lady in person yet, but i vow to. i didn't know she was going to be in your newest book and i've even more excited now. rachel simply rocks! in art, and chook keeping and goat milking and of course her follow-oregonian-sailor-mouthness.

JKJ Puissegur said...

What amazing work! Congratulations everyone!