Rebecca Santry: Daily Rituals
Working with acrylics on canvas and paper, Rebecca aims to create pieces that express the majestic beauty and captivating landscape of the Pacific Northwest. Immersing herself in daily rituals of being in nature, she draws from the movement and layers within her surroundings capturing the essence of what she experiences in an abstract form.
How did your creative journey begin?
In a small hamlet buried deep in the UKs Chiltern Hills, I grew up surrounded by more hedges than houses. Dunsmore is a tiny village only accessible by two very steep single-track lanes, surrounded by English woodland. Most of my childhood was spent exploring these woods and building dens in the giant rhododendron bushes at the bottom of the garden. It was here that I first grew my love for spending time outside and building a connection with nature and its organic patterns and layers. My mum fostered my love for art and encouraged family holidays to include at least one trip to visit an art gallery or local exhibition. I have always had a keen interest for visual communication, it was my strength during my school years and I would always opt in to the more “hands on” subjects; Art and Design, Ceramics, Textile Design. Studying Art & Design at Loughborough University opened my eyes to new processes and possibilities. I fell in love with typography, layout and the more tactile side of making, creating and mixing medias which continues to evolve over time.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
My move to the Pacific Northwest from the UK exposed me to a new lifestyle, environment and newfound inspiration drawn from the impressive physical surroundings and formations. Squamish and surrounding areas have provided me with a thoughtful and active community in which my love of the region and its natural offerings in fostered. I draw inspiration from the sights, sounds and sensations invoked by the movements and layers of nature during my daily walks on the local trails amongst the mountains, trees and by the riverside. My artwork is deeply inspired by every day beauties and fuelled by my desire to capture the essence of what I experience, in an abstract form.
How has your work evolved over the last few years?
I have always enjoyed creating artwork that encourages/embodies a more tactile approach. A suggestion of raised surfaces and layers that can cast a different perspective depending on how the light hits it, the environment in which the piece is created or presented, even the mood and headspace of the viewer, all play a role in how I create. In recent years my style has evolved to become more free, leading to the formation of abstract shapes and fluid lines. They depict the raw and robust (or sometimes ethereal) movement felt and found in nature. My intention is to capture the calming complexity of this environment on the canvas.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed?
Drawing from my years of experience creation - designing and running large scale events for global companies - I spend my Sundays planning out my week ahead. In order to create headspace and time to bring my ideas to life planning and preparation is necessary. The reality is of course a lot more chaotic - just as the artistic process is: A typical day at home always involves a bit of a hustle in the morning: making packed lunches, walking to school, turning over the Airbnb. I then take the dogs out to the trails, go for a short hike sometimes with a friend or sometimes alone. On solo hikes I find myself wandering, with my head in the clouds. Here, I find space to think, listen, look and generally just be. Nature is most certainly my main studio; A place where I allow my thoughts and ideas to unravel and translate to possible layouts. Once home I use photos from my walk to help spark and develop various compositions. I print out my favorites on a small polaroid printer, pin them up and use them as daily inspiration.
Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?
Personal experiences, such as the experience of loss, in the last few years have pushed me to use my art as a way of expressing myself, creating an outlet where I have found solace. Art has become my therapy, a place to escape, play and challenge myself. I aspire to create artwork that communicates this essence and also evokes these same feelings in the viewer. In my research I came across scientific studies that deepened my understanding of the benefits of nature. For instance, its ability to drive parasympathetic nervous system activation (rest & digest mode), decrease things like cortisol (the main ‘stress’ hormone) and even simply increasing ‘Happiness’. I was inspired to learn about Attention Restoration Theory & how nature can draw your attention & deliver physical restoration without fatigue, contrary to the usual effects of sustained focus. This theory suggests the environment needs to include 4 things: soft fascination, feeling of being away, to feel expansive & to feel like a place you want to be. I build these principles into my art as a way to support and reach more people with these proven benefits of nature through my art.
How has social media impacted your work?
A double-edged sword? Focusing has become the biggest challenge. I find myself in a holding pattern of questions when it comes to online and social channels. Should I share more? Am I sharing enough? Is what I’m sharing engaging enough for the viewer? Is this the best use of my time as an artist? Is making art more important or is getting my art out there in front of more people the priority? I need to be in the right frame of mind to create so I often experience social media as an added pressure, a disruption from the act of just being “in the moment” and creating something of meaning. On the other hand, I am aware that my online presence has created opportunity through connection with galleries, customers, and fellow creatives. In a way, social media is a fantastic resource for sharing best practices and techniques amongst artists, creating a digital connection space for us to improve our work and support one another as we navigate the many challenges of the art world.
How can you tell when a piece is finished?
For me, this is the most difficult stage of creating: knowing when to pull back from adding another layer or painting that extra line. I do this mostly through feeling and intuition, but it’s still a learning process and there’s definitely a discarded pile of overworked pieces in the corner of the studio. If a piece inspires a desired feeling, or calms my mind into a meditative state, that’s when I know it is finished. As I create, I hold onto my core desire of creating a sense of respite between each experience in nature - drawing on the principles of Attention Restoration Theory - giving each shape and form space to breathe and move freely on the canvas and mirror the core principles of soft fascination, feeling of being away, to feel expansive & to feel like a place you want to be. If I am able to create this essence on the canvas and offer it to the viewer, I have succeeded in the creative process while living in alignment with my personal values and creating a life that continues to inspire all areas of my life, including my art.
Website: www.rebeccasantry.com
Instagram: @rebeccasantryart