Hello There! :)
My name is Rachel Owens. I am a mixed-media illustrator & graphic designer specializing in Publishing, Editorial, & Surface Design -- with a passion for interactive & educational children’s content.
Being a military child & growing up all over the world exposed me to a diverse array of people, places, & experiences – enabling me to develop a fascination for people & storytelling, & foster a desire to create work that connects people, is useful & meaningful, in addition to being aesthetically pleasing.
In my work, I take a mixed media approach – utilizing a myriad of mediums; choosing whatever combination of materials & techniques I believe will best represent the story I wish to tell, in a visually stimulating & vibrant way.
Through my work, I strive to provide a welcoming experience that brings smiles to faces & joy to hearts!
Connect with Me!
Interviews!
Partial Client List: Forsyth Farmers' Market, 1540 Room, KSN Property Management LLC, The Modern Green Book, RenderQ, Crane Army Ammunition Activity, Ground Agency / Galeria Playera
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Artist on Retainer at the DeSoto Savannah
We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Owens and we’ve shared our conversation below.
​Hi Rachel, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
As a military child, I grew up all over the world, and as such was exposed to a diverse array of experiences and people. I was always fascinated with people and storytelling and the way that books and art connected the two in a unique and expressive way. Truly I consider ordinary everyday people and life to contributing the most in my decision to pursue an artistic/creative career. There was no extraordinary moment when I realized that creating art was what I wanted to do with my life; to design pieces that would make people smile and bring them joy – the inspiration to be an illustrator has always been ingrained in my DNA, so to speak. I cannot remember a time when art was not all I wanted to do; some of my earliest memories were those when I was sitting and drawing something – anything – everything! Creating beautiful, colorful places, people, animals, and things – capturing what I saw around me as well as the world of my imagination.
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As I grew, I experimented with all sorts of materials and fell deeper in love with the experience of creating. My passion for art in general soon morphed and solidified, channeled towards publication design and children’s books. I wanted to use the gift that the Lord gave me to spread happiness and joy to anyone and everyone I could. To be the cause of someone’s smile, to brighten someone’s day, to inspire their future – even if I could never know if I succeeded, the hope alone continues to make me happy and drive me forward. That is why I do what I do – to help brighten the lives of strangers and friends; to help bring happiness to as many people as I can.
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Illustrating children’s books specifically is my passion. From a very young age I can remember excitedly journeying to the library to spend hours flipping through the pages of children’s books; being transported to other worlds through the vibrant, colorful pages and whimsical themes inspired me to illustrate my own stories. The extraordinary worlds that books transport a child’s mind to is something I want to be a part of; bringing words to life and using my abilities to impact and inspire the creative minds of the next generation.
Let's talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share
with our community?
In my illustrations, I take a mixed media approach – utilizing colored ink, colored pencils, acrylic and gouache paint, modeling paste, markers, posca paint pens, Blackwing graphite, scrapbook paper, and digital painting tools to create my vibrant illustrations – choosing whatever combination I believe will best represent the story I wish to tell. Texture plays a large role in my work – as I love incorporating tactile components that reward the viewer both visually and physically when they encounter my originals in person.
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In my art, I venture to capture the magic of the world around me through vivid colors and whimsical concepts, creating a stylized realism that blurs the lines between the real and the imagined. I like to utilize my art to share a glimpse of my perspective on the world, hoping to show people that even something small and seemingly insignificant can be impactful, beautiful, and exciting. My art is an expression of who I am, and I’ve always loved spreading happiness and joy. When looking at my art, I hope people find it welcoming, positive, and encouraging!
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As a perfectionist, I used to let my fear of failure and the prospect of others seeing my mistakes dictate my decisions. But through a process of self-discovery and personal growth, I have been able to overcome this fear and embrace a more positive mindset. By sketching in public and sharing my work on social media, the good and the bad, I have learned to build confidence in myself and my abilities.
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Now, I relish every opportunity to learn, create, and explore, recognizing that mistakes are simply necessary steps on the path to improvement and growth. As someone who loves helping and encouraging others, I have had to learn how to extend that same grace and kindness to myself. After all, the only way to truly succeed is to embrace our imperfections and use them to propel ourselves forward.
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As I continue to explore the possibilities of my art, I am excited to delve into projects that will help others. Specifically, I am passionate about using my skills to help children and their families who are coping with disabilities, both visible and invisible. As someone with disabilities myself, I want to create illustrations that educate and encourage, providing a positive and empowering message for those who may be struggling with their own disabilities, or those of their loved ones and friends.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Living in Savannah, Georgia is an absolute dream – the city itself simply exudes inspiration from every corner! With Spanish Moss delicately cascading from the trees, the melodic tunes of live street musicians echoing through the squares, and the captivating Forsyth Park fountain shimmering in the sunlight, the enchantment of strolling the historic streets of Savannah is truly endless.
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My perfect day exploring this captivating city with a friend would start with strolling around the delightful Forsyth Park to find the perfect spot to set up a picnic! Here we can sit and sketch, daydream, chat, and savor our picnic delights under the calming shade of a friendly tree. Next, we would head over to the charming E. Shaver Bookstore, not just to browse their beautiful book collection, but also to pet their adorable cats and pick up a “mystery date with a book” from their special selection. With our new books in hand, we would take a drive – venturing out to Tybee Island to sink our toes in the sand and watch the sunset over the peaceful water.
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Our adventure would continue in the following days, exploring more of the hidden gems of this beautiful city, like the decorative fish downspouts and vintage storefronts. From people watching and sketching in the various squares, sitting atop the renovated double-decker bus in Art’s Café, to wandering down the cobblestone lanes of River Street – there is so much to discover and experience! But my all-time favorite place to enjoy, is actually a little outside of Savannah, in Richmond Hill. It is a little treasure called “The Green Spork Café & Market”! The Green Spork is the cutest little spot with the nicest people – and it’s a fully dedicated gluten-free and plant-based vegan bakery/kitchen – totally welcoming, totally delicious!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family, most importantly, has been incredibly supportive, and I wouldn’t be who I am today without their love and encouragement. Over the years, so many incredible artists and people have impacted my life and work, and I never tire of discovering new and fantastic artists every day. Of course, I cannot talk about what inspires and encourages me without mentioning the greatest artist of all, and my biggest inspiration, God: the Creator of everything, without Whom there would be no beauty to appreciate, nor would I have the ability to capture it. (Revelation 4:11 ESV)
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To dive in more specifically, I will never forget the teachings of my first and only art instructor before college: Mark Lucas from Lucas Studios of Fine Art, located in Columbus, Georgia. His enthusiasm, patience, and love for teaching enabled me to grow in my work, encouraged my passion, and provided me with knowledge beyond what I could truly appreciate as an 11-year-old, but that is invaluable for me today. Although I was only able to learn from him for a short time (about 6 months), his kindness and the lessons he taught me continue to be influential in the way I pursue my creativity.
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Then, of course, there are my incredible professors at SCAD! Once I got to the Savannah College of Art and Design, I was opened up to a completely new wave of inspirational artists in the form of my professors! Each and every professor I have had the honor of learning from has completely amazed me – helping me grow and push myself in new and exciting ways. Leading by example, the professors at SCAD are fantastic artists themselves, with their own remarkable portfolios, experience working in the industry, and beyond – I could never have imagined the learning opportunities that would be opened to me through SCAD and its excellent community of creatives.
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As I answer this question, I feel that I cannot truly do it justice because there are so many incredible illustrators that come to mind, from long-time professionals to personal friends, I would never be able to capture the names of all who inspire and uplift me! But each illustrator I discover opens new doorways in my own work – some that will influence me for a short time and some that will deeply affect the way I work forever. Inspiration is all around – all you have to do is look for it!
Hi Rachel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have been creating ever since I can remember. My earliest memories involve some sort of artistic endeavor – reading, writing, drawing, painting, sculpting, crafting, sewing – you name it! As a military child, I had the unique honor of growing up all over the world, which exposed me to a plethora of intriguing sources of inspiration. This exposure to diverse cultures and experiences sparked my fascination with people, storytelling, and the way art and books could beautifully connect these elements – while also enabling me to discover the true meaning behind why I wanted to create art: to encourage people; to bring smiles to faces and joy to hearts; to brighten someone’s day with warmth and wonder.
From a very early age, I found immense happiness in learning new things, creating from both my imagination and from the world around me, and helping people in any way that I could. I can vividly recall spending hours flipping through children’s books, being transported by the vibrant pages and whimsical themes therein. Through this, I was inspired to create my own stories, both written and visual, with a constant drive to learn and grow.
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Besides a brief (but influential) interaction with six months of art classes as a teenager, I was self-taught until my first encounter with art in an academic arena at SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design). SCAD proved to be a pivotal step that opened up a whole new world of artistic possibilities and helped me understand how I could turn my love for art and people into a career. Under the guidance of my professors, who are themselves incredibly accomplished artists, I delved into new practices that have significantly shaped my approach to art, helped me discover my aesthetic voice, and realized my purpose through the application of my work. It is incredible to look back at my growth even just from freshman year to senior year – how far I’ve come and what I have accomplished in that short time. To think I was once just a little girl with big dreams, and now I am a magazine-published illustrator! It honestly gives me goosebumps – haha!
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I like to think that the inspiration to be an illustrator has forever been ingrained in my very DNA. As a Christian, I believe the Lord imbued me with the passion, drive, and enthusiasm for art that He did as His design for my life so I could utilize art to help people and spread love and joy! Consequently, my path toward becoming an illustrator was not necessarily sparked by a single extraordinary moment but rather an innate desire to help, captivate, and transport people to different worlds by evoking positive emotions and encouraging connections.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Every journey worth embarking upon carries with it its own set of challenges – after all, where would the adventure be if the road were always smooth? The twists and turns, the rises and falls – these are the elements that infuse our stories with interest, uniqueness, and humanity.
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Among the hurdles I’ve encountered, one of the most profound struggles has been rooted in my health. As someone living with chronic disabilities, life has demanded of me a distinct perspective that at times cast shadows on my ability to follow my artistic calling – for instance, when I had to defer college and put my art on hold while I was in and out of the emergency room. Yet, through perseverance, I’ve learned to not only manage my health challenges but to also integrate them into my artistic narrative. While I can’t say that it is now a “walk in the park” – haha – this shift in mindset has transformed what could have been a debilitating impediment into a source of determination and even encouragement. However, I cannot claim this transformation as solely my own because the strength to overcome has come from my relationship with God, the unwavering support of my family, and the encouragement of my friends and fellow creatives.
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As any creative knows, the artistic odyssey, while rewarding, is peppered with its fair share of stumbling blocks. At the forefront of my struggles was the task of taming my own perfectionism and confronting the fear of failure. Striving for excellence is a core principle of mine, but this pursuit sometimes veered into self-doubt and hesitancy. Fear of exposing my work’s imperfections often held me back from showcasing my creativity openly, causing my authentic self-expression to be hindered. The blank page sometimes overwhelmed me – and the idea that everything I create has to be “my next masterpiece”, or my “Mona Lisa”, so to speak, terrified me and halted my creative flow. Furthermore, the competitive realm of the creative industry posed its own set of challenges. I wrestled with doubts about the distinctiveness of my work amidst a bustling field of amazing artists. The pressure to conform to trends and meet perceived expectations while also “standing out” was stifling, leading me to undertake the quest of discovering my own genuine artistic voice and asking if I had what it takes to be successful.
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In the midst of these challenges, the bedrock of family, friends, and mentors has fortified me. Their unwavering support, along with my commitment to personal growth, has provided the compass to navigate these complexities. I’ve found that embracing imperfections and showcasing my work authentically is vital, and there is only futility in comparing myself to others. Your distinct perspective is your greatest strength; therefore, if you stay true to yourself, then you can know that you are on the right path — and any obstacles that stand in your way are meant to be morphed into catalysts for resilience and adaptability, fanning the flames of your passion instead of fizzling them out.
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Hurdles are meant to be transformed into stepping stones, building resilience, sculpting character, and propelling towards new heights of creativity and self-discovery. I love to remind myself that each failure is a step towards success, and if I embrace my failures, I am all the closer to my next success! To look back and see that you overcame that blank page or that little mistake can go a long way in providing the courage to boldly step forward and embrace the unknown of the next challenge.
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Above all, I feel enormously grateful to the Lord for blessing me with a family that supports me and with friends and fellow creatives who inspire, uplift, and encourage me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a mixed media illustrator and graphic designer specializing in publication design with a passion for editorial, educational, and children-focused content! As such, my main aim is to bring ideas to life in any way possible – but mainly through vivid colors and whimsical themes. My work is a fusion of various artistic techniques and mediums, ranging from ink, colored pencils, acrylic, and gouache paint (and MANY MORE materials) to digital tools – all lovingly orchestrated to create vibrant and captivating illustrations.
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I like to describe my work as a stylized realism – blending realistic aspects with surrealistic colors, motifs, and expressions, blurring the lines between our world and the world of the imagination. I use any and every material that I can get my hands on to illustrate my pieces – choosing whatever medium will best tell the story I am determined to communicate. Color and texture play enormous roles in my work. I live in the heavily saturated and tactile world of my imagination and try to translate it onto the page and into the eyes and minds of people who experience my work. I want my work to be interactive: for people to explore my pieces and discover what it represent for themselves, but ultimately always finding joy and happiness through their exploration.
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If it is not already evident, I love telling stories! Whether through written words or visual details, stories are a part of life, and I grew up with a love for learning, reading, and digesting visually interesting content that even continues to inspire the work I create today.
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Among my proudest accomplishments is my ability to evoke positive emotions and spread joy through my art. I take immense happiness in knowing that my work has the potential to bring smiles to people’s faces, brighten their days, and spark their imaginations. This sense of purpose fuels my passion and serves as a driving force in my artistic journey. My specialization in children’s content is particularly close to my heart. I draw inspiration from the enchanting worlds that children’s literature opens, and I’m dedicated to contributing my illustrations to this magical realm. There is a unique excitement in knowing that my work might be a child’s first encounter with art, sparking their creativity and sense of wonder and encouraging their interest in learning.
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Through the unity of my diverse influences, I strive to create an aesthetic voice that sparks an emotional connection, shares a positive perspective on the world, and inspires others to find beauty in the seemingly ordinary. Truly my illustrations are an extension of who I am, crafted to uplift, engage, and ignite a sense of joy in those who experience them!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Looking ahead, I have ambitious goals, one of which involves using my art to positively impact children and families coping with disabilities. Drawing from my own experiences with disabilities, I aim to create illustrations that educate, empower, and encourage the understanding of disabilities!
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In essence, my story is one of constant exploration, growth, and a deep-rooted desire to bring joy to others through my art. The road hasn’t always been easy, but every challenge and triumph has led me to where I am today – a mixed-media illustrator and graphic designer passionate about creating vibrant, whimsical worlds that inspire and uplift — reflecting on all of this makes me abundantly happy and feel overwhelmingly blessed to do what I do :) Thank you for reading my story :)
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BONUS: my work has been chosen to represent Forsyth Park Farmers’ Market – so if you are in the Savannah Forsyth Park area on Saturdays between 9 am and 1 pm, stop on by and pick up a t-shirt with my work on it! :) Be sure to reach out and show me if you do – @smiley.rachelle or rachelnowens98@gmail.com – I’d love to see it!
