03/06/2024
We're here with talking about mentors today.
SFA: Did you have a mentor(s) that helped shape your career? Any advice that's stuck with you over the years?
Rebecca: In my younger years I always sought out mentors. They all bought something to the table that I wanted know and learn and they always pushed me, sometimes harder than I would push myself.
One of my biggest mentors was my HS Art Principal who was the absolute best and most supportive person. On day one, she basically handed me a key to the darkroom, and told me to never stop shooting, and experimenting. She also taught me to not limit myself with the type of art process I chose but to try all the things that spoke to me because ultimately all these different forms of art I would try would help inform and push me harder in my photography.
Because of her I took mixed media, painting, figure drawing, sculpture, art history and learned so much in the process. To this day I don't just do photography, I also work in ceramics and a lot of my work is focused around figure drawing and female forms, not to mention how nice it is to have creative hobbies outside of photography as well.
I think the thing that most people do is stay within their comfort zones, and I was taught to always push myself outside of those comfort zones. Try new things, play, have fun, never take yourself too seriously, and enjoy the process.
SFA: Always striving to puch the boundaries and try new things. Love it. Stay tuned as we continue our conversation with Rebecca this week.
