Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca de Araujo.
Hi Rebecca, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Edison, New Jersey with my Mom, Dad, and younger sister, where I always had a big and supporting family within reach. After beginning school, I became completely enthralled with the creative side of education. I was always extremely invested in reading, writing, and of course, art.
As I got older, my passion for art grew to be more serious. I became very interested in illustration, specifically color and pattern, and knew I wanted to make a career and lifestyle out of my passion. I looked at a lot of art schools my senior year of high school, but once I had visited Savannah, I fell in love with SCAD and decided it was where I was going to spend my next four years. It was a difficult decision to come to, since I had never been away from home before.
During this time, my mom was going through chemo treatment for breast cancer, and it was hard to decide to move 14 hours away from her and the rest of my family for a majority of the years to come. But as they have for my entire life, my family full heartedly supported me in moving to pursue my passion. So I took their advice and did just that.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I take time to look back at my journey to where I am now, obstacles of course show up in memory. With both of my parents being diagnosed with cancer and having to go through long chemo treatment (my mother when I was looking to move away to school, and my father my freshman year of college), I had a lot of trouble being so far away from my family, feeling like I couldn’t help at all. Thankfully, both of my parents have recovered and are healthy again. I’m lucky enough to have such supporting parents who constantly push me to do my best. That being so, I was always taught to work my hardest in whatever I do. I sometimes feel I push myself a little too hard in my work, constantly making schedules for projects, classes, and even making sure I fit in time to eat and sleep, or else I’d forget to do necessities such as those. In a school as rigorous as SCAD, I’ve found it hard to exist any other way. But at the end of every project and quarter, I am always feeling satisfied I’ve done my best, which is something I try to strive for every day.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am currently majoring in Illustration, with a concentration in Surface Design. What get’s me most excited about my work is when I find colors that fit perfectly beside one another, or when I create a line that flows in just the right way. I love to create patterns that have an elegant and sophisticated feel to them. I really like having texture and expression shine throughout my work as well, so even when working digitally, I am always drawn to more traditional feeling brushes. I am very proud of the work I’m developing recently. It’s the most satisfying feeling to an artist when they really begin to find their own personal style. Their go-to textures or brushes, or even just a few combination of colors they’ve fallen in love with. While finishing up my senior year at SCAD, I feel all of my education is finally culminating together, and I couldn’t be more excited about it.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My mom deserves all the credit in the world, as well as the rest of my family. I was never told I couldn’t accomplish something. My entire life I was supported in any direction I chose to go down, and was never once doubted. I am so lucky to be surrounded by such a big and loving family, and it really is the only reason I’m where I am today. Although there were some times struggles appeared in our lives, I never had any doubt that things wouldn’t turn out alright because there was always support where I really needed it. I am extremely lucky to be surrounded by such caring and supportive people, and absolutely all of the credit goes to them.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.rebeccadearaujo.com/
- Instagram: @becdeart
Image Credits
Rebecca de Araujo
