Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Rachel Rusenko of SE Portland

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Rachel Rusenko. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I believe in a slow transition from the dreaming place to the waking place.

I typically lie still for at least 15 min, focusing on remembering my dreams, and giving my cat her morning belly rubs.

Once I’m out of bed, I start a gongfu tea ceremony that takes about an hour to complete. I drink puer tea (fermented black tea from China) while performing my daily tarot pull, and journaling.

Once that is complete, I begin painting.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Folks in the local art scene have taken to calling me the “psychedelic Georgia O’Keeffe”. A majority of my work utilizes a bright and saturated color palette. The evocative shapes and lines are interpretations of the feminine form.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was a bit of a mischievous wild child! One of my favorite moves was getting naked and streaking through the dining room when my parents had important guests over for dinner. I have been told that my eyes would sparkle right before I found something naughty to do.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have been a few, in fact. I understand that being a deeply feeling person comes with more extreme emotional swings, in both directions. I do feel grateful that I have gotten much better at sweet talking the despairing aspect of my personality into choosing to focus on the silver linings. I now trust that what is heavy will eventually feel light again.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
I base my life around the concept that I know that I do not know.

I acknowledge that there are things that I do not currently have the capacity to understand. I welcome and even court these mysteries.

Many people feel deeply uncomfortable around the unknown. They try to claim false certainty. To me, this is insulting. I know that I do not know, and I welcome being shown that I am wrong, thus attempting a perpetual state of learning.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
This is an easy one to answer! I am definitely not following anyone’s orders.

I have always felt very free to express through drawing and through song since a very young age.

Though I have experienced some pushback from family members or even peers, I feel that has only strengthened my resolve, and shown me that this is where my passion truly lies.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rachel.rusenko.com
• Instagram: @rachelrusenko

Image Credits
Nikita Kozlov, Justin Potts