We recently had the chance to connect with Rachael Speirs and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Rachael, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
Many times I have been glad that I did not act fast or impulsively. I notice a lot of people (especially ‘these days’ which makes me sound old) will jump to intense, emotional or impulsive conclusions without hearing the whole story. Or will act in ways driven by confirmation bias. Hindsight is 20/20 and knowing that solid decision making comes with patience has kept me from making quick decisions. I recently had an offer for representation. The offer for representation wanted an unquestioning and immediate ‘yes’. I am glad I listened to my gut, took my time and asked questions. It taught me a lot.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello everyone! My name is Rachael Speirs. I am a multidisciplinary self-taught artist from the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario Canada.
As a child I was raised by a single mother and was left alone a lot. Boredom was the catalyst for my work. I learned to use whatever materials I had at my disposal to create artwork. This practice carried through my life and became my chosen medium.
I make large scale mixed media paintings using scrap fabric, embroidery, paper and paint. I have a Social Work background so the work often answers questions about current events, past events, topics of confusion or mode of healing.
What makes my work unique is the presentation. The vibe of the pieces harkens the feel of a glittery, velvet draped, theatre set design or a Victorian child’s playroom. It drips with beadwork, metallics, images of swans and evokes the essence of rummaging through your great grandmothers attic chest. The work is highly narrative and harkens back to a feeling to cracking open an old Hans Christian Anderson picture book.
In 2024 I was published by Plum Leaf Press for my first picture book ‘Beas Paper Imaginarium’ listed as one of the Canadian Children’s Book Centre best books.
Currently I am working on developing an installation based work that will be shown in a museum in Prince Edward County, organized by Gather In the County.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
This is a great question. I think as I get older I realize that ‘hustle’ and ‘drive’ serve a great purpose, and continue to do so, but never at the expense of time with the people we love. Human connection and care for one another wins above all else. At the end of the day all I can hope for is that I was a good mother and contributed some good to the world. I realize that some of the ‘hustle’ and ‘drive’ in life is also tied to feelings of ‘not good enough’ and I now realize that there are millions of ways to live a rich life and its up to our own interpretation.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
I had a difficult childhood and I was often alone. There were many times in my life where I was scared and left alone in that fear. Something that helped me was to be creative and to make art. It helped me to calm my nervous system and to feel like I had some control over the situation; I was alone and frightened, but I used that alone time to explore my art and creativity. I sang, I painted, sewed, embroidered and I lost myself in my imagination in ways that I couldn’t have if I was surrounded by people. It was a way of turning the loneliness into something beautiful and magical.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That commercial success is artistic success. I think they are two vastly different things. Most artists we value and admire don’t become popular until its posthumously. Its a struggle to maintain a vision and balance it with making a living. Don’t compare your work and your success to others, success is personal and life is always a trade off. Operate through life considering how you want to be remembered.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would stop living as though I would live to be 90. I would travel with my family and turn our living room into a studio and tell the fam to ‘deal with it’.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rachaelspeirs.com
- Instagram: @rachaelspeirsart
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