We recently connected with Rachel Sharp and have shared our conversation below.
Rachel, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
Part of that may come from having a lot of creative people in my family. But if I had to delve deeper into it, I’d say that the main reason I’ve been able to keep my creativity alive for so long is because it’s always there. Even at times when I’m not actively drawing or writing, I find creativity and potential for new ideas in moments you wouldn’t expect.
I mean, I never thought that the stop motion course in my high school film class would result in the creation of Petey the Plague Doctor. But here I am!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Since I was a kid, I’ve always had a soft spot for animated media. Whether it be watching cartoons and Disney movies with my sister, reading comics and graphic novels at the local library, or playing video games that are either cute, creepy, or everything in between!
Even as an adult, I not only continue to harbor that love for mixed media, but I’ve grown to appreciate its ability to convey important messages.
I’d love to publish some of my work in comic/graphic novel form and inspire people, similar to how other authors and animators have inspired me.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Don’t be afraid to try new things! It may seem nerve wracking at first, but trying and learning new ideas and techniques can actually be very rewarding in the long run.
It’s okay to make mistakes. Nobody’s perfect when they start out, even professional artists like Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh needed to learn from their mistakes at some point. As frustrating as mistakes are, there’s always an opportunity to learn from them.
Ask for help. Trust me, I struggled a lot in that regard inside and outside of my artwork. There’s absolutely no shame in asking others for help. It’ll make you a much happier artist moving forward.
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
Given the current state of the world, I’ve had trouble focusing on the present, causing me a great deal of stress. However, I’ve found a way to channel that stress into my art, and it’s helped me tremendously. For me, art isn’t just a hobby, it’s my refuge in these uncertain times.
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