Meet Rebecca Gaines

We were lucky to catch up with Rebecca Gaines recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rebecca , first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Being the second oldest of 11 kids, I learned early on how to hold on to small things that made me unique, whether that was being interested in different activities or going to a different college than my siblings. Later, in my careers, this really helped me establish a sense of self and a deep understanding of who I am. I can’t emphasize enough how huge that is in a world where big corporations have a hold of so many talented people. Recognizing my worth, my talents and my abilities has helped me conquer the days where I feel less than or that I don’t belong in the room. Knowing what value I bring allows me to rest easy when I need a break from social media or some me time. Because I know at the end of the day, I am here to bring the world some beauty and joy and if I need that peace to get there, that’s what has to happen.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

My name is Rebecca Gaines, and I am a salon owner, stylist, and professional artist. Since childhood, I have been driven by creativity, constantly seeking new ways to expand my artistic expression. My journey into hairstyling began in high school through a trade program, which eventually led me to purchase my own salon and enjoy a successful 20-year+ career. Alongside my work in the salon, I have pursued my passion for art, participating in both solo and collaborative exhibitions. Most recently, I received a grant for an artist residency in Orquevaux, France, and was honored with an exhibition at the Philbrook Museum of Art, the highlight of my year.

While I cherish my career as a stylist, my true passion lies in art. As an entrepreneur, I value the freedom to create my own schedule and design my life, but the freedom I experience when expressing myself on a canvas is unparalleled. My paintings, whether on canvas or couture, are characterized by movement, texture, and vibrant colors, aiming to evoke a sense of youth and carefree energy in the viewer. After an eight-year hiatus, I rediscovered my love for painting following the birth of my son in 2020. The aftermath of COVID-19 and the challenges of new motherhood pushed me to reconnect with my artistic side, which had been dormant but never lost.

As the second oldest of 11 children, I have always been fiercely independent. Having a child later in life brought about an identity crisis, but painting restored a sense of independence and allowed me to create works that are purely my own and pieces of my soul. The success of my artistic endeavors has been immensely rewarding, and I am grateful for the opportunity to nurture this aspect of my life. I feel as though this is just the beginning of my journey, and I am excited to see where it leads.

You can follow my artistic journey on Instagram at @rebeccagainesart.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I believe the grit, resourcefulness and creativeness that came with coming from a large family has brought me to where I am today. I see a lot of people who have incredible talents but don’t have the discipline to go to the next level. I am so grateful for where I come from because it has taught me that the only person I can count on every day to get me where I want to go is me. Whether that is painting the next picture, or counting on myself to make myself happy, I know I am responsible. This is not to say I don’t believe in having a great network and support system, I know those are pivotal too! Simply, that I have learned I am responsible for my own success or failure and I believe there is a lot of power in that knowledge and the earlier you recognize that, the better off you will be!
If you are new on your journey, I highly recommend digging deep into the things that make you uniquely you that you enjoy. Anytime I have dug into those little whispers I have never regretted it. There are too many experiences to count where I have felt immensely rewarded for doing those things, for me it’s leaning into art. It’s scary at first, but it’s always worth it.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

I believe each and every one of us is unique and given our own set of strengths and weaknesses. I personally feel that leaning into your gifts and strengths is the best way we can be our most powerful selves to others. If you are given a set of talents and spend all that time not using it, it would be a waste. I believe everything happens for us, not to us and that there is a reason we have the gifts we were given. I also feel that we are our happiest selves when we lean into those strengths and that by doing so we can be the light to those around us and in that way, we give back in the highest way possible. In my stylist world, I have had the opportunity to talk to many many people, and a common thread I see is unhappiness in what people do for their livings. So many people are stuck in jobs for a paycheck instead of doing something they love. At the end of the day their families get crumbs and so much of their lives are spent in misery. Life is so short and I have to believe we are meant to live it to the fullest. The way I see to do that is to lean wholeheartedly into the gifts you have so you can live a full and passionate life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.rebeccagainesart.com
• Instagram: @rebeccagainesart

Image Credits

Brittany Close
Kacey Gilpin