Meet Rachael Hartin | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachael Hartin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachael, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
If you told me a 2 years ago I would build a career as an artist, I would have laughed out loud and said “yeah right, I wish!”. At the time, I just left working in the corporate world for 10 years to start a rental car business. After a year or learning the ins and outs, the cars soon became rented out most days of the week and I was left with extra free time. I began painting and building furniture for my own home out of boredom. It reignited so many emotions that I had buried for my whole adult life. When I was younger I was always painting, creating altered journals, graffiti, photography, and graphic design. Sadly when I went college, those things ceased to exist. Once I started painting again a year ago, I immediately fell back in love and knew I had to cultivate this.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It’s been fun, but not easy! I did not go to art school or have any formal education about art at all. Everything I have learned so far has been from trial and error. When I am not working on my other business, I spend all of my free time trying to learn and work on my craft as much as possible. I hope people will tune in and join this journey with me because I’m only beginning.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I hope you like to eat because that’s what Dallas does best! We would go to: Wabi house
Dallas Farmers market : Shrimp fettuccine from Rex’s and meat patties from the Caribbean spot.
Walk Main St in Grapevine and stop in all of the wineries.
Dallas Art Museum and then walk across the street to Mi Cocina for Margs after..
Las Palmas for the lobster enchiladas.
Monarch for dinner and walk the catwalk upstairs after dinner.
Niwa Japanese BBQ.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to pay recognition to my mother who I lost at the age of 19. Every time I paint, even if it’s just for a moment, I always think of her. The love and encouragement she gave me was immense and to this day I can still feel her cheering me on. She was so selfless and gave her whole life to her kids… I want to live my life in the ways she couldn’t, for her.

Instagram: @rachaeleighart