REBECCA GOUIN
Bio
Hi, and thanks for stopping in...
Welcome to my world of art and reflection
EVERYDAY I WAKE UP AND I FEEL GRATEFUL that I am able to make a living doing what I love to do.
I've had no formal training, but for as long as I can remember I've always liked to draw and doodle. Over the years I've dabbled in a variety of arts and crafts - mostly handmade DIY projects. Then when my kids reached an age where they were more independent, I decided it was time for me to follow my dream of becoming a professional artist. I didn't really have a plan of action at the time. I just started with things I enjoyed doing.
MY FIRST ENDEAVOR AS A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST was designing and silk-screening baby shoelaces! I won't go in to all the details, but suffice to say that despite the fact they sold well, I soon realized that silk-screening baby shoelaces for a living was just a little too labor intensive!
NEXT CAME STENCILING. Stenciling was rising in popularity around this time and so I began designing custom stencils for home decor, as well as creating a line of mix and match stencils for the craft market.
WHAT MAKES LIFE SO INTERESTING is that you just never know where it will take you. How one thing can lead to another and so on.. During my stencil days I was asked by a friend if I could paint Santas and Snowmen on framed glass for Christmas decor. . I jumped at that opportunity and decided to cut stencils for this project because painting on glass is tricky. I designed 10 pieces and created stencils for them, adding layers so there were no spaces, no signs of a stenciled look. The end result came out great! . They sold well, but more importantly it gave me a new-found confidence in my design skills, and a better sense of direction regarding my career.
IN MY HEART, I'd always wanted to design greeting cards, calendars, art prints and such.. So I began creating art that fit those genres. I had just read about licensing and decided this was the right direction for me. Following through on an idea I had, I created a small line of greeting cards that consisted of whimsical figures, each with their own unique personality. They were hand-drawn and colored in with ink. I submitted them to a one card company - Recycled Paper Greetings. They liked them and kept 3 designs to test. Shortly thereafter I was offered a licensing contract with them. I remained an active licensed artist with RPG for over 20 years, and today I still continue to receive royalties on a few of my designs that American Greetings now oversees. One of those designs happens to be one of the first cards that I submitted to RPG. It has sold steadily in stores for all these years. After awhile I began designing a variety of styles for RPG as well as writing verse for all types of cards during my Recycled Paper tenure.
ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE, I am a Southern California girl, born and raised.
Life and love make me happy.
Anything quirky or whimsical makes me smile.
I believe in dreams come true.
I love the beach, the smell of the ocean, a perfect sunset.
I admire honesty, integrity, and kindness.
Family and friends are the most important things in my world.
I love children,
anything chocolate,
a beautiful song,
the sound of laughter,
animals of all kinds,
and people with big hearts who continue to inspire me each and every day.
Oh, did I mention I love chocolate? Ah, yeah.
Please enjoy. And again, thanks for stopping in and letting me share my art with you.
Have a wonderful day!
xo
Rebecca
Welcome to my world of art and reflection
EVERYDAY I WAKE UP AND I FEEL GRATEFUL that I am able to make a living doing what I love to do.
I've had no formal training, but for as long as I can remember I've always liked to draw and doodle. Over the years I've dabbled in a variety of arts and crafts - mostly handmade DIY projects. Then when my kids reached an age where they were more independent, I decided it was time for me to follow my dream of becoming a professional artist. I didn't really have a plan of action at the time. I just started with things I enjoyed doing.
MY FIRST ENDEAVOR AS A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST was designing and silk-screening baby shoelaces! I won't go in to all the details, but suffice to say that despite the fact they sold well, I soon realized that silk-screening baby shoelaces for a living was just a little too labor intensive!
NEXT CAME STENCILING. Stenciling was rising in popularity around this time and so I began designing custom stencils for home decor, as well as creating a line of mix and match stencils for the craft market.
WHAT MAKES LIFE SO INTERESTING is that you just never know where it will take you. How one thing can lead to another and so on.. During my stencil days I was asked by a friend if I could paint Santas and Snowmen on framed glass for Christmas decor. . I jumped at that opportunity and decided to cut stencils for this project because painting on glass is tricky. I designed 10 pieces and created stencils for them, adding layers so there were no spaces, no signs of a stenciled look. The end result came out great! . They sold well, but more importantly it gave me a new-found confidence in my design skills, and a better sense of direction regarding my career.
IN MY HEART, I'd always wanted to design greeting cards, calendars, art prints and such.. So I began creating art that fit those genres. I had just read about licensing and decided this was the right direction for me. Following through on an idea I had, I created a small line of greeting cards that consisted of whimsical figures, each with their own unique personality. They were hand-drawn and colored in with ink. I submitted them to a one card company - Recycled Paper Greetings. They liked them and kept 3 designs to test. Shortly thereafter I was offered a licensing contract with them. I remained an active licensed artist with RPG for over 20 years, and today I still continue to receive royalties on a few of my designs that American Greetings now oversees. One of those designs happens to be one of the first cards that I submitted to RPG. It has sold steadily in stores for all these years. After awhile I began designing a variety of styles for RPG as well as writing verse for all types of cards during my Recycled Paper tenure.
ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE, I am a Southern California girl, born and raised.
Life and love make me happy.
Anything quirky or whimsical makes me smile.
I believe in dreams come true.
I love the beach, the smell of the ocean, a perfect sunset.
I admire honesty, integrity, and kindness.
Family and friends are the most important things in my world.
I love children,
anything chocolate,
a beautiful song,
the sound of laughter,
animals of all kinds,
and people with big hearts who continue to inspire me each and every day.
Oh, did I mention I love chocolate? Ah, yeah.
Please enjoy. And again, thanks for stopping in and letting me share my art with you.
Have a wonderful day!
xo
Rebecca