Meet Rachel Silva | Artist

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

Hi Rachel, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Balance is such an on-going practice that can never be perfected for too long. I think in late-capitalist USA there is a notion that rest and productivity are two opposing forces, and this couldn’t be further from the truth. They are symbiotic, you can’t have one without the other, and I think finding a balance between the two that works for you is a very personal journey that requires radical honesty with yourself. There is a threshold for productivity equating to happiness, at a certain point you will get diminishing returns which I think is something Millennials and Gen Z are really getting loud about these days. I’ve pushed back a lot against productivity culture, which I used to buy into a lot. Since I’ve prioritized my rest (whether that’s quiet-quitting at an overly demanding job, or knowing when to take a break from painting) I have become a much happier and balanced person.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Lately I am really excited about using oil paints. So much of my career has been built on my colored pencil work and I reached a point where that medium was not serving me anymore as an artist. I was moving to slow for my taste and felt like I couldn’t get ideas that I really cared about out fast enough. Since I’ve switched to focusing primarily on oil paint, I’m falling in love with the making of art again. I’m much less frustrated, and much more motivated.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would start the day by going to either Maru or Kumquat for coffee, and then I would take them straight to the coast. I have my favorite beach spots in Malibu and I would show them all the best tide pools and rocks to climb on. We’d stop by Broad St. Oyster Company on the way back, and end our night at my favorite wine bar; Wife and the Somm.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Today I want to give a shoutout to my parents. The older I get the more I recognize how lucky I was as a child to have them and their support. I was always free to be an artist in the house, and they always made sure I had what I needed to do so. They respected me as a child enough to let me follow my own path, and I am forever grateful for that continued support.

Website: www.rachelmsilva.com

Instagram: @missrachelsilva