Meet Rachel Deane | Artist & Educator

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

Hi Rachel, can you tell us about an impactful book you’ve read and why you liked it or what impact it had on you?
“The Passion According to G.H.” by Clarice Lispector has had a lasting grip on me since I first read it back in 2020. Specifically, I am transfixed by the first chapter. This work of mystic fiction has it’s own unique narrative, however the manner in which it is written, where the reader enters into the confusion of the narrator, is broad enough that the themes are widely applicable to many different real world applications. At it’s core, Lispector and her narrator explore how one defines their unique point-of-view separate from the cultural structures that rear us. Lispector muses “I lost something that was essential to me, and that no longer is. I no longer need it, as if I’d lost a third leg that up till then made it impossible for me to walk but that turned me into a stable tripod. I lost that third leg. And I went back to being a person I never was. I went back to have something I never had: just two legs. I know I can walk with two legs. But I feel the useless absence of that third leg and it scares me, it was the leg that made me something findable by myself, and without even having to look for myself” (3). Lispector, C. (2012) The Passion According to G.H. New York, NY: New Directions.

I find this core question on how to live in our own uniqueness incredibly applicable to my studio practice. When I make art I am most often trying to understand something about myself on a deeper level, a physical level. I embroider because it is a medium of physical repetition, where I can process through the act of making rather than the act of thinking. When pieces are completed nothing about me has changed, but I often feel like I have gained more insight into myself and understand the structures I exist in a metaphysical way. Then the question remains, does this deeper understanding I have gained in the process of creation actually shift my perspective? Does the work actually make me free? I couldn’t say, but that question is why I haven’t been able to leave this text behind.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I have developed multiple businesses that reflect my dual interests in education and art.

I have my own business for my art practice which consists mostly of making commissioned works and sometimes selling art that I have made independently. While embroidery is relatively inexpensive material wise, it is a very slow and time-consuming process. Large embroidered pieces end up being quite costly to purchase due to the number of hours I put into each piece. To combat this a couple of years ago I started taking commissions for small embroidered patches at an accessible price point. When I started making these I was still learning about how to make images with textiles as previously I mostly painted. I used these patches as a means to increase my skill and dexterity with the medium. I took away a big challenge when making art so I could focus on building my skills, I stopped making my own compositions and worked with the compositions of historical works of art. When I was commissioned for a work I asked my clients to select a work of art from history and a color palette, and using their choices I made them a unique patch. I worked and learned from historical artists such as Leonora Carrington, Pierre Bonnard, Ana Mendieta, Hilma af Klint, Phillip Guston, Remedios Varo and others. Recently I have moved away from working with historical works and into working with the imagery of the Tarot. Now, I draw spreads for my clients and create unique imagery that encapsulates the combined lesson present in the spread. I love making these commissioned works, it brings me a great amount of joy to make something so personal that is will end up in the hands of someone who appreciates and is excited by my artistic practice.

I also started an arts education business with a close friend, Mads Gobbo, back in late 2021. We are Hand Follows Eye Studios. We teach pop-up figure drawing workshops all over Los Angeles. Our business model is to make art accessible and fun for all, even those who believe that they are not capable of making art! It has always made me sad when people tell me they are not capable of making art, I simply don’t believe that is true. I truly believe that everyone is capable of making impactful art, its just a matter of disregarding the inner-critic that can be ever present in the creative process. Once you stop thinking about how your art is going to be perceived you can start to focus on how it feels to make art, and chase the joy and fun that is present in the process. It has been really wonderful to be able to teach workshops that emphasize this kind of making, and we have built a really lovely community of artists who I feel honored to share space and time with. We are collaborating with more and more venues, and I hope that in the future we can open up a physical location and offer consistent classes and workshops!

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 send them off on their own quite a bit so they could explore their own interests while I am working, but in my free time I would probably take them on a tour of all the great places you can see art for free. I am a big advocate for not paying to see art especially at large institutions (on theme with my passion for art accessibility), so I would take them to galleries and museums such as The Getty or The ICA LA. I live in Echo Park and there are so many great restaurants in walking distance from me, so I would share with them my little slice of LA.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So many people in my life deserve some credit and recognition, I feel lucky to be surrounded by so much talent and kindness. At this moment in time I would like to speak about Mads Gobbo. They are my business partner, manage North Figueroa Bookshop, and make incredibly beautiful works of art. I am so inspired by their work ethic, creativity, innovative ideas, and ability to create welcoming and accessible spaces. It has been a gift to work with them, and I can’t wait to see all the future projects and creations that flourish under their thoughtfulness!

Website: racheldeane.com

Instagram: @rachelkdeane / @handfollowseyestudios

Image Credits
Portrait – Alex Coulter Patches – Rachel Deane