Meet Rebecca Cassar | Artist & Creative

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

Hi Rebecca, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
I think that surrounding myself with people who fuel me with positivity has been a key factor in my art career moving forward. Separately, planning my year in advance, such as by working on a business plan, content for my website and socials, and what I want my goals and projects to look like, has also proven to be extremely helpful. This is especially the case given that being your own boss means that it can be easy to become complacent and lose motivation. I therefore tend to start my week by writing down every single thing I have to work on during that week. I try to stick to this schedule as much as possible, as I find that the routine helps me to remain disciplined. Remaining active and eating healthy also has had a big role in motivating me to work harder. Keeping track of your mental and physical health is essential, as being a CEO, CFO, HR and employee of your own business all at once can become tiring!

Being realistic in terms of what I can and cannot do has also helped in terms of forging my identity, and enabling third parties such as collectors and curators to know what to expect from my work, and to collaborate with me accordingly.
Lastly, meeting people, making connections and taking breaks are also good habits to keep up. Listen to your body’s needs. Preventing burn out sometimes means saying no. You are only one person – be kind to yourself.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is very driven by emotions, feelings and what I’m going through in my personal life. I express myself primarily through colour, texture and the use of gold leaf. My works are polychromatic, abstract and thought-provoking and can express more than one notion to the viewer. There is intense movement created through shadow and varying uses of texture. My style of abstract art is distinctive and vibrant. I use particular markings with the use of relief ceramic paint on my art works as a form of abstract signature. This is my stamp.

I’m really proud of the past year. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and had a very successful first solo exhibition at the Malta Society of Arts in Malta’s capital city Valletta. It allowed me free reign of expression and the chance to showcase my passion and creativity. I am really looking forward to what my career has in store, with more exhibitions underway, and some collaborative ideas starting to form. I can’t wait to see where all these components take me and can’t wait to see what new art pieces will be born from this part of my journey.

To better understand where I am professionally today (that is happily working and hustling as a full-time artist) I’d have to take you a few steps back. The decision to leave my career as a lawyer and immerse myself in the arts, happened over a number of years of uncertainty and a desire to conform to society’s idea of success.

It was the hardest decision I have ever had to make. I’ve always worked hard to push myself out of my comfort zone. Struggling at school due to my dyslexia meant I had to work three times as hard as everyone else to keep up with the load. I think that this drive and desire to succeed notwithstanding my learning difficulties has formed my character – enabling me to strive for success even when the odds are not in my favour. It was no easy feat.

Coming out of university as a graduated lawyer, the logical path for me to take was to start working in the legal field. I started off working in a law firm in the civil law department; desperately trying to connect to the job. Despite the years of studying and exams, a few months is all it took for me to come to a conclusion that this path was not for me. I went into law with the mindset that it was the safer option, and never really aspired to be a lawyer. I was always at my happiest studying history of art, drawing and painting, but I was not ready for the uncertainty brought about by pursuing a full-time career in the arts… until I finally was. After two years of trying to find my place, I decided to take the leap and bet on myself. The Covid-19 pandemic helped re-centre my thoughts; reigniting my artistic flame and giving me the courage to prioritise my innermost desires over everyone else’s expectations. Life is too short to not take a chance on yourself.

In summary, I got to where I am professionally through a lot of emotional turmoil and an enormous amount of courage and hardwork. Through perseverance and some calculated risk taking, I’ve managed to push forward. I think taking calculated and thought-out risks is the only way to gain a footing in the arts. Art is unstable, and learning to navigate the financial risks which it brings is not easy. But the risk I took in leaving my cushy legal job for an unstable profession in the arts was not a mere whim. It came after years of thinking and planning. It was a risk I needed to take for my own mental and physical health, given that living with the “what ifs” was not something I could bear.

The greatest lesson I’ve learned is that our dreams are worth taking a chance on, regardless of their success. Being unafraid to take the leap was the most freeing decision I have taken to date. It was a risk, yes, but it has allowed me to be my truest self; unencumbered by others’ thoughts and feelings. I now firmly believe that the risk of you living a lie for others is so much worse than taking a risk and failing. In reality, success and failure are relative. The journey is the lesson and what you pick up and learn along the way is priceless. Ups and downs are inevitable, so ride the wave when you can and learn and keep creating in the quiet moments. Art is very subjective and unstable. Sales will fluctuate – do not let it dishearten you.

From the start of my journey, I wanted to become an artist to live as my truest self. I wanted to show people works I created from a place of honesty. This has allowed me to grow as an artist. Allowing people to see who I am and connecting with people through my work has enabled me to be more successful in what I do. Because I am authentic, I feel that my work is able to resonate with more people. I want people to remember this not just when they see my works but other artists’ works too. Art is very personal for some of us, it is raw and real, and we would be at our most vulnerable when displaying our works to the world! Be kind to others. I think the thing I want everyone to really know about my art and me is that I want to create happiness, community and professional collegiality through my work. Art is a competitive field, but there is enough space in the world for all of us! I want my art to represent collaboration, honesty and integrity.

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.
Malta is a tiny island in the middle of the Mediterranean. Without traffic, it can take you a total of 40 minutes to get from one side of the island to the other. With this disclaimer in mind, I do consider Malta to be one big city. Though it is small in appearance and can get a little crowded especially in the summer months, Malta is beautiful and versatile. I’ve actually had some friends come to visit from my days at university in London, so I have played the role of tour guide once or twice. I’m a lover of history, culture, geography and food so narrowing it down to places that hit all these targets in one week is a challenge.

I’d have to start off with taking them over to Valletta, Malta’s Capital City. Valletta is full of beautiful sites, historical buildings dating back to the Knights of St. John, immersive art museums and a plethora of scrumptious cuisines. Sites on the agenda would include, St. John’s Co-Cathedral where one can visit the refectory which is home to Caravaggio’s famous painting ‘Beheading of St. John the Baptist’. After that a quick coffee at either Café Berry, where Eva makes a killer pistachio cream latte or Lot 61 for a classic Vanilla Latte. Walking around and seeing the majestic architecture such as Triton fountain, the various little churches and towering auberges. I would make time to visit MUZA, Museum of Fine Arts and Palazzo de la Salle, for a taste of some of Malta’s stunning works of art by international, local, classical and contemporary artists. A quick lunch stop meaning a plate of my favourite amatriciana and a tiramisu and espresso macchiato to finish. To name just one lunch spot is really difficult here because I feel visitors in Valletta are spoiled for choice when it comes to good food. It would really depend on the mood of the day. Other beautiful sites not to be missed are the panoramic views from Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens, the Grandmaster’s palace and the National Museum of Archaeology.

Aside from Valletta, Mdina, the old Capital city, also known as the silent city, would definitely be on my agenda. The views from the bastions are breath-taking and a little pot of tea and cake from Fontanella, also never hurts. Close by there are also the Roman remains and St. Paul’s Catacombs. My hometown of Dingli would also be on the plan for a nice hike along the cliff side and chats by the sea at sunset. I find it so peaceful and perfect for some reflection. Indeed, many of my paintings were born from thoughts and ideas I have had while walking in the countryside in Dingli. Picnics by the sea, such as Riviera or Golden Bay, with an Aperol Spritz or Limoncello Spritz in hand at sunset with my best friends by my side would be the perfect evening (and some ftajjar (Maltese bread), galletti (Maltese water crackers) and tuna dip to snack on). More historical fun can include, going to the Three Cities, or the Megalithic Temples of Malta.

Moreover, I’d include a short ferry ride to Gozo. Gozo is stunning, smaller and quieter than Malta (probably only for now as it has unfortunately changed and become more crowded over the years). When I need a short break and some peace, Gozo is where me and my fiancé escape to. Some pizza from Casa Vostra or amazingly fresh fish from Ta’ Tona are always mandatory. In all these scenarios of where I would be and places I would go, my fiancé, my sister, and my best friends are always in the picture. The light, joy and laughter they bring to every situation is rare and incredible! They make me laugh so much, my tummy hurts. They are the best company. Dinner at home with all these people, platters of cheeses and cold cuts, white wine (I’m allergic to red wine) and boardgames would constitute my perfect night. I’d also look out for any productions at the theatres around the islands. We have some immensely talented artists, actors and singers in Malta, so I’d definitely look out for one of the evenings to be filled with a theatrical excursion.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d definitely like to dedicate this shoutout to my fiancé Luke, my parents Anna and Joe, and sister Fabrizia. Without their support I would have never been able to chase my dreams. They have been my biggest fans and supporters throughout this journey. They believe in me even when I don’t believe in myself, and I feel truly blessed to have these incredible humans cheering me on.

My journey has been a long one, and my best friends have also been there for me throughout the whole transition from lawyer to artist. My art teachers, Nadine Debattista Briffa and Kevin Sciberras, who nurtured my love for painting, interest in art history and championed my work also deserve a shoutout. Both are incredible artists in their own right, and always motivated me to never give up on my talent and dreams. They made me feel seen and heard, even when other parts of academia made me feel so lost.

During my career, I have also found comfort and motivation in my conversations with artist John Martin Borg, who like me, had a similar trajectory in starting his career as an artist. Other artists, who have become dear friends, also deserve recognition. They keep on supporting me artistically and personally by giving me a safe space for collegiality and openness through communication. These friends have become so valuable to me and I cherish moments spent visiting exhibits, painting together and dreaming about collaborations. They have made my journey more joyful and definitely less lonely.

Website: www.rebeccacassar.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebcass.art/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-cassar-1943a01b1/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebcassar

Image Credits
Rebekah Kamsky Albert Camilleri Daniel Vella