Meet Rebecca Northup | Poet, Artist, Graphic Design

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

Hi Rebecca, why did you pursue a creative career?
I think I decided to pursue a creative career because I’d rather work hard in pursuit of something that excites me than have an easier career path in a field that doesn’t. I’ve always had a decent work ethic and personal drive, so I think in a lot of ways I knew growing up that I’d have to figure things out on my own, and brave a creative career path that is never guaranteed.

I am just out of college, and I am still figuring out what that is going to look like. I think something to note about creativity is that there are no rules, so I am just doing the best I can every day to advance my creative pursuits. All I know is that I’ll never say I have it “figured out,” honestly I think anyone who says they do have all of this “figured out” is lying. I think my career, passions, and goals will be ever evolving. That kind of flexibility and freedom is what makes this path so enticing to me.

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.
In my visual art practice, I like to marry the creepy with the cute. I think my biggest inspirations include Mark Ryden, Mab Graves, and Tim Burton. I am still very early on in my professional career as an artist, and I don’t know that I have the right to call it that yet, but I am where I am now because of the encouragement I receive from the people in my life I love and care for, as well as the emotional drive I have to create something meaningful. I am working now on combining my art and poetry practices into a series of zines, and I think something that sets me apart from others is that marriage of genres. I like to bring my two passions together to create a unified vision.

I think the number one lesson I’ve learned in my professional life is that you have to constantly be making things. If you are an artist, a poet, a musician, or anything creative, you have to always be moving and creating. You have to come up with a million ideas to find one perfect idea, or find inspiration for other ideas. If you are always working, it pays off. That said, and this will be contradictory, is that despite the constant movement and creation you have to do, you also have to enjoy the fruits of your labor and find a balance to enjoy things and enjoy your life. You only get one, and you will run yourself dry if you don’t find that balance.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I grew up in the valley, so I would take them to all of the valley staples that I enjoy. -Aroma Cafe on Tujunga to get coffee or a quick lunch
-Take a drive up Mulholland and take pictures at an overlook
-Go shopping at Hidden Treasures in Topanga Canyon
-Go for a hike up Fryman
-Dinner at Tamashi in Sherman Oaks for the amazing Ramen, or Jinya for the Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen
-Sugar Taco in Sherman Oaks
And we could finish it off by heading to the beach access in Malibu by Geoffrey’s.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh gosh. This is a hard question. I owe so many “thank you’s” to so many people. I’ll start with my family, and their consistent support of what I am doing. My mom has been so supportive of my art, and my brother has always been a shoulder to lean on, or a person to call when I’m frustrated. My dad is no longer with us, but he was such a supportive person, and always believed in me. When he passed, I found copies of my books in his desk at work. I will always be thankful for him.

Another person who I owe thanks to is my roommate, best friend, and confidant Paige Shannon. She motivates me every day, literally, to work on my art and my poetry. I know she believes in me, and has been a mentor, friend, and encourager since the beginning of this journey. (PS, go stream her amazing music…and buy her merch…which I designed!)

Finally I want to thank all of my friends who have always given me a reason to make art, and have an audience who is proud of what I am doing. My friends are my biggest fans, by #1 supporters, and my support system all in one. So shoutout to all of my friends who have helped me along the way, you know who you are.

Website: https://www.rebeccanorthup.com/

Instagram: @angelsurrrreal

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-northup-b9b177189/