Meet Rebecka Rubio | Artist

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

Hi Rebecka, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I had started making watercolor bookmarks at home with my Husband. As a break from having to work remotely due to Covid and to just access the other side of my brain. We both needed a creative outlet. My Best Friend, who is a sixth grade teacher, was also learning how to cope with the new norm of having to teach remotely. She was making Welcome packets for her students to pick up and she asked if I would be able to make her forty custom bookmarks for her kids. So naturally, I had an internal freak out because let’s be honest, that is a lot of work! A few days later, I had managed to finish all forty custom bookmarks. I started staging them and taking pictures of each individual bookmark before handing them over. My husband looks over at me and says, “What are you doing there?” so I replied, “I think people would want these. I think I can sell them!” The rest is history! I mulled over a business name for about a week and started my Professional Instagram profile soon after. My business has grown from small, simple watercolor bookmarks to custom floral fedoras, commissioned acrylic paintings and I’ve even had the opportunity to complete some amazing wall murals for some of my neighbors! The creative possibilities are endless!

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.
This journey has not been easy. At the beginning of the pandemic, I was working for a very prestigious university hospital and I had just finished my residency in Internal Medicine, then… BAM! A worldwide pandemic hit, and we had no idea what to do. We didn’t know what was going to happen. We were slowly learning with the rest of the world about the serious obstacles we were about to face. It wasn’t easy going from learning something new every day to constantly screening everyone for Covid. In so many ways, our realities and hopes for the future were no longer relevant. It was a day-to-day fear that we could contract it and I felt that I needed a safe space. I needed something to help escape the new norm of what my life and daily routine had become. I needed an escape from the reality of our new crazy world for just a little bit, so I turned to art. I have always been creative. I have always loved dabbling in different mediums and just simply creating for fun. It fulfilled a void in me that I hadn’t realized needed filling. I started making watercolor bookmarks for my friends and family. Before I knew it, I had an inbox full of custom order requests from people that I didn’t know. It was scary and exciting all at the same time. I had never imagined doing anything but what I had gone to school for my entire life. The online art community that I’ve joined has been amazing. So often in life you find yourself comparing what you do with others. This community is just that, a united community. There’s no competition, just a huge group of new and seasoned friends who are just cheering you on! Sure, there will always be someone who tried the same concept or idea, but if anything, you’re always learning what not to do. And finding better ways in the process. Social Media has also helped me connect with some very popular Art Supply companies like Sharpie, Posca, Grabie and Michael’s. All for which I’ve been a featured artist multiple times. I’ve met some amazing people along the way and some of my closest friends are people who I have met in the past year on Instagram or while doing Pop Up Markets all over Southern California. It’s all a huge networking opportunity and a wonderful community that I’m very proud to be a part of.

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?
Well, myself and all of my friends are major FOODIES! First, I’d take them to one of my absolute favorite local spots, The Glendora Public Market! There are just so many food options! Tacos, ramen, wings, coffee spot and they even have a brewery! So there would definitely be something for everyone there! Then I’d take them on a little adventure to the city of Claremont to visit my friends at The Local Collective Market. My friend, Jennifer, opened this small boutique that offers a one-of-a-kind shopping experience! They host a weekly Pop Up in their own little alleyway every Sunday, giving you access to a carefully curated community of creative and local artisans. And you get the perks of the Farmers Market just down the street as well! Before leaving Claremont, we’d have to stop by Rhino Records for a quick browse. I never leave this store empty handed! They have the greatest $5 grab bag of five random records. Then we’d make our way back to La Verne to pick up dinner to-go at our favorite Habachi spot, Wabi Sabi. Take it home, relax with full tummies, a movie and good company!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There’s no doubt about it, I wouldn’t be where I’m at now without the never-ending love and support of my Husband, David. He’s the best partner that I could have ever dreamed of. When I’m cranking out order after order or just trying to balance the Mom, Wife and work life, he’s there picking up the slack. Whether it be cooking, doing the laundry or just keeping our daughter out of my hair for a bit. We have a four year old daughter who is constantly wanting to help. So of course, I’ve come up with some toddler approved business duties (putting logo stickers on bags, and writing Thank You cards for orders). We’ve had some Mama & Me art collaborations-she’s getting really good at that watercolor blending. When I started my business, my husband was in awe at how the business was growing, but I was also quickly overwhelmed. Being that I chose a hobby where nobody could really help me complete orders, it’s these small, simple tasks that helped the most! I also have to thank my parents and in-laws for supporting my crazy dreams. They’re there for every Pop Up, Mural and milestone. They’re there to help us with our daughter, Rey; babysitting, keeping her busy and caring for her in only the way her Grandparents can. They are just the best and I’m so very grateful for their support and for being my biggest cheerleaders through this journey.

Website: https://etsy.me/3n7x8HW

Instagram: @leftbraincreativemama

Other: linktr.ee/Leftbraincreativemama Tik Tok: @leftbraincreativemama

Image Credits
Image Credits: Iliana Garcia Photography