Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Bowlin.
Rebecca, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My path is a bit unconventional, today I’m a freelance artist but I started as a social worker in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2008. After graduating from UNM with a degree in criminology, I worked for the homicide department tracking victims killed by their partners. I also worked with suicide prevention agencies. Eventually, I became an advocate at the Domestic Violence Resource Center for a few years. I loved it, but it was a really tough job, we were encouraged to practice ‘self-care’ in order to avoid burn-out.
My self-care took the form of art. After a brutal shift, I would come home and paint or make stained glass. At first, I started out giving pieces away to nurses, police officers, caseworkers. It was a healthy outlet and I eventually started selling small pieces on the side. After I moved to Chicago, I started working with runaway and homeless teenagers at the National Runaway Safeline. I continued to make art as a form of decompression and started taking formal lessons at Aartwerk Studio.
I started selling pieces through Instagram and taking commissions. After 10 years of service, I changed careers. The owner at Aartwerk took me under her wing and pushed my artistically to the next level. I am now a part-time instructor at the art studio where I started and can honestly say it’s my dream job. Who knew a side-hobby could become a career?
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The biggest challenge to my professional career always stemmed from funding. Government funding can be very fickle and change with elections or lose public support. Social work also does not pay very well and can bruise the ego when you see peers making double your salary. Although it feels good to ‘help people for a living’ it doesn’t always pay the bills. That’s my secret why I really sold art on the side, it was a way to help make ends meet!
Social work is typically a female-dominated field, I worked with some incredible women during my decade of service before I switched careers. A helpful tip I learned, if you feel like you are on the verge of tears at work, take a small physical step back or push your chair back 3-4 inches. Mentally removing yourself from a threatened space helps your brain re-direct. I saw a lot of tears in the field!
Even if you have the worst boss in the world, take notes. Because someday you will be a boss and will have learned from them what not to do. Everyone you meet is your teacher. Be a good student.
what should we know about Aartwerk Studio? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Aartwerk Studio is a small local studio in Edgewater. The students there are so amazing and friendly, it feels like coming home every time I step through the door. It’s also a woman-owned business! I’m very proud of how our little studio has grown over the past year and serves as an anchor in the community.
Artistically speaking, I’ve done it all! Wall murals, oil portraits, tarot cards, webcomics and art contests. My favorite medium is still watercolor, I can’t seem to stay away.
Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
Growing up in New Mexico exposes you to a lot of damaged beauty. It’s extremely poor but rich in multiculturalism and history. We have cities older than this country! New Mexico is often overlooked as part of the US, I believe this contributed to my desire to bring help and attention to those who need it and illustrate the beauty of the broken at the same time. Struggle and survival are intricately linked, and growing up there has forever shaped who I am today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @joan_de_art
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
Melissa P Esquibel
June 19, 2018 at 7:44 pm
As a student at Aartwerk Studio and a friend of Becca’s, I’m so happy to see her profiled hear. Everyone who has an opportunity to know her is better for it. No, really!! She’s a bright light!