Rachel Simpson's Art Portfolio
Artist & Educator
Art mediums: Drawing, Mixed-media,
Painting, Recycle/Reuse, Ceramics,
Sculpture and Textiles.
Artist and Art Teacher, Miss Rachel Simpson has over 12 years of experience in arts education and certified in Arts Ed K-12 for Washington state, has taught in Seattle, internationally in the UK, and locally in both Skagit and Whatcom Counties, within multiple schools, museums, galleries, private lessons, and as a Teaching Artist with a local non-profit - Allied Arts of Whatcom County. Rachel loves teaching art to every age of child (be that young at heart or in age), as we are all an artist, to show the possibilities, the wonder, try a variety of mixed-media art, share our ideas, and open our hearts to new and exciting things. "We can be curious, imaginative, and have fun while we enjoy the process of making something new together. Be kind, let's shine!" ~ Rachel Simpson
30th year "benchmark" Anniversary Art Bench Project with the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center - What Does Peace Mean to You?
Rachel Simpson's bench represents the peacefulness of watching the stars at night from any clear vantage point out in nature in Whatcom County, such as at Artist Point on Mount Baker. The skyline's full of constellations and nebulae brings on the magic of the mystery that's in outer space. When you sit calmly to look up at the sky, your imagination, wonder, and the awe-inspiring vastness of space can give one a certain calmness and peace. We are just small creatures living in this beautiful solar system. Enjoy the moment and breath in the beauty. I worked on making a Cosmos Bench at a crucial time in my life, when I needed to find peace throughout a tumultuous time. It helped me find the calm and peace that comes when I'm in the zone of making art, and when I have quiet time outside on a warm night to watch the stars. I painted this bench using brushes and with multiple layers of primer paint, then many layers of acrylics in mars black, titanium white, phthalo blue, violet, crimson, magenta, orange, yellow, and green. It has a final protection coat of a polyurethane semi-gloss finish for the weather. #BeKindLetsShine #RachelsWhimsicalArts ~ Rachel Simpson
Rachel Simpson has been making art throughout her whole life. Both her parents were artists in music and visual art, while she’s also been influenced by the Pacific Northwest, & many books. In 2007, she went back to college to study the arts, and graduated from Western Washington University with Bachelors in Fine Arts and Arts Education degree in 2013. Currently, she’s an artist/art educator, on the Board of Directors & a Teaching Artist with Allied Arts of Whatcom County, experience as an Art Educator with the following: Rachel's Whimsical Arts, Franklin Academy in Bellingham, WA, the Museum of Northwest Art, (MoNA) in La Connor, WA, Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle, WA, schools throughout Whatcom County, and at Whatcom Community College, (WCC) in Bellingham, WA.
“My creative process involves some art experimentation with trial and error, to experience all of the process, with expression, studying the subject, and imagination through my interpretation of the story behind the topic. I’ve inspiration with the environment, all of the children that I teach art to, stories shared, and my family. Having a strong passion is what drives my ambition to move forward into another chapter of my art. ” ~ R.S.
Rachel has a plethora of experience in many forms of fine arts; from art history, drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, screen-printing, photography, upcycling/recycling/reduse/reuse art, dyes, fibers/fabrics, textiles, sewing, costumes, masks, art installation, collaboration, and mixed-media. In 2007, she enrolled at Whatcom Community College, then went onto the Woodring College of Education for Fine Arts in Education K-12 at Western Washington University. In the fall of 2013, she was given the opportunity to be a fine arts student teacher in England at an international school called Box Hill. There, she was able to meet and work with a fine group of teachers, staff, and wonderful students from all over the globe. Rachel graduated from WWU in December of 2013 with a certification in arts education. Since then, she has continued her love of the arts and education in many ways: art exhibits throughout Washington state, art workshops throughout Whatcom & Skagit county, a teaching artist and a Board of Director at Allied Arts of Whatcom County, teaching Community Art Ed classes at Whatcom Community College, art workshops at various galleries and museums, and teaching kids art classes in after school art enrichment programs and summer art camps.
“My creative process involves some art experimentation with trial and error, to experience all of the process, with expression, studying the subject, and imagination through my interpretation of the story behind the topic. I’ve inspiration with the environment, all of the children that I teach art to, stories shared, and my family. Having a strong passion is what drives my ambition to move forward into another chapter of my art. ” ~ R.S.
Rachel has a plethora of experience in many forms of fine arts; from art history, drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, screen-printing, photography, upcycling/recycling/reduse/reuse art, dyes, fibers/fabrics, textiles, sewing, costumes, masks, art installation, collaboration, and mixed-media. In 2007, she enrolled at Whatcom Community College, then went onto the Woodring College of Education for Fine Arts in Education K-12 at Western Washington University. In the fall of 2013, she was given the opportunity to be a fine arts student teacher in England at an international school called Box Hill. There, she was able to meet and work with a fine group of teachers, staff, and wonderful students from all over the globe. Rachel graduated from WWU in December of 2013 with a certification in arts education. Since then, she has continued her love of the arts and education in many ways: art exhibits throughout Washington state, art workshops throughout Whatcom & Skagit county, a teaching artist and a Board of Director at Allied Arts of Whatcom County, teaching Community Art Ed classes at Whatcom Community College, art workshops at various galleries and museums, and teaching kids art classes in after school art enrichment programs and summer art camps.