Rachel Cohen is participating in her first ArtOMatic.  She learned about it from her Mother, who saw it in an article and told Rachel about it.  Rachel says, “The more I read about ArtOmatic, the more I really loved the event, and in no time I was signing up for my own spot!”

Rachel’s work can be see on the 3rd floor, NW corner, #131.  Her work consists primarily of hockey and fantasy illustrations and prints.  The hockey illustrations were done for the blog, Russian Machine Never Breaks , and the rest of the illustrations were assignments for her college classes during the past year.  The prints are either from a series of Washington Capitals’-themed monotypes, or are linocuts that are part of an ongoing series focusing on the art and history of ice hockey goalie masks.  She chose to show these workes “because they are some of my favorite works of art, and really refect ideas, styles and techniques that I work with.”

She notes that sports illustration is one of the niches/sub-genres that not a lot of artists do.  A visit to her space is warranted because “I bring a unique sense of creativity and style to ARtOMatic, as well as showing bright, colorful works of art that can brighten anyone’s day!”

Rachel says she’s been making art since before she could hold a brush.  “We actually still have one of my first big finger paintings framed and hung in the house!  I decided I wanted to make art for a living when I was about 13 or 14.  My original plan was to become a meterologist and track tornadoes and hurricanes and any other kinds of crazy weather, but then I realized that no matter how much I like science, I was never very good at it in a a school setting.  Art, on the other hand, was something I always had a knack for.  So I decided to be an artist!”

As a printmaker, Rachel works with linocuts,  taking a piece of linoleum, carving it, rolling it up with ink, and printing the linoleum on an offset press.  Once one color is printed, she carves away whatever is to stay that color, and repeats the printing process with the newly cut linoleum block and the same piece of paper.

As an illustrator, Rachel focuses on sports illustration, especially hockey.  “I LOVE to paint hockey players, especially the Capitals!  Since I am still a student, I am still using a wide range of materials.  I have taken classes over the last year in watercolor, acrylic inks, and oils, and I love all 3 for different reasons.  I plan on using all of them in my work in the future, but my favorite medium has to be the FW Acrylic Inks.  They are so bright and vibrant and, once you learn how to mix them, extremely easy to work with.  I also love fantasy art and comic books, and do some illustration for those genres as well.  One of my life goals is to create my own comic or graphic novel.  I love looking at mythical creatures and reading their stories, and I enjoy creating original characters of my own!”

What is the place of your work in society?

Since I’m still in school, I tend to ask myself that a lot these days!  As an illustrator, I guess I work more on the commercial side of the art world.  My dream job is to one day make art for the National Hockey League.  Printmaking is more of an art I do for enjoyment, rather than a career.  Carving a block is a nice break from painting.

What do you do when/if you hit a slump?

Look at my friends’ artwork!  I have the pleasure of working and learning with so many creative people at my college.  When we’re in slumps, we help inspire each other.  Sometimes watching a favorite movie helps too.

Who are your favorite artists and what inspriation do you draw from them?

The animators and imagineers at Disney have always been an inspiration to me.  They were my first glimpse into creating new, exciting worlds and characters, and made me want to think outside teh box more.  Comics and comic books, from the newspaper funnies to DC/Marvel to Japanese manga, have also always influenced me.  Today, I follow so many great young artists at school and online.  I draw a lot of my inspiration from them.  To see great work coming from young, college-age kids like myself makes me want to push my work even further.

Where else can we see your work?

I am the resident artist of the Washington Capitals blog, Russian Machine Never Breaks.  I’m always making drawings and illustrations for them based on the events of the

season and off-season (and sometimes silly things such as t-shirts and holiday cards).

I also frequent update my online gallery with finished work, and post lots of progress shots on my Twitter and Tumblr accounts (one can always find me on Twitter.  I tweet a lot!!!)  I know some artists hate posting progress because it might ‘give away their secrets,’ but I love showing the world how I work.  I hope it gives someone inspiration who sees my progress or show them a new way of working with their own art.

You can find Rachel at her online gallery:  http://RachelLCohen.artworkfolio.com; Twitter: http://twitter.com/kat326; Tumblr: http://capskat26.tumblr.com, and website: http://www.russianmachineneverbreaks.com.

To read more interviews and see more photographs from ArtOMatic 2012 and earlier ArtOMatics, go here.