Rising Stars: Meet Becca Farmer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Becca Farmer.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started? 
My paintings emerge from a lifetime of being an artist. Since a young age, I’ve been experimenting with a variety of mediums, emulating the masters, studying design, honing my skills, and defining my voice. I combine that with a strong college background in bioscience that drives my exploration of beauty into the often unseen mechanics of life. In the last decade, I have focused primarily on painting, enjoying the versatility and lower toxicity of acrylic paints.

My Dad was in the military and stationed in Europe where I was exposed to a deep historical heritage of art. I loved going to art museums and seeing art in person, to interact with it face-to-face. Standing as a teenager in front of a larger-than-life Degas or the small DaVinci that left me speechless or the bold impact of a Van Gogh or Dali – that’s what stirred up the visual drama in my soul that I long to express in my art.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Creating art has always been a joy in my life and easy to pursue. Going professional has been the part of my journey that has been my greatest challenge.

I started in graphic design, working primarily for client’s needs. It was fun at first, but I became restless after many years. When I decided to pursue fine art instead, I floundered with finding clients and, honestly, with confidence in my work. So I spent a lot of time being an artist on the sidelines – creating for my own pleasure and continuing to explore many different mediums and styles.

I reached a point where I decided to narrow down my focus to painting and work to build a reputation. I knew I had to muster my courage and just go for it, no matter how terrified I was. I’m glad I made that decision because there’s plenty of rejection that a professional artist encounters that can be pretty discouraging.

In my case, it was mixed with as much or more encouragement and admiration. I just decided to focus on the positive and keep going. I found that after I stubbornly continued to push forward, the doors that seemed tightly shut started opening up and the exposure I needed increased into some really great venues and opportunities.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My paintings are explorations into the mysteries of life. Since I was a child, I’ve had an obsessive curiosity for the science of living organisms along with creating art. My big dilemma in college was which path to take. I majored in Chemistry, which I loved, but couldn’t suppress my passion for art. And a life of lab work didn’t sound appealing. So art it is.

I’m an acrylic painter, which is not common in the fine arts. I love the drama and versatility of acrylic paint, along with the lower toxicity impact to the environment. The style I’ve chosen leans toward surrealism. Exploring on the edge of what’s visible.

To do that, I first invest in a direct relationship with my subject matter – whether from gardening in my backyard or hiking the desert and forests of Arizona. I sketch my impressions and take my own resource photos. Then as I paint, I draw from scientific concepts I’ve studied and add my own intuitive imagination.

I’m known for my macro paintings of flowers, particularly roses, situated in unconventional ways. The inspiration for my roses is found in my husband’s rose garden. I use their blooms as a path to express my emotions and explore my fears. I was born with a rare condition that has hounded me at times with health challenges. The bold colors I use in my flowers are my counter-reaction to those difficulties as well as processing the grief I’ve encountered in my life.

Never has color been so profound as when I grieved the deaths of my parents. It’s as if my senses become super aware in pain; I can see color so vividly that it emits audible music or transports me into a deeper awareness of the reality of blood in my veins. The brief brilliance of a bloom highlights to me the brevity of life and how important it is to capture moments. That’s how roses inspire me. They are the paintings I’m most proud of.

I’ve also created a popular series of mini paintings of burrowing owls set among a collage of actual 3D metallic trash retrieved from the desert. These artworks are a very personal expression and conversation starter over my concern for the wildlife and wild desert affected by the carelessness of humans. And I enjoy creating plein air paintings in the deserts and forests of Arizona, just to be immersed.

I find the greatest connection with my own mortality and transcendence when I’m in nature. My passion for painting is to create striking encounters of beauty that ignite wonder, imagination, and creativity that reflect that connection. Instead of dispensing angst and darkness, I see my art as a catalyst of hope.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Art is the integrator of the human experience, examining the mystery and beauty of life. My paintings are explorations into the process and mechanisms of living things. Fleeting moments of glory. Unexpected beauty in death. Emotional loss of familiarity. I bring together the visible and the hidden to inspire wonder. For me, putting together a painting is putting together a puzzle that no one has ever seen before. I find it thrilling.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.BeccaFarmer.com
• Instagram: @beccafarmerart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/becca.b.farmer/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becca-farmer-art/
• Youtube: @beccafarmerart