BY SHALEEN DESTEFANO
Our community is filled with talented people who create, inspire, and remind us how much beauty exists right around the corner. Rebekah Wood is one of those people. Through her paintings, she explores emotion, memory, and connection in a way that feels both universally nostalgic. We’re thrilled to introduce you to Rebekah and share a glimpse into the artist, the process, and the passion behind her work.
Your paintings are remarkably lifelike. What first drew you to realism, and what keeps you coming back to this style instead of something more abstract?
I love many different genres of art, from realism and impressionism to illustrative and even abstract modernism. I have tried painting in many of these styles. However, realism is the one that comes most naturally from my hand. It is the only style where, when I step back and look at the finished painting, I truly feel it represents me.
Many of your subjects are vintage toys and nostalgic objects. What is it about these pieces of the past that continue to inspire you? Is there one object you’ve painted that carries a story?
I find a real beauty in vintage toys and objects. They carry a history that only comes from being used and loved over time. There is a story worth preserving in those moments.
I especially have a fondness for the toy Barrel of Monkeys. The expression on their faces and the idea of these monkeys playing mischievous games, reminds me of the childhood games I played with my siblings. I love painting different ways they may play together. My favorite painting of this is Tug of War. It is of 6 monkeys playing tug of war with a gummy worm. (I may or may not feel like the gummy worm!)
Nostalgia is a powerful emotion. When someone stands in front of one of your paintings, what do you hope they remember-or feel?
I love being reminded of a time filled with genuine warmth and happiness. My hope is that my paintings inspire people not only to reflect on the past, but also to recognize the good in their lives right now.
It ’s easy to become discouraged by everything happening around us. If one of my paintings can remind someone of a joyful memory while also helping them appreciate the present, then I’ve accomplished something meaningful. I hope they realize that one day, the moments we’re living through now may be the very moments we look back on with the same sense of nostalgia.
The smallest details in your work are extraordinary. How do you decide which imperfections, scratches, faded colors, or signs of wear to preserve? Do those details tell part of the story?
Details can be a double-edged sword. While they’re important for guiding the viewer’s eye through the painting, too many details can become distracting and weaken the illusion of realism. It is something I continue to evaluate as the painting evolves. It can be tricky because I can easily get emotionally attached to a detail that should be left out.
One thing I love about the Old Master’s paintings and their intricate details, is that the longer you admire the painting in front of you, the more you discover the hidden gems. It feels like a treasure hunt. That treasure hunt is what I am trying to achieve with my paintings, but you definitely have to strike a good balance.
Your work invites viewers to slow down and really look. In a world that moves so quickly, do you see your paintings as an invitation to pause?
That is such a lovely thought. I’d like to think so. I hope my paintings also bring a sense of joy and connection. The idea that someone could hang one of my paintings on their wall, walk by it everyday, and have it spark a moment of happiness feels like a real honor.
Were there artists, family members, childhood experiences, or even collections that helped shape the work you are creating today?
One of my earliest childhood memories is watching my mother doodle a flower. I remember feeling such a sense of wonder and overwhelming desire to recreate it myself. My grandmother also loved painting and painted murals on the walls of her home. When I was 13 a family friend gave me my first set of oil paints and began giving me weekly lessons.
Realism first became a love of mine when I visited the National Gallery of Art in London. I was deeply inspired by the Old Master paintings and I have spent some time learning their techniques. Today I use many of those traditional methods, while painting more contemporary subjects with a vibrant color palette.
I admire the style and story telling of Norman Rockwell and the combination of realism and impressionistic backgrounds of William Bouguereau. Contemporary artists who continue to inspire me include, Colorado artist Scott Fraser, I love his use of color, his creativity and the sense of humor he adds to his subjects, realism painter David Kassan, his paintings look as if they are alive and you could have a conversation with them, and New York artist Tony Curanaj, his paintings have a realistic and illustrative whimsical feeling. I was fortunate enough to study in workshops with both David Kassan and Tony Curanaj, experiences that greatly influenced my growth as an artist.
What’s something people often assume about your paintings, or about you as an artist, that isn’t actually true?
This question made me smile because I knew the answer immediately. One misconception is that the childlike elements in my paintings are just for children or children’s rooms. While I love that parents see their children reflected in my work, I also hope they see themselves. I want viewers to remember their own childhood. The excitement of opening a brand new box of crayons and releasing their smell. Drawing clouds, the sun and butterflies, or sharks and dinosaurs. Coloring carefully in the lines or joyfully outside of them.
If someone could walk into your studio on an ordinary afternoon, what would they find? What’s playing in the background, what are you working on and what does your creative process look like?
I live in a quaint little 150 year old house, with a small sunroom that I’ve turned into my studio. There’s always a cup of coffee and dogs at my feet, the sound of my chickens outside and old tv reruns or documentary’s are playing in the background.
I care about every step of the process, so that means, some days I am preparing wood panels with layers of gesso. Other days I’m arranging a still life, which can occasionally take severals days before everything feels just right. Most days, though, you’ll find me painting from sunrise to sunset.
Where can we see your work in person?
Currently, I exhibit my work at several art festivals throughout the summer. Upcoming shows are, Art in the Park in Loveland, Co. on Aug 8th & 9th, Castle Rock Art Fest on September 12th & 13th, and the 2nd Annual Autumn Art Market at the Callahan House in Longmont, Co.
October 10th. During the rest of the year, I occasionally participate in group exhibitions featuring a selection of my current paintings.
My upcoming show schedule is always available on my website and instagram. www.rebekahwood.com and instagram: rebekahwood.art
Thank you so much for sharing your process and art with us, Rebekah. We look forward to seeing what you create in the future!