coolclimates's Profile

Bio

Rachel was born in Rochester, NY and earned her Bachelor's Degree in Ceramics at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in 2000. In 2002, Rachel received a Master's Degree in Textile Design with a Minor in Papermaking at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She creates hats, scarves, jewelry and sculptures with fiber and mixed media. Felting, knitting and beadwork are techniques that appear frequently in her work.

Rachel draws much of her inspiration from nature; organic forms, landscapes, plants and animals all influence her designs. She also finds inspiration by the arts and crafts of various ethnic groups and world cultures. Her travels create strong themes in her art. In 2004, she was an artist in residence at the Red Cinder Creativity Center on Hawaii's Big Island. In May and June of 2005, she was the visiting artist at Hafnarborg Cultural Center in Hafnarfjordur, Iceland. In June 2007, she returned to Iceland and also visited Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. These three trips have had a significant impact on her artwork.

Female, Born on May 7