Beloved visual artist, graphic designer, and muralist, Rachael Meckling, known for her signature fashion doll illustration style, has been freelancing since graduating from Ryerson University’s design program. She loves to create surface patterns and prints, sew, draw portraits, and uplift women's self-confidence. Her long list of collaborations includes Saks Fifth Avenue, The Glenbow Museum, Holt Renfrew, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Calgary Public Library Foundation, and PARK!

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We’re excited to be working with Rachael yet again for #OURPARK2020’s digital mural launch — inspiring and uplifting the Calgary community while celebrating frontline and essential workers. We wanted to learn more about Rachael’s four digital mural and how social distancing has impacted her artistic practice.

“I think [these murals] are such a city-wide pop of fun! We all experience a little hope when we see local art. I have had some followers on Instagram say "Hey! I thought that was yours!" So even though I am in Canmore, it feels like I'm there [in Calgary].”

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How did you develop your concepts for #OURPARK2020?

I had a lot of freedom with this project. I wanted to do something special for the healthcare workers specifically, so I made sure to make one with all my girls as nurses and doctors which was a real hit. For my other concepts, I just wanted to make something BRIGHT, colour-wise, and optimistic.

As a freelance artist, how has COVID-19 impacted your artist practice?

The pandemic has helped me shift gears to liven my online presence — selling more online and doing more digital portraits, and heck! Even digital murals. For me, it gave me a swift kick in the entrepreneurial butt, with the deafening reality that if I don't promote my work on Instagram and get people buzzing, that I might go broke!

I have swapped my real life on the spot fashion portraits to digital LIVE sessions on Instagram or FaceTime and it's been super fun! DM me for a sketch for you or a friend! I also sell prints of my gorgeous ladies online.

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FOR YOU, WHAT IS THE HARDEST OR MOST CHALLENGING PART OF CREATING NEW WORK?

The most challenging part of creating new work is creating a sanctuary that you want to create work IN. I had to totally re-do my studio at the beginning of this all, simply because I couldn't leave the house to do my work at my favourite places (ie. fancy hotels or my fave local saloons). For the work itself, I think the research that goes into creating a product can be overwhelming. I have things down in the artwork and file area, but I’m not ready for in the production & implementation phase. I'll learn though!

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HOW ARE YOU STAYING INSPIRED TO CREATE?

Inspiration is everything, but it is also how you incubate inspiration. I can see an Instagram post of another artist, or a fabulous drag queen, or old movie star and be inspired. But all those images lie somewhere in my subconscious, and I find getting outside in nature and connecting to the earth, and disconnecting from my technology, is what really massages it all together in my brain. Then, when I am back in the studio things seem to flow from "no-where", but really they just had time to swim in my subconscious, which is what is so magical about creativity.

I am staying creative by watching films I felt I never originally wanted to "waste" my time with — I’m realizing a lot of them are actually really inspiring. I am staying creative by going out hiking in the mountains or walking trails on my cruiser bike; I'm not an athlete, but feeling the wind and smelling the summer breeze is priceless and something that 98% of us can do. Even if you're in a big city, there are always pockets of land that you can connect to the Earth in.