Welcome to my blog

I’m an artist. It took me a long time to call myself that despite wanting to be an artist for most of my life.

It’s not an unusual story among artists, I loved creating art as a child and by the time I was a teenager, it was the only thing I wanted to do with my life.

I graduated from art school with a BFA but got lost in a different career early on. More than 10 years passed before I started to make art again.

During the years when I wasn’t making art, I felt like I was hiding part of myself. I felt like no one really knew me because I didn’t completely identify with the person I allowed myself to become.  

More than 10 years have passed since I started making art again and my life is completely changed. I left the old career behind and have built my life around the things I love most. I make art often, every day if possible.

In this blog, I write about returning to art after a long absence. I hope my journey might inspire others who would like to start making art again or even for the first time.

You can read my first post by clicking below.

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Blog

Large portrait drawing of a young Chinese woman yawning, Hong Kong. Copyright Rachel PetruccilloWalking the Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong (20x26 inches, graphite on paper)

The Series that Helped Me Break Through Creativ...

Images of the drawing series that helped me get unstuck.

The Series that Helped Me Break Through Creativ...

Images of the drawing series that helped me get unstuck.

How to Flatten Paintings on Paper

How to Flatten Paintings on Paper

Hey, welcome to a "one-hit wonder" of blog posts. I implore you to stay and explore the rest of this website that I've poured my heart & soul into. There's a whole world...

How to Flatten Paintings on Paper

Hey, welcome to a "one-hit wonder" of blog posts. I implore you to stay and explore the rest of this website that I've poured my heart & soul into. There's a whole world...

oil painting of a trail leading across lumpy yellow and green fields

Finding a Happy Medium

Rediscovering the joy of painting with oil but without the smells and toxic chemicals!

Finding a Happy Medium

Rediscovering the joy of painting with oil but without the smells and toxic chemicals!

artists rachel petruccillo and christpher long painting a still life on youtube

Painting a Still Life on YouTube

Watch fellow artist, Chris Long, and I paint the same still life.

Painting a Still Life on YouTube

Watch fellow artist, Chris Long, and I paint the same still life.

make bad art

Make Bad Art

Am I a bad artist if I make bad art?

Make Bad Art

Am I a bad artist if I make bad art?

digital painting of my kitchen in florence, italy

Creative Escapism

Painting the past to take a break from the present.

Creative Escapism

Painting the past to take a break from the present.