Thread by @headspacehuntrs

Rhi's Journey Home 🧵

We came across Rhi on twitter whilst we were looking through art submissions for #WorldofWomen, she was one of the contest winners. Eventually, we saw her working on a #SelfPortrait which took us by surprise, it was beautiful.

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We’ve never seen Rhi “shill” herself, she is always presenting her work in a neutral manner. We were curious, we had to find out more about her and her art.

The image you see below, is the custom piece that was created for this story representing Rhi’s “Journey Home”.

Rhi’s Story Begins Here🖊️

I have always felt in awe of the earth’s beauty while at the same time, deeply connected to something much greater beyond it.

My latest piece is about returning home to my true, intuitive, creative self.

As a child, art was a pure form of expression. I would spend hours on end in creative flow. My favourite things to draw were all things magical: fairies, animals, flowers and stars.

I was blessed to have an extremely creative upbringing where making art was a natural part of existence.
Years later, while getting my degree in Fine Art at Queen’s University, I decided to specialize in oil painting.

Academia began to shape the lens to which I viewed myself as an artist.

I learned about movements like deconstructionism, postmodernism and political ideology in art.

I began to disconnect from my own creative voice and vision...

for it did not seem to be what was valued in society nor the contemporary art world.

Upon graduating, with reckless optimism and naivety, I attempted to become a full-time painter living in downtown Toronto.

I found success becoming represented by two galleries with regular shows, sales and positive momentum building.

However, my lens again became skewed. Art had become about paying rent.

Survival mode had morphed my work to become what corporate executives wanted to hang in their condos and offices rather than what lit up my heart and imagination.

Eventually burn out and a desire for a normal lifestyle led me to returning to school for 3D Character Design and Animation. Digital art opened up so many new realms of possibility to me.

I realized that if Leonardo da Vinci were alive today, he would not be painting with egg tempera on plaster.

He would be using all of the modern tools available to him. He would probably be building the metaverse.

My motivation to create now comes from a place of true wonder, inspiration and clarity.

A series of life changes, soul discovery and spiritual awakenings ironically led me back to the very place I began as a young girl simply doing what she loved.

I’m incredibly grateful for the lessons and skills I learned along the journey to now better convey my reverence for nature, spirit and the profound magic of this reality.

I believe we each have unique gifts, truth and beauty to share with the world when we tap into who we truly are.

Written by @Rhi_Madeline
Published on #medium @Medium