Rachael Inch is a wonderful creative that hails from the South Island of New Zealand. A woman I can relate to, her life is surrounded by art. For the past 9 years she has been producing bold paintings with a strong influence from her surroundings. Her vibrant skies, rivers and hills capture the essence of rural New Zealand in a new contemporary way. Rachael is about to have her first solo exhibition titled Celebrating the Creative Spirit in Colour at Auckland’s Bruce Mason Centre, August 3rd-31st 2010. If you’re in town you’re invited to meet the artist and view her gorgeous collection at the opening celebrations on August 3rd 7pm-9:30pm.
How would you describe yourself?
I am a really passionate person, who really cares. I am very driven and have a great love for all I meet. I guess I would describe myself as successful, as I am continually reaching the goals I set for myself, I am a mother and a Farmers wife an artist and a school bus driver! So I am able to do lots of things and multi task when I need to!! People inspire me!
What inspired you to do what you do?
My art is purely inspired by what I see and feel around me. On a holistic level, colours are incredibly important and beneficial to us. I am inspired by my emotions and I found that Art was a way out of depression for me. Art is how I express myself and how I learn to move through life.
What would be your best advice for someone wanting to go into business for themselves?
Plan and Action! The biggest thing I have learned is that you must have determination and self belief. If you have an Idea ACTION IT! too many people don’t ever action their ideas, they procrastinate and never put anything into action, if you want to be in business you must plan everything, affiliate yourself with social networking and get out and learn more. There are always great courses that are cheap or free on starting your own business.. go do it! Being a business owner is the most satisfying job you can have, yes, you need to put long hours in and you need to make sure you work hard, but its on your terms. You only get out what you put in!
How do you handle all your different responsibilities, what are your priorities?
Sometimes not so easily!!! Its very difficult to juggle all the responsibilities I have and to be honest its not a perfect world all the time, things suffer! but if you balance your tasks as much as you can and plan ahead (oh yes I am the great Capricorn start sign the one who writes lists!!) then you tend to get there in the end. Sometimes I just need to go for a run to clear my head because I cant stop thinking and coming up with new ideas or what I have to do next, but I will always try and bring my thoughts back to “Live in the Present” quite often with the busy lifestyle I have “crash moments” that’s when I retreat for a moment, put on some calming music and try to de-stress.
Any goals for the future?
Goals for the future… Too many to list!! I will have my own store/gallery one day in the future and I have many Ideas on how to keep branching my creativity out to generate income. I guess my biggest goal is to be healthy and enjoy life as much as I can. I know that sounds so cliche but how can you make any career goals if you are not healthy?
Tell us a little bit about your family and relationship, if you’re in one:
I am a mother of a great 10year old boy, Jayden who is very special in his own way, I have a fantastic husband of 7 years, Rodney who is a farmer. (the rest is private ::))
Biggest life lesson?
Wow I have had sooo many LOL biggest… hmmm I guess “that life is way to short.” My mother in law whom I was very close too passed away in my arms around 4 years ago. It was such a sudden event and I guess after her death I took the rose coloured glasses off about life, I learned lots from that big event. Like, being honest at all times and no matter who doesnt want to hear the truth at least you stand in the truth.
We are here on the earth for such a short time and it can just be pulled away from you in such a quick instance, so I guess I would say that everyone needs to start living from their gut instincts. I have learned not to stay and feel unhappy in a job that I hate and “trust” that things will work out for me.
I have learned to APPRECIATE people more and say thank you all the time. That at the end of the day when we strip our material possessions all we have is each other so I learned to value that time that we have with people. Life is too short for letting other people run your life.
Biggest lesson you’ve learned in business?
In business? Well that for me personally is money management and research everything. I have learned in the art world that its not what you know its who you know so networking is incredibly important!! And I have learned in business if something is not working its not meant to be!
Share with us your favourite quote:
” Do not wish to be anything else but who you are and try to be that perfectly!” and on a final note, I came from a family who work hard for what they have. I was always told by my father “There’s no such word as I CAN’T” its cannot or can. So I guess he taught me to always believe that no matter how hard things are I can always but try. Time and time again in my personal life I encounter people who are jealous of others success because they cannot set their minds to do what drives them. Everyone is good at something, I believe that the only restrictions in life are the ones that we put on ourselves.
Opportunities are everywhere you just have to take them and go with what you feel is right!
I suffered depression so badly that I tried to take my own life, I lost the support of almost all of my friends and I created a situation in my life where I was rock bottom. I said to myself that I was going to change it all and I did, one step at a time, it has NOT been easy. I work damn hard everyday to get where I feel I should be. I stopped blaming the world for my problems and started taking responsibility for myself. I started really looking at the way I acted spoke or was and I changed myself, why? For a better quality of life. I am just an average 30 year old woman and I made this happen by speaking from my heart. Anyone can do the same if they just say to themselves “I am Worth it”.
