Artist Interview - Rebecca Elfast - (Pt. 2)

The best and worst part of being an artist?

- Best: getting to explore the inner and outer world for a living. Worst: The inner and outer worlds are too large, I can never explore it all but I will die trying.

Your most precious piece of art kit?

- Hehe right now my iPad Pro as it’s so portable and powerful at the same time. But I do love my watercolours as well. 

Biggest lesson as an artist so far?

- That you sometimes come back from a hiatus as a stronger artist. Don’t feel bad about resting. (Not entirely sure I have learned this in full yet but I try)

Cats or dogs?

- I was a nanny for the most incredible Rhodesian Ridgeback and he totally stole my heart. So I must say dogs. But cats can be awesome as well. When they don’t crap in my flowerbeds.

Your card-back is beautiful, the colours, and detail - please tell us more about it and the creative process behind it?

- I wanted it to really pop with festive colours that maybe aren’t the typical Christmas colours. Also I wanted it to look lovely laid out side by side and figured that lush botanicals and cute birds should do the trick. 

What is the most festive thing you do at this time of year?

- Putting up ornaments and lights at home! This time of year, Sweden is dark most hours of the day and it helps SO much with making it a little more bearable. 

Do you often have a white Christmas in your homeland of Gothenburg?

- Almost never. But as I am answering these questions, a lot of snow is falling and we’re expecting more in the coming days. 

Please tell us about your own Christmas traditions?

- Historically very traditional Swedish west coast Christmases, spent at my fishing grandparents with lots of pickled fish on the table, also Lutfisk which is scary for the uninitiated... 

What is the art scene like in Sweden?

- Haha, I wish I knew! Having a kid and then later on a pandemic has made me a hermit. 

As an artist and Mummy, has having your daughter made art (and of course Christmas) even more magical? 

- Yes and yes! She is so full of insane ideas that are gold for my art. And I do my best to make her Christmases magical so she will remember them with warmth forever. 

How do you keep organised?

- I don’t! But I do try to tame my inner perfectionist and find that “lagom” level of orderliness. Let things be that aren’t important and focus on what matters.  (Lagom might need to be explained? It’s a Swedish word that means “not too much, not too little, just enough.”)

Have you given yourself any New Year resolutions yet?

- No, I try to constantly keep afloat as best I can in the many areas of life where New Year resolutions often live, but I would get too stressed about a resolution. I try to do as good as I can. Hehe, lagom again, if you will. 

Which three colours do you love on your palette?

- Turquoise, pink, forest green.

Heels or flats?

- Always flats, I am a total comfoholic. But I do like to be creatively dressed and put on some lipstick every once in a while even though I work from home. Especially in the zoom meeting era, haha.

Your childhood memories on Instagram hint of adventures with your Grandpa, tell us do you still enjoy mackerel and what would be the most delicious way to eat it? :)

- Oh yes, he and I were very close and we often went fishing together, he was a fisherman by profession. He had a very simple but genius way of serving fresh mackerel, pan fried with new potatoes and a creamy sauce with dill and tomatoes. Yum. 

Are you a better morning or evening artist?

- I do love a good morning, I tend to get lots done. Also now as a parent, my batteries tend to run low the further the day progresses, haha. 

For aspiring artists, especially in creating patterns, what would be your advice to them?

- Try lots and lots of things and try to learn something new every day. Watch Skillshare classes. Use Pinterest to kinda weed out what you love. Make patterns that you feel you would buy if you walked into a store. 

What is next for Rebel Form Illustration?

- Hopefully lots of wonderful and inspirational things that contribute to an amazing artistic evolution! And some rest over the holidays would be nice.

We really hope you enjoyed this interview, thank you to our very own Christmas Elf for her time!

Merry Christmas everyone!