Bold, fresh and quirky: Exploring the world of Rachael Stone Art

14 Jun 2023

Step into the vibrant and whimsical world of artist Rachael Stone, where every creation is a bold and fresh statement. Rachael's artwork exudes a sense of playfulness and quirkiness, filled with life and Resene colour that instantly brings a smile to your face.

Rachael's artistic journey began at a young age, fuelled by an innate desire to create. One of her earliest memories involves sneaking her mother's hot pink nail polish into the garden to decorate a fern with intricate patterns. This artistic inclination was always present, and Rachael further nurtured her passion by exploring art subjects at school and pursuing part-time studies in Melbourne. However, it was during the COVID-19 pandemic, like many others, that she took a decisive leap and chose to dedicate herself more seriously to her art.

One of Rachael’s commission pieces, painted in Resene Cupid, Resene Fringy Flower, Resene Charlotte, Resene Sweet Corn and Resene Biloba Flower.

Inspiration strikes Rachael in the most unexpected places, often during her thrilling adventures in thrift stores, where she unearths hidden treasures and peculiar objects. “I'm an avid op-shopper so I find a lot of weird and wonderful things in my second-hand hunts,” Rachael says. “A lot of these bring inspiration to me, especially 80s/90s clothing and vintage material. Our home sparks up ideas too, it's peppered with interesting thrifted pieces.”

When it comes to materials, Rachael's preferred canvas is MDF boards, which she adorns with Resene testpots. The process begins with meticulous board preparation, including sanding, priming and applying a base coat of white paint. Then, armed with Resene testpot paints, Rachael brings her designs to life.

Rachael with her colourful and quirky garden cut-outs, painted in an array of Resene paint colours including Resene Blue Lagoon, Resene Sail, Resene Cosmic, Resene Lima, Resene Fringy Flower, Resene Crusoe,Resene Cornflower, Resene Pink Lace, Resene Galliano, Resene Smitten, Resene Cabaret, Resene Daredevil, Resene Ecstasy and Resene Bird Flower.

Additionally, she explores the world of 3D art with her wood cut-outs, which are some of her favourite works. She meticulously crafts these using a jig saw, followed by sanding, priming and painting with Resene testpots. To give them that captivating high gloss shine, she finishes them off with Resene Aquaclear waterborne urethane varnish.

Rachael amidst her creative and colourful painting using bright shades like Resene Smitten, Resene Cornflower, Resene Riptide and Resene Cupid. Image by SG Editorial.

Although art is a passionate pursuit for Rachael, being a full-time mum occupies the majority of her time. Nevertheless, she dedicates every spare moment she can find to unleash her creativity and bring her vision to life.

So, why Resene paint? Rachael was introduced to the wonders of Resene testpots during a workshop with the talented artist Dali Susanto, and she was instantly captivated. She fell in love with Resene paint for its lush colours and the wide variety to choose from.

A stunning round artwork by Rachael, called ‘Queen of the Jungle’, painted in Resene Smitten, Resene Cornflower, Resene Cupid, Resene Fringy Flower, Resene Charlotte, Resene Sweet Corn, Resene Supernova, Resene Fog, Resene Bird Flower, Resene Riptide and Resene Lima.

Rachael's style thrives on vibrant, energetic palettes that pack a punch in a harmonious way. She is drawn to colours that pop and create a sense of joy, from bright and dynamic hues to delightful bubble-gum pastels.

When asked about her favourite Resene colour, Rachael's eyes light up as she mentions Cornflower. “It tends to work well with so many other colours, and I'm a sucker for peach.” 

View more of Rachael’s designs on Instagram: www.instagram.com/rachaelstoneart/

Published: 14 Jun 2023