Artist Profile: Rachelle Graham

Rachelle Graham is a paper artist, and recently, a new mother. Graham has been creating her artwork using the intricate designs of on edge paper quilling since January 2020. Prior to that, she had been creating standard quilling pieces since 2003. Graham is particularly interested in the 3D nature of quilling—sharing her complex creations by selling completed works and custom commissions. Throughout her artistic career, Graham has explored many designs through her art form including flowers, wild animals, custom pets, and abstract works. She is also excited to have launched a teaching venture this year by hosting online quilling classes on Teachable and Etsy.

1) What are the challenges and triumphs you have experienced in regard to being able to market your work as a professional artist?

One of the challenges that I’ve been grappling with is what size art I should usually create since it’s very time intensive. I would prefer to make bigger pieces as they can be more detailed. However I’ve found a middle ground works best (with more ‘medium’ sized pieces): draws people in, plus is still relatively affordable.

Also, many people express interest in purchasing or commissioning my art. But it can be difficult to turn all of these initial connections into customers. Before I had my baby, I was doing a lot of livestreams showing the process of my art while chatting with viewers—during which many people would express concrete interest in a commission. Yet most don’t end in actual sales.

One of my great triumphs so far was when I created my first custom pet portrait for a client. I had never created a pet before that. It went very well. So I live-streamed the production of it several times, which led to similar requests that in turn led to a number of actual commissions.

2) What is the origin story of how you discovered this particular art form?

I started with traditional quilling when I was ten years old. Traditional quilling involves the use of rolling narrow paper strips into coils. These coils are then shaped—and many of them are subsequently glued to create designs. My mother’s friend thought I would enjoy it. And I did! I began with a little quilling kit; I’m self-taught from there. It was 2006 before I started again at the age of 13 thanks to children’s quilling book I got. From there, I continued to quill—experimenting with a number of style iterations along the way.

In January 2020, I began creating with the style of quilling I do now: on edge quilling. On edge quilling uses wider, cardstock strips of paper which are formed on the edge of the paper strip into curves, lines or coils. I enjoy all the textures and looks I can create with on edge quilling; the overall look is even more three dimensional than with traditional quilling.

3) Are there any prerequisites for the online classes you teach?

My online art class is intended for someone that is a very patient and detail-oriented. Overall, the class is designed so a person with no prior knowledge of on edge quilling can still create a really cool art piece. However, quilling novices would also learn a lot from the class as well. I include all the details needed to troubleshoot any issue with videos and a detailed PDF document with photographs in it. I even send a kit with most of the required supplies, so the upfront cost to the student is relatively small. Another class I currently teach (also intended for beginners) involves a more simplified project that takes less time—and can be completed by an adult or a child with assistance.

4) Share 2-3 types of art you wish people were more aware of.

My first answer to this question won’t come as a surprise based on the art form I do, but I’d like more people to be aware of paper quilling. Its traditional form began in the Renaissance. The use of paper strips to create framed pieces of art that literally stick off the page, gives each finished work a very lively sort of feeling. Whereas it has seen a resurgence of popularity in recent decades, it is still unknown to most people.

Another type of art I really love is Zentangle. It is an art form made up of different patterns. I find it really interesting how accessible it is for people of any age, but it can get more and more complex as designs progress. I have even created a few Zentangle-inspired quilling pieces.