Inspired by the beautiful homes of Lincoln Park, Chicago
I really love my finished Lincoln Park Historic Home drawing. There is something so satisfying about drawing architecture. And I love drawing all the beautiful historic places in my city. Especially because so many are being torn down. It’s like a little piece of history in my hand. I hope you’re all sharing some Chicago love today 💖🌆💖
I really want this to manifest as my own Roarin’ Twenties, and the #1 way im doing it is DOING MY ART!
And I am honestly off to a great start, as I have honestly started and completed more art in this first week of 2020 than I have in all of 2019!
What I am working on this week is an illustration i started YEARS ago but am now determined to finish.
This is an illustration of my second apartment in Chicago, in Logan Square. I live here from 2014-2017, and i have very happy times here.  I loved this apartment so much, and I loved the people that came and went and life that happened inside. I think of this apartment often, I think of becoming the person I am since moving here in 2012.
It’s Monday, and it’s almost February, and we currently going through the annual “January Thaw” here in Chicago, which means the worst is yet to come…
But for now, I will give me love and thoughts to my world.  In Chicago there is a neighborhood called Humboldt Park – which houses one of my favorite places in the world… Humboldt Park :)  Sadly Humboldt is also known for really terrible crime, which seems to have surged recently – and the reason it breaks my heart is because I love this place so much (and it’s not even my neighborhood!) I spent my Sunday in the area and just loved it and I can’t wait until spring and summer when the flowers will bloom, and ill pick new garden plants at Adams and Son and ride my bike to the Boathouse at the (Humboldt) Park. So this Monday, i give it to you Humboldt Park Chicago
This past week I had a very stressful move (which is a little redundant, since 99% of all moves are stressful) Â but for real… I am so glad it’s over.
My move is an adjustment, it’s a smaller place, new people, different set of rules, but as the days pass and I start to clean and unpack and spend time, I am really enjoying and appreciating it.
My new place is in my old neighborhood that I lived in years ago. Â There are some things I get to go back to, old hangouts, routes etc. Â But there are also a lot more new things that have really been keeping me exciting, so it feels like a new place.
Either way I had some kind people and lovely friends keep me company over the weekend to really bring down my stress level and lift my spirits. Â So this Much Love Monday is all about: Â Finding home and enjoying your space –
I totally forgot to ever post the illustrations I did for Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago Words Weekend last year.  It was an incredible experience and opportunity, and I had a ton of fun doing these illustrations.
Based on the poem by Irene Marquette (which you can read here)
Thank you to 1,000 Chicago Afternoons, Anthology of Chicago and CHI_LIT and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago for the awesome opportunity!
**ALSO**
Recently featured again on the MCA Front page and in the Chicago READER for a similar even coming up this month:Â http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/welcome-to-the-neighborhood/Event?oid=16184828
Breakup Weekend Comics – Part 2
no really it’s really funny… Last week i was told by this greg that I wasn’t important enough to make time for and that we’re never going to see each-other again.
And then, a few days later, i broke up with the guy i was currently dating… also named greg.
My life is weird.
So like I said last time (two months ago! AH!) my printer was messed up but I finally fixed it WHICH MEANS… Â <3 <3 <3 !COMICS! <3 <3 <3 Â Todays comic is brought to you by people who pretend to like you and then disappear: 
So my friends, here is a story.
One of the reasons I make comics and share them publicly, especially ones like this, is because I want someone else out there going through the same thing to realize you’re not alone.
This particular story was drawn about two months ago, after my casual relationship with Greg, but it also applies perfectly to my most recent dating experience.  Actually… probably more so, because Dave was the best person I ever dated and felt like relationship was just around the corner.  But then just a few days ago … poof! gone.  I think this one hurt the most. (BTW, Happy Birthday Dave!)*
Yes it sucks, yes you will sit at home and analyze over and over “what did i do?!?!”, “what did I say?!?!”, “what could i have done differently!!!”.  The answer is nothing.  And we all do this.  But ya know what?  IT’S NOT YOU.  Trust me.  When this happens remind yourself that it has nothing to do with you.  It is on them – mostly from lack of maturity and the inability to deal with conflict and confrontation.  Any of the other reasons do not matter.  (and both genders do this btw, not just dudes)
Also, if you have done this… please stop. Â It’s a thousand times worse to not know than to know.
Ok well now that we’ve all turned on The Smiths and had a good cry about ourselves, go out and enjoy your life.
Love Ya’ll
– Rachel
*Don’t be mean to comic artists!
So i finished my most recent comic but sadly my printer and scanner have decided to not work, so it may take a while before we see it :(
Until then, here are some sneak previews
obviously its crappy looking, but Ill upload the finished comic as soon as I get my scanner working!
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Also if anyone is finding me from the Milwaukee Ave Arts Festival I want to say HELLO! Â And thanks for stopping by!
This weekend I was asked to do a piece for the MAAF in Logan Square, which included a live painting and drawing session !
Check back soon for some more updates – i have some cool stuff going on !
Holy MOLEY i have just had a whirlwind of press and accolades since my art show opening on February 8th!!!!
First i found out i was featured in a Chicago Tribune article! (starpower!)
Then, Â REELChicago posted a video from opening night (though i think i sound like an idiot)
AND THEN! – the last two days I have talked and visited with the arts reader from the ChicagoREADER, which is super super exciting (since people actually read that one!)  If you are around the Chicago area, you can pick up a copy NEXT THURSDAY (the 27th) or search for it on http://www.chicagoreader.com/
Basically… Im about to blow up ya’ll.
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On another awesome note – I am still working on my most recent comic! Â It’s a Wealthy&Diamond diary comic, but it’s on a much larger scale, and with everything that’s been going i’ve only inked one page! Â But here is the first pages ‘ rough copy for you to revel over until the other pages are done.
I love all of you!
<3 <3 <3
Hourly Comic Day, February 1, 2014
ALRIGHT, i know you all have been waiting ALL WEEKEND for these, but this is definitely the most boring hourly comic day i’ve ever drawn
Things I've Seen and Heard 