Meet Rebecca Pry | Illustrator & Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rebecca Pry and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rebecca, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I’ve been finding that the more I enjoy what I’m doing, the more I don’t mind working constantly on it. When I was working in a more corporate setting, it was very easy for me to turn off at the end of the day or on the weekends. It becomes totally different when you begin to freelance because you have to constantly be marketing yourself and always keep the momentum going. When it’s something you love to do, it’s so easy to just want to be working all the time. I definitely feel like I’m starting to hit a stride in my career, and because of that, my work life balance has become a little fuzzy- working at night, on the weekends, having to miss some events with friends and family because of work. I am really aware of how the balance is disappearing and am trying to take time for myself to become inspired. I’ve discovered that I become very stagnant and find myself in creative blocks when my routines stay the same, so by getting out of the studio for a trip, spending time with friends or even a walk outside does wonders for me.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My artwork is very fun and whimsical, and behind the bright colors, there’s a definite sarcasm and mood to it. I’m also incredibly inspired by botanicals, mostly desert and jungle, and I also take a lot of inspiration from the Hudson Valley where I live. I like to make myself laugh with what I’m doing, so my artwork is also fueled by humor and personality. This has really helped me develop my own style and voice that I’ve been able to incorporate in all of the projects I get hired for, like book illustrations, murals, and product design. When I first started freelancing, it was a lot of researching businesses I liked and cold emailing them, asking if they needed a freelancer. Most of the time I didn’t hear back, but slowly, my client base started to grow, along with the variety of projects I got. It was not easy, and there were long stretches of time that I was completely unemployed! I never gave up and thankfully work always seemed to find its way to me. Over the years, I’ve learned to calm down a little when I don’t have work at a certain moment (it’s still VERY hard not to get worried or depressed about it though). It’s definitely feast or famine, and I’m starting to learn how to enjoy the quieter times to work on personal projects, update my website, or look for a new type of project or client.

I want people to know that the hustle is real and it can really pay off if you continue to have a good attitude and just start doing the things you want to do, because sooner or later, that work will come. That’s been the most exciting part of my career, how each thing has dovetailed into the next and how much I’ve been able to accomplish over the past 9 years. My confidence in myself has grown as well as understanding my value as an artist.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The area where I live is very beautiful so you better be ready to explore outside! I would bring a visiting friend on a hike along the Appalachian trail and then we would stop for ice cream at our town’s famous ice cream place, Bellevale Creamery. We could then go to the brewery, Drowned Lands, which is in a very cool building that used to be a part of a prison complex. Once it’s dark out, we would go see a movie at the drive-in or go to a music show to see a local band play. The rest of the week could be spent taking day trips to the sculpture garden, Storm King, or the contemporary art museum, DIA Beacon. We could head up to the Catskills and walk around the small artist towns up there, or head into the city! There are a variety of things to do and places to go around here and it’s nice to be in between the city and the Catskill mountains.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my family! They have always been very supportive of my artwork and my decisions when it comes to my career. They listen to me when I need to complain, give me advice and (sometimes) critique my work! They are always cheering me on and celebrating my successes with me. Their enthusiasm and confidence in what I do does not go unnoticed and I am always very grateful for that support system.

Website: https://rebeccapry.com

Instagram: @rebeccapry , @desert_qween

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-pry-9110bb58/