April Featured Artist - Beckabunss
A Cure for Humans, Acrylic, 2020
April Featured Artist - Rebecca “Beckabunss” Swenson
Artist, designer, and animator Rebecca “Beckabunss” Swenson
Rebecca “Beckabunss” Swenson is an artist, live painter, animator, and designer. She’s participated in Mar Vista Music & Art Walk as a live pianter and volunteer since 2016. Beckabunss has a B.o.S in Media Arts and Animation from AI Santa Monica and has worked as an artist and UX Designer for many companies and organizations in Los Angeles, on the east coast, and overseas. She curates a yearly comic anthology called the 'Hush Anthology' and creates her own comics for these volumes. Beckabunss has been awarded grants by Bequinox and the LA League of Arts for her 'Cat Loaf Cafe' installation and for organizing groups of artists to attend Burning Man. Beckabunss currently works as a freelance artist and designer and works for private clients, the Mar Vista Art Walk, Artifact gallery and many other arts communities. She was recently featured in Voyage LA, our favorite news source for LA’s most inspiring stories. Check out her answers to our questions, and keep up with Becka’s art!
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/beckabunss/
Website https://www.beckabunss.com
Hush Anthology Comic Books https://indyplanet.com/?s=hush+anthology
Who are you and what do you do?
I am beckabunss, and I am a freelance animator and graphic designer
What are five words to describe you/your work?
Colorful, trippy, anime, contemporary and comic book.
What is your creative process like?
Asheville Coyote, 2019
I usually write all my ideas for pieces or projects in my iPhone notes or on paper, I used to write lists on napkins or scraps, putting things on paper and imagining ideas first really helps me with follow through. I start with really messy sketches and refine details over time. I sometimes think about a potential piece for a few days at a time.
What drives you to make art?
My past and history, and the desire to communicate with other people about those things.
How do you stay inspired?
By looking at other artists’ art! And through a few different sketch collections, like ‘Character Design Quarterly’ and ‘Flight’.
What message do you want to send through your business or art?
That it’s okay to be yourself and to be ambitious, and that great stuff takes time.
What difficult experiences have you faced professionally/creatively?
It depends, working in a corporate setting is tough no matter what you do. Dealing with clients who have never worked with an artist before is also tough. I’ve had to be very patient and forgo some petty pride.
What has been your experience with Mar Vista Music and Art Walk? How do you feel connected to the community?
I like MVMAW because it’s got a very eclectic community that makes it accessible to people who don’t get to experience art every day. People show up and I think that means a lot. It’s my favorite art walk in LA county.
Do you have any upcoming projects, events or shows?
I’m working on a pilot right now, and a few comics projects. Stay tuned to those releases! I’ve been working on a few of them for years and hope to see the projects come to fruition.