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

Hi Rachael, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?

People outside of the arts often try to get deals or trades on work from artists. There is a misconception that because an artist enjoys their work it is inherently less valuable. Does an accountant make less because he enjoys organizing numbers?

“If you’re engaged by your work – for the independence it allows, for the sense of completion when you’re done, for its contribution to making the world a better place – passion is likely to follow. Passion isn’t the catalyst that creates success, but more often what develops after success is achieved.” – Paul Jarvis, Company of One.

When we consider the developed skillset, resources, and investment of time, it becomes clear just how valuable an artist’s creation is. I strive to make this transparent to collectors through supporting other artists careers and promoting my own work. We are living in a time where technology is allowing people to pivot away from a traditional 9-5 and carve out their own path. This gives me hope that the artist’s ability to think outside the box has a better chance of being appreciated and fairly compensated.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I am a Charleston based muralist and artist. I love creating impactful spaces through the installation of my large scale artwork. Whether you need custom work or existing branding implemented, I am here to help!

My paintings are about celebrating the rituals of cooking, eating, and gathering. Food is part of a much bigger story about access, social justice, and quality of life. I am passionate about supporting local farmers and purveyors and doing my best to invest my dollars into the local economy. The nature of my artwork is happy, uplifting, and colorful. For my medium, I typically use acrylic paint on wood panels, canvas, and paper. I create in a variety of scales, preferring to paint large in order to offer a new perspective to the small and mundane. It is a means of expression, celebration, and preservation of a moment in time.

My journey has felt very in sync with what I am meant to be doing. Food has been a consistent source of comfort and inspiration throughout my life. Painting food started while working as a store artist for Whole Foods Market. I was painting fruits and vegetables on black chalkboards with paint markers, and it was so much fun. I loved how different the layers of colors looked up close and from afar. I never pictured that style outside of the grocery store setting… 10 years later my work mirrors that style more than ever.

I’ve had a few chapters of reinvention. I studied illustration in college where I was trained in both digital and traditional painting techniques. These skills were a perfect match for my job description at Whole Foods Market. After four years, Amazon bought WFM and my position dissolved, so my biggest challenge was leaving a full time salary and benefits for the unknown. I quickly fell into my next chapter working at Miller Gallery for 5 years after that. I had years of computer skills built up and a passion to learn everything I could about the gallery industry. I loved being surrounded by exciting contemporary art and artists for my job. Best of all I was able to paint during evenings and keep chipping away at what could possibly evolve from my own creations. Fast forward to a year ago, the gallery went through their own evolution with a change of location and ownership. I had built up enough of my own clients via mural and design work to leap into freelance work. So that brings me to today, where I am working from my home studio in sunny Charleston, SC.

My two consistent challenges have been believing in myself and generating enough income to support myself. There are seasons when it comes to financial investment in the arts which makes for an unpredictable income stream for artists. One of the areas I focus on to manage my expenses is food. I cook a large portion of my meals for cost effectiveness and healthfulness.

I am most proud of the fact that I have painted multiple murals throughout the greater Charleston area. That possibility was beyond my wildest dreams when I first decided to pursue painting in Charleston. I love that clients like Kiawah River and Park & Grove are fully aligned with my own values; both supporting local farmers and eating through the seasons.

As for lessons I have learned along the way, simply showing up is the most important piece of the puzzle. Work attracts work. Spending time in my studio every day and letting my process slowly evolve is the most challenging and rewarding part of my practice. All you can do is show up, get to work, and push the needle a little further along. One thing I have found is that the more paintings / projects I can work on at once, the more pressure is taken off for something to come out perfectly.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Of course my itinerary would revolve around meals. I would love to start the week on Sunday so here goes… We would grab brunch from Baguette Magic and then scoot over to The Sunday Brunch Farmers Market at the Pour House. There we would listen to live music, chat with the vendors, and stock up on produce from our friends at Spade and Clover. Afterwards we might go over to the Terrace Theater for an afternoon movie. Then we could pop into Bar George for some martinis, peruvian chicken, and hot donuts to finish off the day.

Monday seems like a good day to head out to Folly Beach. We would pack up for the day to hang out there with snacks, drinks, and definitely an umbrella. We’d spend the day relaxing on the beach. At the end of the day we would grab food and drinks over at Jack of Cups, one of the best places to eat on Folly.

Tuesday afternoon we would head up to North Charleston to check out The Station – an awesome vintage marketplace with a slew of artists and vendors. After spending some time shopping there, we’d head over to Jack Rabbit Filly for dinner. After dinner we would pop into The Tippling House for a wine fueled nightcap.

Wednesday’s itinerary would revolve around downtown. First we would check out both The Gibbes Museum and The International African American Museum. We’d then head over to Goat Sheep Cow / Babas on Meeting for a beautiful European lunch. We’d then pop into The Miller Gallery for a private viewing of some of their latest contemporary art collections. Afterwards, we would head over to Bevi Bene Brewing to bask with a beverage in their sunny taproom. Finally we would end the day with dinner at 167 Sushi Bar – an absolute favorite restaurant downtown.

Thursday we would head over to Mt. Pleasant and check out the Old Village, Pitt Street Bridge, and The Post House Inn for a late lunch. We may even pop into Uptown Cheapskate for some thrifting thrills. We’d then pick up next level takeout from Beautiful South on our way home.

At this point, Friday may need to be a day to chill. We would throw together a picnic and head down to Hampton Park for a day of relaxing in the shade catching up. It would be essential that we end the day with dinner on a high at one of my other favorites – Chubby Fish or Vern’s.

Saturday we would get an early start and kick off the day with a bag of goodies from Girl Nextdough – a next level breakfast food truck on James Island. From there we would pop into Local Love CHS for some locally made souvenirs for my friend to take back with them. Then we would drive out to Johns Island for the Sea Island Farmers Market. There we would get provisions for our big dinner finale that I would cook. We’d grab protein from Wishbone Heritage Farms, eggs from Storey Farms, and produce from Fire Ant Farms. Then we would head back to the house to prep and start the cooking process. A whole roasted chicken, root veggies cooked in chicken fat, and a big salad of kale, nuts, and grated cheese. And of course, wine.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

Yes, I would like to dedicate this shoutout to one of my lifelong friends, Kate Blohm. Kate is a Charleston based photographer who is passionate about food, travel, and especially her loved ones. We have been friends since our first day at Savannah College of Art and Design. We tell everyone that the best thing we got from college was our group of friends. She is my shoutout because now more than ever I appreciate all of the seasons of life we have been through together. She is one of the most supportive, positive, and fiercely loyal people that I know. Her endless support, enthusiasm, humor, and passion for food are things that I love deeply. Her commitment to growing her own empire while making the world a better place inspires me in more ways than I can express. I am excited to continue to grow personally and professionally with her at my side. Cin-cin!

Website: rachaelnerney.com

Instagram: @rachaelnerney

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachaelnerneyart

Other: Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/rachaelnerneyart/

Image Credits
Brian D Smith, Mercedes Armella

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSouthCarolina is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.