Photographer and AI artist bringing imaginative beauty to the world – @RachelSTWood
Rachel Wood is a photographer and AI artist working in both mediums as an NFT artist. She got involved in NFTs in late 2021 and published her first piece in December 2021 on the Foundation marketplace.
She bought her first camera in 2019 and hasn’t looked back since. She was inspired to become a photographer by her passion for traveling and seeing as many different cultures as possible. She has been to all seven continents. Traveling is her identity, and what she does is tell stories and dreams through her art.
Her curiosity about life is reflected in her artwork, as she aspires to encompass more of what the world offers.
Rachel’s upbringing was rustic and without technology, which spurred her curiosity and artistic ways. She has tried all modalities of art, from metalsmithing to ceramics to batiking and other forms.
She embarked on her journey into AI in 2022 when she encountered a creative block in her artistic pursuits. To break free from this stagnation, she made the bold decision to sell her camera gear and venture outside her comfort zone. She is determined to explore avenues beyond photography and overcome her creative barriers.
Her art serves as a reflection of her own identity. As a photographer, she finds immense joy in visiting unconventional and lesser-known destinations. One of her most cherished photographs captures the essence of a Mongolian man savoring a drink from a humble tin cup. The image vividly portrays the man’s life story etched upon his face, while the sublime lighting and vibrant colors add depth and richness to the composition.
She possesses an innate ability to discover beauty within chaos. Being both a creator and a collector, she actively seeks out visually captivating images. For her, the visual appeal of the artwork is paramount—it must captivate her gaze and possess inherent visual value.
Over time, her collecting style has evolved, but her unwavering requirement for visual pleasure remains unchanged. Lately, she has developed a desire to familiarize herself with the artist to some extent before adding their work to her collection. Even if she greatly admires an artist’s creations, if their behavior within the art community lacks kindness or empathy, she refrains from acquiring their art.
I asked if she has a favorite artist, and she was hesitant to name any, but when I shared that I love Gustav Klimt, she said that she also loves his work and would love to meet him in the afterlife! She admires the work of Joe Cardamone, Stacy Sparkles, Phil Panda and Zay Yar Lin.
She said her favorite color is the rainbow but especially loves blue and red together.
I asked if she could change one aspect of the NFT ecosystem what it would be? Her answer was that she wished artists were better equipped to handle selling their art. Art is the foundation of NFTs, but too many artists suffer at the hands of investors. Too many artists don’t know their options and fall into copying what they see as being successful instead of focusing on creating, she said.
She just released her newest collection, Queens of the East. It’s an AI-generated collection that is Rachel’s interpretation of what it means to be Asian.
And the message she wants people to take away from her work is that her art is more than a pretty picture. It’s a reflection of all that she is and all that she can be.
Listen to the full interview here!
Follow her on Twitter here