About

  

My story

 

My name is Rebekah Lee Fowler, I grew up in Montevallo, Alabama. Since a young girl I have enjoyed all forms of art. I refined my skills and natural tendencies at Auburn University. Here I studied art and fell in love with painting and ceramics. After graduation I poured myself into a quickly growing career as a floral designer. I always hoped I would have the opportunity to incorporate painting and ceramics into my life again.

Seven years later -

       After years of dreaming about making the move, in October 2022, I finally sold everything I had and relocated to Oahu. It was a turning point for me. A long time coming, turning point. I had yet to know the gift this island had in store for me. I found a ceramic studio in Chinatown, open 24/7. I stopped by Hawaii Graphics and purchased an easel & oil paint. I still had with me the paint brushes I’d been holding onto since college. The time to resurrect my old hobbies had finally come.

 I found an Ohana up Pali Mountain that overlooked Honolulu and the ocean. Every dream I ever had for myself seemed fulfilled my first night sleeping on the floor. I had an excitement for life I had not felt in years. I set to work to create a lani for myself, a heaven, or better yet, a haven. 

My day and night consisted of painting and pottery. I practically lived at Mudd studio. I met lovely people who welcomed me to the island and invited me to join the Raku Ho’olaule’a, their community ceramic workshop and camp out on the North Shore beaches. To be surrounded by so much beauty and creativity was humbling and inspiring. 

     I had a hard time getting back into painting, what do I paint? I started with ‘My Dream’. My first painting I made on the island, it remains my favorite, and established the direction I would continue in for the remainder of my time in Oahu. This island inspired me. The colors, textures, the mountains and jungles, ocean, sunrises and sunsets. I painted what I saw. I painted what I felt.

As you see, there is a great variety in what I painted and what I made with clay. At first, this overwhelmed me. I thought, “I don't have a style, a look or a brand.” You need a congruent line of work to be taken seriously, or so I kept telling myself. I quickly realized, with this thought process, I was missing out on the best part. The creativity! I can try anything. I can paint and create any way I like. I am not commissioned nor am I known for "my look".

Ah, freedom! So, I created. 

 

Bek's Collective is all of my work, made on the island. I photographed everything on the property I live on. I had the film processed and a friend captured the last bit of work digitally. Here it is, cropped, loaded, and available. 

If you came here just to browse, please enjoy! If you came here to purchase, thank you. Either way, know that my little heart put everything I had into this work. Into this year of finding my creativity again. Into my own collection. Bekscollective.