How I Became an Artist
By Rachel Ulven, with LaQuita LoganRachel Ulven graduated from Bledsoe County High School in 2023. She has presented and won awards in local arts shows and exhibits and has had her art shown at the Hunter Art Museum in Chattanooga and at the Sequatchie County Public Library. Rachel was interviewed for this article by LaQuita Logan, Transition School to Work Case Manager at Bledsoe County High School.
Hello, my name is Rachel Allison Ulven. I am an artist.
I realized when I was in the seventh grade that I was an artist. I remember that when I was in the seventh grade, I was friends with another girl who I thought was my friend, but I came to realize she really wasn’t my friend. I was bullied, and she was part of the bullying that I was subjected to.
My teacher, Ms. Shaver, saw what was going on with me and she helped me to learn how to deal with the bullying through art. She had seen some of my “doodling” – I guess it could have been called at that time – and she told me about the art show we were having [at school]. She encouraged me to participate.
I decided what manner of art I would enter. I went home, watched Disney videos and YouTube [for inspiration], and I entered my work into the show. When Ms. Shaver saw my work, she liked it. She even showed it to my bullies. I realized that my art came out of me being bullied, and from then on, I was bullied no more. Those bullies even knew I was great.
Once I found my art, I found a lot of support. Even in school, I was shown so much attention and love. People saw my drawings and they wanted to commission me to draw.
When I was in my sophomore year, my grandfather went to the mailbox, and there was a letter from a Washington, D C. magazine. It was an invitation to put my art in their publication. My grandfather supported me. He doesn’t always understand my art, but he never stands in my way.
My support also comes from my community, which includes my church and friends. They know of my love for art and my desire to paint and draw.
Now I am trying my hand at music. I know how to play the harmonica. I’ve played the harmonica at church and I am teaching myself how to play the piano. I use an app to help me with the piano. I believe in teaching yourself and using what you can to do it. I guess that would be my second act.
My community is always telling me how awesome I am. I still have support from school with the Transition School to Work program. They check up on me and they are waiting on me to become the second famous female artist after Frieda Kahlo. Move over Frieda, I am coming!
My dream as an artist is to put my art in galleries and museums everywhere. My biggest challenge right now is getting noticed. I need to be able to travel to places like Paris, France and all the other places where art is. I think my time to travel is coming soon.
If I had to give advice to someone with a disability and a dream it would be to try, try, try everything. No matter what brings you down, get back up and try again. Van Gogh is one of my favorite artists. I just read where he drew pictures of things over 100 times before he felt it was right.