We’re excited to highlight Rachael Grad, a local artist, this month on the blog. Rachael’s series of abstract paintings, Motherhood Hit Me Like a Train, are created using an unconventional tool – children’s toy trains!
Hi Rachael! We’re excited to be chatting with you about your work! Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m a Toronto artist, mom of three, and former lawyer who has studied and worked in the US, France, Italy, and Hong Kong. I left practicing law to study painting full-time at the New York Studio School and New York University before transferring to OCAD University. In June I graduated from OCAD as the Governor General Academic Medal and Mrs. W.O. Forsyth Award winner and this September will start a Master’s in Fine Art at York University.
Trained to paint and draw from life, my current art practice incorporates digital painting and collage to assist my observational drawing and painting. I combine my experience as a mother, former lawyer, and traveller into my artwork. Creating work based on parenting moments, my current series include Motherhood Hit Me Like A Train, works on paper that use trains as paintbrushes, and Mommy Mayhem, digital collages and abstract expressionist paintings. You can see my fine art portfolio on my website or find me on social media.
Tell us about your series of abstract paintings, Motherhood Hit Me Like a Train, which are made using toy trains.
The Motherhood Hit Me Like a Train art series are abstract paintings use watercolour paint, ink, and metallics on paper. I came up with the idea of using toys as paintbrushes during a pandemic lockdown when I kept tripping over my children’s messes of toys. Instead of getting frustrated by quarantine chaos at home, I took back the toys and repurposed them to make art. We have many Thomas the Train toys at home and a train table with railway tracks was taking up most of our living room. The train toys were a very satisfying painting tool!
My children often join in on my painting and drawing, and other artwork. Usually, I do not appreciate this overtaking or co-collaboration in my art. Over the years, I have tried to accept that children thrive on creative art projects, so I have started incorporating them into certain projects, both for family fun and for school (theirs and mine!).
Parenting is 24-7 and requires countless all-nighters with babies and children. The Overnighter tonal paintings in my Motherhood Hit Me Like a Train series are black, grey, and white, reflecting the all-consuming, always-on-call role of motherhood. Many nights rocking newborn babies felt like I was on a never-ending train to nowhere. As a new parent I felt derailed as an artist, but always knowing there is a light at the end of the tunnel as the children grow. I eventually found a way to get back on track and set a new route.
How do you create these pieces? Can you share your process?
Rolling a toy train across my artwork is a not-so-subtle metaphor for being a mother and artist. My art completely changed course when I became a mother. Toys have taken over my home and my artwork, and they are always in mind and in my way. For this series I reverse the ubiquitous toy train and turn it into a paintbrush.
To express motherhood in body and gesture, I use a small toy train with four wheels to make fluid marks in ink and dark paint across watercolour paper. I tested various brush strokes and differing marks with the toy train, including quick pushing of the train to letting it move on its own across the page. Next, I decided on a sweeping arm motion as my one mark. Consequently, I found the rolling motion to be a more satisfying way of using the train, as compared to dabbing it like a stamp.
This chosen rolling motion requires loading up significant water and pigment for each mark run. In order for the paint colour to show up on the paper, I had to practice heavily pressing down on the toy train during the entire rolling mark movement. Despite the effort and testing, I am usually unable to equally apply the paint throughout the same mark. I make the large arm movements both while standing over the paper and while sitting or kneeling beside it.
The mark making is unexpectedly tiring for my arm and back. Ironically, working in this way caused the same physical exhaustion, aches, and pains as those I experienced after childbirth, as a mother to a newborn. I must work in short bursts and take many breaks while creating this painting. Resting alone and respite from one’s own kids is also highly recommended when mothering.
Do you have a personal connection to the railways?
Yes, my eldest child was obsessed with railways and trains for many years. That’s when my connection began and stayed strong. We used to ride the Mini Train almost every weekend pre-pandemic and are thrilled that it has reopened!
Thank you so much Rachael! You can keep up with Rachael’s work on her website.