What the “Archives” Mean to Me

Back in 2017, I created an instagram just for my art (“rachampart”). Shortly after, I made an Etsy shop and listed my first piece of artwork for sale. I was in my fourth year of teaching English at the time, a year into marriage, and had just recently finished countless projects to make our first house feel like a home. Life was settling down and it felt right to start painting again.

During school breaks and summer vacations, I painted what inspired me - seascapes, sailboats, florals, an occasional landscape. I’d style my art around fresh clippings of peonies and hydrangeas from the yard, as well as some of my most cherished (and beautiful) hard cover books - Thoreau’s Cape Cod was a favorite with its blue linen cover. I’d post somewhat regularly to “rachampart” (you’ll see some of my “Archive Collection” pieces are still signed with this name!) , slowly building a small, but extremely supportive, group of followers (shout out to my original “insta” followers Heather @mermaidsandmadeleines, Michelle @michellebrunnerart, and Shannon @shannonsolt for still continuing to support my art journey!). These fellow creatives, in addition to my close friends and family, gave the first nudges I needed to keep creating and sharing.

I continued to paint in the summers, sold a painting here and there, expanded to notecards and ornaments, but was mainly focused on teaching and finishing up my masters degree. I created my last instagram post as “rachampart” of ocean waves on Plum Island, in March of 2020. After that, life seemed to fly… In the beginning of 2021, we welcomed our first baby boy who kept me busy, along with teaching full time. Then, baby boy number two came along the end of 2022. I left teaching to stay home with my sons and FINALLY picked up the paintbrush again in July of 2023. A week later, we were surprised with the news that baby boy number three was on his way! Wheww! A year later, in 2024, I decided it was “now or never” as they say… and rebranded to “seaandlinen” on instagram, created a website, and hit publish on www.seaandlinen.com.

As scary as it is putting myself and my artwork out into the world, instagram has continued to lead me to some inspiring and extremely talented women (and fellow moms) who have given me the confidence and support to combat the “imposter syndrome” that inevitably creeps in. Katie @parkerriverproper published the most beautiful and thoughtful blog post about my art earlier this spring writing, “… we had connected so beautifully based on our passion for our crafts, love for nature, and desire to create small businesses for ourselves alongside our main roles as Moms.” And that’s it - my main role right now is “Mom”, but art will always be a part of who I am as well.

I sometimes think of how much easier it would have been had I started Sea & Linen nine years ago, before children… (All the quiet uninterrupted time!!) But I guess I wasn’t ready. Having children changes everything - it brings things into perspective - it has allowed me to see clearly that my sons deserve to see their mother chase her own dream. And every success is even more sweet now, as it is shared with my little family first, and that’s everything right there.

So, as Sea & Linen celebrates its “first birthday” this month, I’m making room for new paintings and fresh ideas. The “Archive Collection” celebrates my creative journey and growth with original paintings in colors and styles that you probably won’t see from me anymore. These pieces have their own creation stories and it was a joy to revisit them and give new life with thoughtful framing and updated photographs. I hope you give them some love and if something speaks to you, I hope it can be treasured in your home for many years to come.

As always, thank you for your continued support. So grateful for the past, the present moments and beautiful souls who have entered my life through art, and so very excited for what’s in store for Sea & Linen.

Best,

Rachel

PS The paintings below are now live, but a few more new “oldies” will be added this week - be sure to check back for some florals and seascapes!