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Hello!
My name is Rebekah Rogers. I work in Athens, Georgia as an animal care-taker and portrait artist. I have been drawing portraits of dogs, cats, and horses professionally for over ten years. I love animals more than anything else, which is why I choose to make them the focus of my life and work. My goal as an artist is to recognize each animal as a special individual and a creature of great beauty. Each animal companion has their very own personality and soul, and I strive to make that shine through my art. I love what I do and I work straight from the heart.
People often ask me if I took art classes or went to art school. I would say I am mostly self-taught from years of practice. I have been making art ever since I was very young. I took art lessons as a small child and in middle and high school, and I always had wonderful support from my teachers. Their encouragement kept me going and helped lead me to where I am now. My college experience as an art student at UGA didn't last long before I quit school to make time to draw and work a part-time job.
As a teenager I had worked in pet stores as a caretaker and grooming assistant. I moved on to work at an animal hospital starting as a kennel assistant and moving up to veterinary technician. It was there that my first animal portrait was officially framed and hung! (Thanks Dr. Yeomans!) These years gave me extraordinary experiences with so many different wonderful pets, and led me to discover a way to weave together my passion for animals with my love for drawing.
Later, in my twenties, I had some very enjoyable school experiences at the Southeastern Reiki Center and the Atlanta School of Massage. When I found out that Reiki healing could be used on animals, I signed up for classes. I went on to complete all levels of training available and even took a specialized class in Healing for Animals. At the Atlanta School of Massage I studied Asian Bodywork and Acupressure, and became a Certified Massage Therapist. The first thing I did after graduating was to begin studying how the techniques could be applied to animals. I worked for a while as a massage therapist for people, but soon I felt drawn back to the animals. In no time I was working in a kennel again, doing portraits on the side, and developing my own canine massage technique.
I continue to study natural healing for animals, and I make most of my living with my portrait work. There is nothing like being in my studio with my own furry friends nearby, working on a new portrait of another beautiful animal. Life is good!
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