In this episode of Between the Threads, host Somia Sadiq sits down with Winnipeg-based mural and visual artist Rachel Lancaster. From growing up on a rural farm and building her own shed-cabin to transitioning through human resources into a full-time freehand muralist, Rachel shares her journey of self-taught creativity, how murals transform community spaces, and why every blank wall is an opportunity for art.
Key Takeaways:
- Rachel Lancaster’s quirky upbringing: Scavenging animal bones, insulating sheds, and early creative grit.
- The unexpected pivot from human resource management to self-taught mural painting.
- How Rachel built a full-time art business alongside her husband and business partner.
- The art of freehand mural design: Why trusting the process and painting without sketches works.
- How large-scale public art, custom murals, and community engagement transform urban spaces in Winnipeg.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction & Growing Up "A Little Weird" on the Farm
02:50 - Renovating the Shed & Surviving a Midnight Bird Encounter
06:40 - Living on St. Mary's Road & Community Support at 20 Years Old
09:05 - Studying Human Resources & The "Effective Doodling" Workshop
11:35 - Dollar Store Canvases, Bird Costumes, & Finding the First Mural Job
16:20 - Building Rachel Lancaster Art with Her Husband & Supply Chain Strategy
21:15 - Working 75 Hours a Week & Balancing the Museum Job
23:25 - Going Full-Time During COVID, Pregnancy, & Creating The Leaf Coloring Book
26:20 - Freehand Painting: How Rachel Translates Words & Ideas into Visual Murals
33:45 - The Power of Blank Walls & The Future of Public Art in Winnipeg
About Our Guest:
Rachel Lancaster is a Winnipeg-based, self-taught visual artist with over a decade of experience creating vibrant canvas art, large-scale public murals, custom furniture, and published coloring books. Known for her distinct freehand style, Rachel brings color, personality, and storytelling to spaces across Manitoba.
Follow Rachel Lancaster on Instagram: https://instagram.com/rachel_lancaster_artist
Connect With Us:
- Kahanee: https://www.kahanee.ca | https://instagram.com/kahanee_storiesforpeace
- Narratives: https://www.narrativesinc.com | https://instagram.com/narrativesinc
Show Credits:
- Host: Somia Sadiq
- Guest: Rachel Lancaster
- Produced by: Kahanee & Narratives
- Curator: Courtney Friesen
- Music: Lior Soltz - Glistening Ripples Lullaby (Creative Cut - Dreamy)
About Between the Threads:
Between the Threads is a podcast by Kahanee, a social enterprise dedicated to storytelling, peacebuilding, and systems change. The podcast is produced in partnership with Narratives, a purpose-driven firm offering holistic consulting in planning, impact assessment, capacity building, and design to empower change across Turtle Island.
We acknowledge that this work was created on Indigenous lands. We honour the Indigenous peoples who have cared for this land since time immemorial and continue to do so today.
#Winnipeg #MuralArt #BetweenTheThreads #RachelLancaster #PublicArt #VisualArt #ArtistJourney
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