Rachel Gloria Adams
Photo by Jill Hoyle for Designtex
Rachel is a Portland Maine based multidisciplinary artist, who has developed a vibrant visual language grounded in bold, graphic patterns. Filled with references to the natural world, her work exudes an heirloom-like quality through its clear traces of the hand, and spans quilting, large-scale murals, design and painting. She also runs Tachee, a design company that offers small batch printed goods and collaborations, which she considers an extension of her studio practice.
Where do you call home?
Portland, Maine.
How would you describe your creative practice?
I would call my practice multidisciplinary. I am a painter and designer and that takes form by way of paintings, quilts, design and murals.
How do you typically start your day?
Wrestling my children into somewhat clean clothes and into the car and off to school.
What are some of the recurring themes and explorations in your work?
Color, nature and family.
What studio item can you not live without?
My iPad. All of my work starts out on the iPad, whether it be collecting inspiration, drawing, or testing color combinations - I always have my iPad on me. It also always gives me “studio time” in any situation, which has been incredibly helpful while trying to juggle life with kids and an artistic practice.
What is your earliest memory of making something?
My mom drove my siblings and I to York Beach in Maine when we were little and brought Plaster of Paris so we could dig shapes and pour the plaster into our sandy molds to create relief sculptures - just like every other family at the beach 
Who are your biggest influences?
I tend to gravitate towards artists who have carved a path of not limiting their creative voice to just a rectangle hung on a white wall.
What do you do when you encounter a creative block?
Unplug from devices and get outside. Whether it be a walk around the neighborhood or into the woods or along the coast, I have found that if I remove myself from my environment I can look at things more objectively. A lot of times, it’s a matter of needing to give yourself that pep talk and remember who you are.
What are some small pleasures you have been folding into your life?
Ocean dips! I made it to late November last year dipping into that crispy cold Maine water and started back up in late March. My goal is to make it year round.
How do you know when a piece of work is complete?
When it feels good and all my criteria are met, and I’m excited to share it with my peers.
Tell us about the design(s) you've created for Designtex.
For a long time, I was drawing both botanicals and geometric forms separately. I have been working on combining the two in ways that are reminiscent of improvisational quilts.