Rachel Dioso-Villa

Artist Interview

What medium do you work with, and why have you chosen them?

As a mixed media artist, I choose my materials based on the needs of each painting and the journey it takes me on. I like having a versatile toolkit, allowing me to draw on different techniques as necessary. Acrylic paint is where I feel most at home—its flexibility and immediacy suit my process—but I have a deep love for watercolour, drawn to its luminosity. Collage adds a layer of whimsy and unpredictability that has an endearing quality that I also enjoy.

How does your artwork get from initial concept to exhibition stage?

I guess each painting follows its own path. Some begin as spontaneous play and experimentation in the studio, while others take shape through my daily sketching practice. I embrace and relish in the problem-solving and discovery that each piece demands.

Can you tell us a little more about your creative working environment/studio?

I paint both indoors and outdoors, depending on the day and the work, as I love natural light. My home studio is filled with fresh and dried flowers, seashells, and handmade ceramics—not just as inspiration for my sketches and paintings, but as quiet reminders of beauty and for gratitude. My shelves are stocked with materials and tools that get me excited and are kept within reach, ready for whatever direction a piece takes me. Since daily sketching is part of my art practice, I paint whenever I can—whether in short bursts or long stretches, day or night.