Full SLOPOKE Art Book for 2023

REBECCA ARGUELLO
Sometimes an artist creates great art from a dark place as is the case for Rebecca, who says
“painting beautiful scenes comes from a really painful place for me. I began painting to keep myself
sober through addiction and the suicide of my sister.” Painting became therapy for her as she
dealt with mental health issues, raising a family, and running her own Holistic Care business. Her
husband, a professional artist himself, perceived her talent and encouraged her to grow in this
direction. Thus, in 2014 she decided to make painting her primary focus. Environmentalism is the
other driver behind her remarkable landscapes and seascapes. A fifth-generation native of Santa
Barbara, California, Rebecca had a childhood immersed in a rich cultural and diverse ecological
environment that laid the
foundation for her artistic
journey, which came later in
life. Growing up in the ocean
and in local after-school programs
truly sparked her curiosity
about the environment.
Her undergraduate work at
UC Santa Barbara and early
career in the environmental
field inspired her to protect
our lands and waters from
the negative influences of
human activity. Therefore,
her current body of work is
driven by a desire to have a
positive impact on the environment.
She uses her paintings
to bring awareness to
the importance of preserving
Morning Breakers, 12 x 16, Oil on Wood Panel
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