Meet Lewisburg artist, Rebecca Hambrick. She started drawing and painting in her teens and took art classes in high school. Rebecca is a licensed social worker and worked at a nursing home prior to suffering health issues. As a therapy technique, she started refurbishing furniture and painting again. After a few months, she decided to do what makes her happy. She put social work on the back burner so she could do something relaxing with minimal stress. This is when she decided to open Peace of Mind, a new store in downtown Lewisburg offering refurbished furniture as well as repurposed items. Rebecca’s pieces are hand-painted with some including free-hand designs. Her shop also carries gift items such as hand-painted signs and hand-crafted shelves using older materials. Rebecca also offers custom paint work.  We encourage you to stop in Rebecca’s shop and say hi! She is located on N. Jefferson St near the rt 219/60 intersection, beside Aggies Gift Shop. Learn more about Rebecca and what inspires her with our Q&A:

How do you describe your palette?

I use more colors on my furniture and I am never sure what I will do with it until I have it setting in front of me. I like bold colors and layering with waxing.  Normally my furniture tells me what color it wants to be.

What’s your greatest accomplishment?

Wow, I would have to say “my two boys”, who are grown loving and caring men. I am proud of the fact that they are hard workers, however believe in playing also.  I believe I have taught them that they do not need to fit into a square box, that it’s ok to be proud of just being themselves.

What obstacles do you need to overcome to find your creative space/muse?

I am a worrier and a stressor so I have had to learn to shut the world out and allow myself to just sand and paint. When I paint, I am free from other thoughts.  I could work on furniture all day and never feel like I have worked at all, making this hobby, now my job, very therapeutic.

How do you find your inspiration?

I believe all furniture has a story of where it was and what it wants to be and how bright it wants to shine. I sometimes spend a lot of time just looking at it, considering the age of the piece, the shape of it, and its design.  From there, I decide the paint. It normally isn’t till later that I decide if I want to add other layers of color or freehand a quote or painting on the piece.  I like it to scream “Look at me!” when I am done with it.

What advice do you have for other artists?

All I can say is, do what makes you happy when you are able too. I know life is hard and fun things are not always an option. But when you have a chance to follow a dream, and the stars have lined up in your favor, just do it. Failure only consists of what you have not attempted.  Every attempt at anything takes hard work and determination; try to make your work time also play time.

What is your favorite piece(s) you’ve made and why?

I would have to say my favorite piece was a small buffet painted pink and turquoise.  It was displayed in the window until it was purchased. It was my first attempt at such bright and vibrant colors. I wasn’t sure about it when I finished it, but after I looked at it, it just appeared happy and had new life with a lot of shine.

What is the best way for our readers to contact you?

Peace of Mind is open Tuesday through Saturday 10-6pm. You are welcome to come in anytime or call 304-992-2463. I am always happy to see people walk into the store just to look around and chat. I am also available to discuss any pieces of furniture you have that you might want to be refurbished or painted. I also have an email  peaceofmind22018@yahoo.com as well as a Facebook page Peace of Mind. I look forward to hearing from you.

– HashtagWV #106. October 2018.