FIRST PERSON
The Artist
Behind
the Pencil
Wayne artist Rebecca Tierney
creates portrait magic
When Rebecca (Becky) Tierney
was in the Windows Art program in
Randall Carter Elementary School,
her teachers knew she showed
promise. At Wayne Valley High
School she took every advanced art
class she could to prepare for her
years at University of Delaware as a
Bachelor of Fine Arts major with a
concentration in photography. She
graduated with a camera in her
hand and a pencil in her pocket.
computer. I went back to school
again, this time online, for my
Master of Fine Arts in illustration.
I learned how to take criticism
and used it to improve. At first it
hurt, but I practiced and did get
better. Their criticism helped me
grow, but I remained true to
myself. As an art teacher, I try to
avoid putting too much of myself
into my students work, so I conREBECCA TIERNEY
centrate on showing them proper
s soon as I graduated,
technique.
I moved back home to get
I’m a member of the Society of Children’s
my teaching certification at
Book Writers and Illustrators. I’m actively
William Paterson University.
seeking opportunities to illustrate for chilI’m a high school art teacher
dren’s books or greeting cards. My newest
now, and I live in Packanack
venture is illustrating all imagery for a
Lake again with my husband Daniel and our
children’s book and knitting pattern in one
two dogs.
for Huggable Henry the Bear. I’m trying to
I was a freelance photographer for a
get back into pastels and water colors. I’m
while. I did novelty photography and ran
inspired by children’s book illustrators who
a photo booth at bar/bat mitzvahs and
use traditional media. I use watercolor as a
weddings. I was the sole photographer for
base, add pastels, and then scan it and use
only two weddings. The pressure is great
digital for any color changes or touchups.
when you’re the only photographer, and
I started graphite drawing again, and drew
scary to think it all relied on me to capture
pencil sketches of my two dogs. Now I do
each moment.
dog and cat pet portraits to make money, but
As a teacher, I do many extra-curricular
it’s also my passion. I find sketching all that
activities. I got involved preparing sets for
detail with a pen and tablet is as much fun
dramas and musicals. The technical director
as an adult coloring book. It’s very relaxing.
taught me the ins and outs of building, and
I’ve also sketched my friend’s twin babies
looked to me for painting skills. I loved
when they were born. A lot of my pencil
helping to tell the story through scenery.
portrait commissions are for birthdays.
That’s what inspired me to get back to
They do make good gifts for Chanukah and
my own artwork, instead of just creating
Christmas, too. Take a look at my website
samples and examples for my classroom.
rebeccatierney.crevado.com or check out
At first I was focused on digital art, but
Rebecca Tierney Illustration on Facebook. ■
then I really missed hands-on analogue art,
which is hand-drawn as opposed to aid of a
– As told to Carol Bott Jarger
14
WAYNE MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2016
PET PORTRIATS: COURTESY OF REBECCA TIERNEY; TIERNEY: ANNE-MARIE CARUSO
A