ABOUT ME

Rebecca Strom is a freelance scenic designer, scenic painter, illustrator, and maker in the Seattle area. She graduated from Cornish College of the Arts in 2021 with a BFA in Performance Production, focused in Scenic Design.

Artist's Statement

"Growing up in Washington, I’ve always viewed the thriving Seattle theatre scene as one I aspired to participate in. I have been on both sides of the curtain my entire life. I started as an actor alongside my parents, and as I grew older, I shifted my artistic interests to multiple forms of visual art. In my free time I would illustrate, paint, and cosplay. These pastimes were fulfilling in their own ways, but I missed the theatre. In an effort to combine these two passions, I decided to join my highschool’s technical theatre group to combine my love for theatre; props, carpentry, paint, costumes, and acting with my fine art practices; painting (watercolors, acrylics, oils), hand sketching, and digital illustration.

In expanding my artistic practices, I discovered how all forms of art contribute to each other. For example, observational sketching is a skill I have been able to use in scenic design to create more realistic drawings to effectively communicate with my design team. Painting has contributed to better my scenic painting through the use of techniques with various paint mediums. And cosplay has taught me how to manipulate a variety of materials to fabricate props and other wearables, and to create designs that are aesthetically pleasing and functional.

Growing up, my dad’s regularly conducted crossword puzzle sessions in the living room instilled a great fondness of puzzles and riddles in me. I have loved coming up with unique ways to solve problems, and now I approach challenges in the theatrical process as riddles that need solving. I adapt to the needs of the script while keeping our team’s vision in tact. Through this, my artistic abilities and critical thinking skills have evolved and grown stronger.

I endeavor to push my designs in unique ways for every production; giving the most bare bones or realistic set a twist to make the space one of a kind. I love to make new and inviting spaces for the actors and audience, whether that is a cozy realistic apartment or something completely abstract.

I strive to draw them in."