Thanks to Rachel Stewart, our Spot Artist Extraordinaire this issue, our eyes have been popped wide open to a view of “new life.” Like listening to your favorite song in a completely different key and being amazed that you could love this altered version so much more, Rachel’s art feeds our need for something punchy, something we’ve never seen before. Take your time to smell these roses.

Check out more of Rachel Stewart's art here!

Rachel, how would you describe your artistic style?
a. crunchy
b. smooth & creamy
c. fuzzy
d. rough
e. gooey
f. other?
You know, I think my style is a collection of all of those answers, plus a few more. I've never had a signature style because my ideas and processes are always changing. I like to try new things, a lot, so when I learn a new technique, I try to apply it to whatever I'm doing. I think that's the beauty of creativity. However, if I really had to pinpoint what describes my style, I would say that it's "earth shattering."

If you could not be an artist, what would you be instead and why?
I have this crazy fascination with archaeology and marine biology that I've had since a child. I think it would pretty amazing to live on a boat or a house on stilts in the water, and every day I would go study the ocean. I also think it is really important to understand how past civilizations lived, so being able to go to Machu Picchu or the Pyramids to explore would be awesome. Who knows, maybe I'll drop this art gig someday and actually do what I like.

What impresses you most when you look at other people's art?
The details. There is nothing more exciting than scrutinizing a work of art. I know that can be annoying for the artist sometimes, but I think that those little parts, like imperfections or brush strokes or pores on a photographed face, are snippets into the artist's world. That's why I'm not a huge fan of super clean, airbrushed-looking art. It's too polished and it takes away from the raw eye of the artist. It's blaaaaaaaaaand.

Describe a perfect meal. Be specific: foods (don't forget about dessert), where you are, what time it is, who's eating with you--hey, who's cooking this meal? Is it even cooked at all? Maybe it's an individually wrapped, yellow, spongy snack cake with a certain cream filling.
Whoa there, this is a good one. O.K.; Grandma's house in south Missouri; Grandma is cooking; it's summertime and sunset is about to start (so like 7-7:30 P.M.); all my good friends and family are there; we're eating fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, sweet corn on the cob, fried green tomatoes, biscuits and honey, iced tea, and strawberry shortcake with sweet mascarpone filling. Fortunately for me this is a scenario that happens almost every summer. You could say I'm pretty dang lucky.

Tell us about one thing that annoys you and why. And you can't say it's when people ask you questions and then tack on "and why."
Actually, this whole question thing makes me feel kinda cool-slash-famous. So thanks to Cicada for making my year. What really annoys me is when people don't say "please" or "thank you." I know I am guilty of this, but come on, people! Is it really that difficult to remember to thank someone when they have done something nice or helpful or generous for you? Oh man, it bugs me. This world would be a lot nicer if people just remembered their manners a little more.

What's one thing you used to do as a kid that you don't feel you can do now because you're "not a little kid anymore" but you really, really wish you could? Do you think the world would be a better place if people would do this thing even though they're not little kids anymore? Details, please.
Ride around on my bike barefoot all day long. When I was a kid, I used to never wear shoes in the summer. I would ride on my bike, which was pink and white and had really big pedals that were good for bare feet, to just about anywhere. All of my friends had bikes, and we would ride to the pool or the ice-cream stand or the market together. The best part about it was that we only needed to go places that didn't require shoes. And it didn't ever feel gross or dangerous to be without shoes.

Now I have to wear shoes constantly unless I am in my house. Perhaps it's because I live in a city where there is a lot of trash and unknown substances on the ground that make it pretty nas-tay to walk around barefoot. BUT I bet if people started wearing shoes less, they would be more conscious about what they put on the ground. The other day I saw a girl throw her soda on the ground outside, step on it, not pick it up, and keep walking. Bet if she wasn't wearing shoes, she wouldn't have done that. Who would want to step on sticky soda and an aluminum can with their bare feet? Maybe I'll start a campaign called "No Shoes, No Trash."

Fill in the blanks: As an artist, I would really like to learn BLANK because BLANK.
As an artist, I would really like to learn how to weld things together because that would be awesome.

What did your mom think of your amazing art on the cover of the May/June '09 issue of Cicada? How does that make you feel?
Well, my mom has yet to see the issue; however, I think she will really like it. My mom loves her garden, so I know she can appreciate the theme of this issue. She is also incredibly supportive, and critical. My mom is challenging because she's always asking questions that really make me think about my work. She always gets excited about what I do, and it makes me feels really great :-)