SHREVEPORT – Rachel McDonald worked on a ranch, taught horseback riding lessons and grew up with Clint Eastwood constantly on her television in tales about the Old West.
When the assistant professor in graphic design and digital media at LSUS learned that the ArtIni 2024 theme was “Rhinestone Cowboy,” McDonald was the opposite of the old western saying “as welcome as a rattlesnake at a square dance.”
McDonald will be the featured artist at ArtIni 2024, a fundraiser for the Bossier Arts Council that celebrates art and community. The June 8 event showcases local artists, musicians, restaurants and mixologists.
“I was really excited and honored when they approached me about it,” McDonald said. “My first ArtIni was last year, and the event was a lot of fun and a great networking opportunity.
“Even if I wasn’t going to be the featured artist, I told them I want to be involved in any way that I could.”
McDonald said the Council saw her work at this past year’s Red River Revel.
She picked up painting again after a 15-year hiatus, and signing up for the Revel was a way to jumpstart her creative juices.
“They figured I might be a good fit based on the kind of work I’ve done in the past,” McDonald said. “When they told me the theme, I was like, ‘Heck yeah, that’s awesome.’
“Signing up for the Revel (this past fall) made myself produce work – deadlines help, especially with artists.”
McDonald is combining her love of the Old West with the neon glow and bright colors associated with mid-century Las Vegas signs and typography.
“’Rhinestone Cowboy’ is like a cowboy caricature almost,” McDonald said. “It’s like the old Hollywood idea of what a cowboy is mixed with the glitz and the glam.
“The last time I went to Las Vegas, I was really happy to visit The Neon Museum and draw from the pictures I took there. It comes down to color and how it’s used. A lot of my work is inspired by old graphic design, old typography and looking at the color theory as well.”
The Louisiana native is in the process of creating five paintings along with a host of graphic design and digital work for
Tickets to the 14th annual ArtIni are $85 and can be purchased on the ticket platform Eventbrite.
The ticket includes a variety of food and signature martinis, live music and access to the vibrant local arts community.
“If people are kind of on the fence or don’t understand what ArtIni is, give it a shot,” McDonald said. “The event is really fun and promotes a lot of artists, musicians and different restaurants and bars and their artistry.”
