Behind the watercolor cards featured in the Revival Nation Store is local artist Rahael Samuel, whose work draws inspiration from the places she has lived, the people and landscapes she encounters, her love of storytelling, and her faith.
We sat down with Rahael to learn more about the artist behind the paintings, what inspires her work, and how her faith shapes the way she approaches her creativity.
Watch the conversation below, or keep reading to meet the artist behind the collection.
Tasha: Tell us a little about yourself.
Rahael: My name is Rahael. I was born in India, moved to the UK, and then moved to the U.S. I’ve been living here for almost a decade now.
Tasha: How long have you been painting?
Rahael: Probably since I could pick up a pencil! I feel like everyone starts drawing when they’re a kid, but I just kind of stayed with it.
Tasha: What inspires your artwork today?
Rahael: I think it’s just the world around me. Moving around a lot, you see a lot and you meet a lot of people. Anything I encounter, I kind of want to capture.
Tasha: Is that why you paint a lot of landscapes?
Rahael: Yes, I think so.
Tasha: Can you tell us a little about the story behind your artwork beyond your travels?
Rahael: I really love stories. The Bible is a book filled with stories and events, and I also love filmmaking. I think there’s something about world-building and immersing yourself in what you’re creating that really interests me.
Tasha: What are you currently doing in your life or ministry?
Rahael: I’m a freshman at UNC Charlotte, studying toward a BFA in Art.
Tasha: Is there a testimony or significant part of your story that you would like to share?
Rahael: I’ve always grown up Christian, and I think there comes a point for a lot of people who grow up Christian when they want their faith to become their own. For me, there was a time when I started asking a lot of questions.
I love asking questions. I think God is a very intellectual God, and that answers can be broken down and explored. For me, there wasn’t one particular moment where everything just clicked. It’s been a road that I continue moving along.
Tasha: What do you hope people experience when they see your artwork?
Rahael: I hope they can feel something like what I felt, but also see themselves in the art. Maybe they’ll feel something different from what I felt or imagine themselves within it.
Tasha: Do you have a favorite Bible passage, and how has it shaped your life?
Rahael: I know it’s a very popular one, but I think it’s popular for a reason: Psalm 23.
Probably as an artist, I’ve gravitated toward it because I love the imagery of still waters and green pastures. There’s so much peace in that. I also love that the Psalms are songs because I love music as well.
Tasha: What would you say to someone who has a gift but isn’t sure how God could use it?
Rahael: I think when God speaks to you, you don’t always hear a voice. Sometimes it can sound like your own. I think one way you know you’re in the right place, or that you need to do something, is when you feel a certain kind of peace.
It isn’t something worldly. It’s something that comes with a divine calling, where you feel that peace and you aren’t restless about where you are. You just have that sense of, “This is where I’m supposed to be.”
That’s what I did.
For Rahael, art is about more than capturing a beautiful scene. It is an invitation to enter into a story, experience a place, and perhaps see or feel something in it that is uniquely your own.
You can find selections of Rahael Samuel’s watercolor artwork reproduced on quality linen cards in the Revival Nation Church Store (pickup only). Choose from seven watercolor series, with each pack featuring three different cards showcasing her artwork.
