Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
At just 14 years old, Eclectic resident Rebekah Berry is already gaining attention for her detailed portraits and growing presence in the local art community, a passion that began when she first picked up a crayon as a toddler.
Berry has been drawing since she was 3 years old, with her earliest artistic encouragement coming from a first-grade art teacher who introduced her to acrylic painting and other mediums.
That classroom experience left a lasting impression. Her teacher always played John Denver in class, which was the first time she ever listened to his music, and it continues to influence her artwork today.
Her interest in portraiture began a few years later during a third-grade art project. Students were asked to choose from prints by the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh and recreate one using oil pastels. While most classmates chose landscapes or flowers, Berry selected one of the artist’s self-portraits.
“It surprised the teacher a little that I picked the portrait and not one of the landscapes or flowers like everyone else,” Berry said. “She thought it was good and wanted me to take it home to finish so they could display it during open house.”
The project marked the first time Berry’s artwork was publicly displayed.
By the time she was 8 or 9 years old, Berry had begun experimenting with a variety of mediums before discovering graphite, which quickly became her preferred material. She now focuses primarily on graphite portrait drawings while continuing to experiment with acrylic paint, alcohol markers, wood burning, and even a 3D pen.
A turning point came when she turned 12 and received a set of high-quality pastel pencils from her Aunt Bonnie, whom Berry describes as a talented artist.
The gift introduced her to soft pastel portrait work, which has since become another favorite. Using those pencils, Berry created her “Queen of Soul” portrait of Aretha Franklin.
Berry’s work has also begun earning recognition in local competitions. Last fall, she entered artwork in the Autauga County Fair, where her portrait of Elvis Presley, titled “King of Rock,” won Best of Fair.
“It was the first real time I showed my work anywhere,” Berry said.
More recently, she submitted her “Queen of Soul” portrait to the Millbrook Art Mill’s Black History Month Exhibition, her first time entering artwork into a gallery exhibition.
“It is rare to encounter such talent in a 14-year-old artist. After meeting Rebekah Berry socially and learning about her work, I was absolutely blown away by her artistic maturity- especially considering she is entirely self-taught with no formal training. I was thrilled to invite her to showcase her work in the Art Mill’s 2nd annual Black History exhibit, which she did. Discovering her was truly inspiring, proud moment,” said Danae Morgan, cultural arts and special events director.
Berry has also entered the nationwide “America’s Most Artistic Kid” competition hosted by the Bob Ross Association. The contest includes a $20,000 People’s Choice Award, with the winning artwork displayed at the Minnetrista Museum & Gardens and featured on an episode of the television series The Joy of Painting.
Berry said that if she were to win the competition, she would save the money to open her own storefront at age 18, combining an art studio with reptile education, another of her personal interests.
Many of Berry’s artistic influences come from classic literature, history, animals, and music. Her favorite artist to draw is Elvis Presley, but her musical tastes stretch across the 1960s, including artists like The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Hank Williams Jr.
Her mother, Penny Berry, said she has watched her creativity grow from childhood doodles into something much more.
“Rebekah continues to amaze me with her God-given artistic talent. Back then, decorating herself and sidewalks with chalk, now doing amazing soft pastel realism portraits (among other art mediums),” said her mom, Penny.
As Berry continues entering exhibitions and competitions, she hopes to keep improving her portrait work while sharing her art with the community that has supported her from the beginning.
