About
About the Artist
Rachelle Woo Chuang (pronounced “chwong” rhymes with “song”) has been a creative person her whole life and is both a fine artist and graphic designer. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Biola University and a Master’s degree from its Seminary. In 2006 she received her MFA from the University of the Arts Printmaking and Book Arts Program in Philadelphia, PA.
Rachelle has studied hand papermaking with several established papermakers and organizations since 2000. She was first introduced to hand papermaking at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center in Silver Spring, MD and worked for Ellen Mears Kennedy in Bethesda, MD. Never creatively satisfied, she then pursued letterpress printing and book arts before entering graduate school. She has participated in numerous demonstrations and has teaching experience to all ages.
After 12 years on the East Coast, Rachelle finally returned to Orange County, CA in 2007 with husband Dj and son Jeremiah. She currently works part time as the Director of the Book Arts Institute at the International Printing Museum, has her own freelance graphic design and art business and teaches at local colleges and organizations. She loves to roam galleries, soak in beauty and unleash creativity in others.
Rachelle owns a Vandercook-4 printing press and letterpress studio (formerly at Biola University) which is currently housed at the Irvine Fine Arts Center, as well as papermaking materials. She is a member of San Diego Book Arts and Friends of Dard Hunter.
“live the good, the true and the beautiful”
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RANDOM STUFF
Personality Type
I love personality tests.
• Myers-Briggs: I’ve taken the test 3 times in the past 3 decades and come out the same: INFJ -Introverted Intuition with Extraverted Feeling. If you read the description, I fit it to the T.
I (Introversion….ha, you wouldn’t have guessed but I become a raging monster unless I get my solitude studio time)
N (Intuition)
F (feeling)
J (Judging)
I am energized by helping others realize their creative and artistic possibilities.
• Strengths-Finder: Maximizer, Achiever, Activator, Positivity, Connectedness
I’d Rather Be….:
• wandering in galleries in New Mexico, London or NYC
• papermaking
• on the Pacific Ocean
• discovering new places to eat
• picking fresh flowers/designing a floral arrangement for someone
• cutting colorful paper with interesting scissors
• in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London
• lost in wonder and awe
• giving away to others
• riding “Soaring Over California” at Disneyland
Moments of the Sublime:
• Spontaneously weeping for beauty at the Chelsea Flower Show, London
• Discovering Santa Fe, NM for the first time
• Laying down under Christo’s The Gates in Central Park on a cold February day
• Whale-watching at Dana Point, CA
• The view from Victoria Peak in Hong Kong overlooking the Harbor at night
• Walking across the Thames to the Tate Modern, London
• Papermaking directly in the water and sand at the Dana Point Tide Pools
