Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Wilson
Rebecca, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
From Passion to Profession: The Journey of Our Wood Printing Business
Our journey began in Long Beach, California, shortly after we got married. Both of us—Rebecca and Hector—had always been deeply immersed in the arts. Before marriage and children, we surrounded ourselves with the Southern California art scene, attending gallery openings, hosting exhibitions, and embracing creativity in every way possible. Rebecca studied art in school, while Hector lived next to a gallery in downtown Los Angeles, constantly inspired by the artistic energy around him.
Yet, like many artists, we struggled to turn our passion into a sustainable career. After settling down in Long Beach, we found ourselves in conventional jobs, paying the bills but feeling unfulfilled. The advice we received from family and mentors was often discouraging—pursuing a career in the arts seemed impractical, even impossible. But deep down, we knew we wanted more. We longed to break free from the nine-to-five grind and build something of our own.
One day, everything changed. Hector came home from work—where he was designing for an interior design company—and said, “I’m over this. I want to design for myself. I can figure out how to print on wood without the company.” Without hesitation, Rebecca responded, “Yeah? Let’s do it.” The idea sparked from a simple realization: if Rebecca’s mom could turn a profit selling handmade soap at the farmers market, why couldn’t we create something of our own?
Our initial concept was straightforward—printing people’s personal photographs onto wood, on the spot, straight from their phones. We poured ourselves into refining the process, learning through trial and error, and discovering the true potential of wood printing. Then, the coronavirus pandemic hit, bringing everything to a halt. With markets closed and events canceled, we were forced to step back, reevaluate, and find a new way forward.
Instead of giving up, we embraced change. We traveled across the country, ultimately landing in Austin, Texas, where we found our true artistic groove. By blending our backgrounds in fine art with the craftsmanship of wood printing, we evolved beyond simple photo transfers and began creating intricate, original pieces. Our business transformed into something much bigger than we initially imagined—a platform where our love for art, design, and storytelling could thrive.
What started as a way to escape the traditional workforce became a deeply fulfilling artistic endeavor. Today, our work reflects not only our journey but also our belief that art deserves to be lived with, touched, and experienced beyond the walls of a gallery.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The Road to Becoming Full-Time Artists
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. In the early years of our business, we were juggling the demands of raising two young children while trying to make ends meet. Until mid-2024, our business wasn’t fully supporting us, and we had to navigate mainstream funding, side jobs, and countless attempts to turn our creative vision into a sustainable career. We’re still fine-tuning which events and opportunities are truly worth our time and energy.
One of our biggest setbacks—and ultimately, a turning point—was the coronavirus pandemic. Practically overnight, we found ourselves at a financial standstill, with markets and in-person events shut down. It was an incredibly challenging time, but it also forced us to reset. Instead of staying stuck, we packed up our lives and traveled across the country in a converted bus, experiencing the U.S. in a way that forever changed us. That journey reshaped our perspective and became a deep well of inspiration for our artwork today.
When we eventually settled in Austin, we had to rebuild from the ground up. Rebecca took a job at a high-end hotel, waiting tables five nights a week to cover rent, while we continued to pop up our art booth at local markets on weekends. It was exhausting, but we were determined. A small but mighty market, the Austin Flea, gave us a place to showcase our work and test the waters of Austin’s thriving art scene. The income wasn’t quite enough to go full-time, but it was a step in the right direction.
Then, in 2023, everything shifted. Rebecca applied to the Pecan Street Festival and, on a whim, also submitted an application for Austin City Limits (ACL) Festival—never expecting to get in. To our surprise, we were accepted into both. Those two events opened our eyes to the vast opportunities available in the art world. They proved that making a full-time living as artists wasn’t just a dream—it was a real, tangible possibility.
Since then, we’ve expanded beyond Austin, traveling to regional and national art events, selling our work to a larger audience, and, most importantly, sustaining ourselves solely as artists. We wake up every day with deep gratitude that we found a way to turn our passion into our livelihood. This journey has been anything but easy, but we wouldn’t trade it for anything. We are committed to this life we’ve built and excited for all that’s still ahead.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Handmade Art with a Southwestern Soul
We create handmade, collage-style art printed directly onto wood, blending vivid colors with the raw, organic beauty of natural materials. Our work is deeply inspired by the landscapes of the Southwest—a region we were fortunate to explore during our travels across the country in the wake of the coronavirus. The cowboy spirit and vibrant music culture of Austin, Texas, also play a major role in shaping our artistic style.
As collaborative artists, we balance and refine each other’s designs, drawing inspiration from vintage aesthetics and complementary color palettes. Hector takes the lead on woodworking, carefully cutting and preparing each piece, while Rebecca focuses on printing and adding the finishing touches. Together, we’ve developed a unique process that seamlessly fuses printmaking with woodworking—something we’ve rarely seen elsewhere in the art world.
While neither of us originally considered ourselves natural salespeople, we quickly learned that selling our work is just as much a part of the artistic journey as creating it. Stepping out into the world, connecting with people, and sharing our art firsthand has been an incredible experience.
Our work is a reflection of our journey—bold, adventurous, and deeply personal. We are grateful every day to have found a way to turn our passion into a career, and we’re excited to keep evolving, creating, and sharing our vision with the world.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Growing the Vision While Keeping Creativity Intimate
As our business continues to grow, one of the biggest challenges we’ve faced is allowing others to step in and help. While we look forward to building a team one day, finding the right people to support our vision has been a learning process. Hector could definitely use an extra set of hands in the woodshop, and we could benefit greatly from help managing social media, maintaining and developing our website, and even assisting with running our booth at events.
That said, one aspect of our business will always remain just between the two of us—creating the art itself. Our designs are deeply personal, a true reflection of our shared inspirations and artistic process. While we welcome support in other areas, the creative side of our work is something we want to keep entirely our own.
As we navigate the balance between growth and maintaining the integrity of our craft, we’re excited about the possibilities ahead. Building a sustainable business while staying true to our artistic vision has been our goal from the start, and we’re committed to making that a reality.
Pricing:
- our prices range from $30 to $3200+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.easystreetprints.com
- Instagram: @easystreetprints
