Behind the Canvas
Rebecca is a highly acclaimed artist and instructor, known for her mastery in classical realism through both drawing and painting.
Rebecca Tait was born in Camden, NJ in 1961. Rebecca’s father, her earliest mentor, was a working artist who began her classical training at the age of seven. Rebecca’s passion for drawing and painting were nurtured under her father’s strict tutelage. She went on to study at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and eventually traveled to France to train with Ted Seth Jacobs at studio L’Ecole Albert Defois.
While Rebecca continued to train with highly accomplished artists, namely Robert Liberace and John DiMartin, it was her father, and later her final mentor Nelson Shanks, who have had the greatest impact on the artist she is today. Rebecca is known for painting highly narrative figurative works in the classical realism style. She demonstrates her sheer passion for visual story telling through precision drawing, rich luminous color, and dramatically engaging subjects.
Rebecca lives in Laurel Springs, NJ with her menagerie of rescued animals close to her large family of children and grandchildren. In 1983 she founded her highly successful teaching studio, The Studio at Glen Gables, where she continues the legacy of teaching classical realism with the discipline and dedication of the old masters. Rebecca has won numerous honors, including the International Portrait Society’s Award of Excellence, in 2009 and an ARC finalist in 2019. In 2024, she was awarded with the prestigious achievement of becoming a Signature Member of the American Artists’ Professional League. Rebecca’s work can be found in many private collections and continues to be shown in galleries and museums throughout the country.
CV and Experience
Education
1990 Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, Philadelphia
2002 Nelson Shanks / Studio Incamminati, Philadelphia
2005 Ted Seth Jacobs / L’Ecole Albert Defois, France
Exhibitions
2024 American Artist Professional League 96th Grand National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, NY
2023 American Artist Professional League 95th Grand National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, NY
2022 American Artist Professional League 94th Grand National Exhibition, Salmagundi Club,NY
2019 Avery Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2018 RJD Gallery, Women Painting Women/Men Painting Men, Hamptons, NY
2018 Freemans Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2017 RJD Gallery, Women Painting Women, Hamptons, NY
2017 Stanek Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2017 Solo Exhibition, Beacon Art Shortwave Gallery, Stone Harbor, NJ
2016 Freemans Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2015 RJD Gallery, Women Painting Women, Hamptons, NY
2015 Freemans Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2015 Union League, Philadelphia, PA
2013 National Art Foundation, New York City, NY
2012 Catharine Lorillard Wolfe, New York City, NY
2010 Gratz Gallery, Doylestown, PA
2009 The International Portrait Society, Washington DC
2009 Markeim Arts Center, Haddonfield, NJ
2009 Bucks Gallery of Fine Art, Newtown, PA
2008 Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN
2007 Monmouth Museum of Art, Monmouth, NJ
2006 Catharine Lorillard Wolfe, New York City, NY
2006 Daylesford Abbey, Paoli, Pennsylvania
1999 Perkins Art Center, Morrestown, NJ
1995 The Hopkins House, Haddon Township, NJ
1988 Stone and Webster Art Expo, Cherry Hill, NJ
1983 Images Gallery, Moorestown, NJ
1980 The Gallery, Pine Hill, NJ
Awards
2024 American Artist Professional League Signature Member Status
2023 American Artist Professional League 95th Grand National ‘Best of Show in Graphite’
2019 Le Troisiem, Finalist, Art Renewal Center
2019 The Rat in The Hat, Finalist, Art Renewal Center
2009 Award of Excellence, International Portrait Society
2007 Peoples Choice Award, Monmouth Museum of Art
2006 Award of Honor, Catharine Lorillard Wolfe
1999 Best of Show, Perkins Art Center
1995 Best of Show, The Hopkins House
1988 Best of Show, Stone and Webster
Teaching
2007-present Anatomy Instructor, Studio Incamminati, PA
2003-present Director/Teacher Emerging Artists Program, Studio Incamminati, PA
1983-present Owner / Teacher, The Studio at Glen Gables, NJ
2023 & 2024 Costumed Portraiture Workshop, Schoolhouse for Art, Enniskerry, Ireland
2012 Guest Instructor, St. Michaels Art League, MD
2006 Classical training for Art Professors, Gloucester County, College, NJ
2002-2006 Teaching Assistant to Nelson Shanks, The Art Students League of New York, NY
2002-2006 Teacher, The Armory Art Center, FL
2002-2003 Curriculum Design, Emerging Arti ts Program, Studio Incamminati, PA
Publications and Podcasts
2024 Podcast with Schoolhouse for Art, Enniskerry Ireland
2023 Podcast with Jon Bandish American Artist Professional League
2019 International ARC Salon, Finalist Publication
2019 Painting the Figure Now, Poets and Artists, July Issue 104
2017 American Art Collector, Issue 144, October Edition, pg. 2
2015 American Art Collector, Issue 120, October Edition, pg. 7
2010 International Artist, Gordon Wetmore, “Painting People” Vol. 70 pg. 35
Enjoying the creation of the pickpocket series.
My private, north lit studio – my happy place.
Did you ever wonder how we don’t smear our drawings? This is a Mahl stick.
The entryway to my studio where my work is created.
