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Artist Rachel Mindrup thought she wanted to spend her career as a Disney animator. She was wrong.

After graduating from the University of Nebraska-Kearney with a degree in fine art and working as an artist for a while in Omaha, Neb., Mindrup headed for California, where she studied at the Los Angeles Academy of Art.

She managed to get hired as a subcontractor for what she thought was going to be the beginning of her dream job as a Disney animator.

“I hated it. It was extraordinarily tedious,” Mindrup said. “It was not fun, and there was a lot of pressure.”

Mindrup switched from animation to painting backgrounds but decided that wasn’t for her either.

“There were a million artists with their portfolios ready to take the job,” Mindrup said.

She returned to the Midwest to her husband, Jeff, her college sweetheart. Now he is an attorney and she is a professional artist and stay-at-home mom. They have two sons, Henry, 6, and Fred, 3. The family lives in Liberty.

“I wanted to name Fred ‘Frank,’ but Jeff thought people would call them ‘Hank’ and ‘Frank,’” she said.

Mindrup said she works in her basement studio in the evening when the boys are asleep. In addition to painting, Mindrup illustrates children’s books, designs Christmas cards and does custom art projects for clients, including portraits and pen and ink drawings.

Mindrup currently has a show at Northwest Missouri State University’s Blue Jay Towers in Liberty that runs through the end of March. Starting on Thursday, April 1, her paintings — mostly landscapes and still lifes — will move to the Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience.

Mindrup also teaches art classes at the Kansas City Art Institute and at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha.

Among her clients are the Kiewit Corp., Boys Town, Creighton University, Walgreens Corp. and Miller Brewing Co. She painted a portrait of U.S. Supreme Court Judge Justice Clarence Thomas and did a pencil sketch of primatologist Jane Goodall with a stuffed monkey eating a banana.

“I love my life. I love what I’m doing,” Mindrup said. “There’s no angst here, and I don’t look good in black.”

Carol Kariotis, executive director of Kaw Valley Arts and Humanities, where Mindrup has also displayed her paintings, said she was impressed with Mindrup’s work.

“She’s very good,” Kariotis said. “Rachel’s paintings appeal to most people, yet there’s nothing ordinary about them. They are precise and realistic with an extra spark that makes them special and beautiful.”

Will Clark, who owns several of Mindrup’s painting, said he really liked her work.

“I own three of her paintings and if I had more money, I’d buy more,” Clark said.

Clark said he commissioned Mindrup to paint a portrait of his wife for their 15th anniversary.

“She painted my wife walking a greyhound in front of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island and you can see her reflection in the window,” Clark said. “Hopefully, this painting will stay in our family forever.”

ONLINE

To view some of Rachel Mindrup’s artwork, visit her Web site at www.RMindrup.com.

Liberty Editor Angie Anaya Borgedalen can be reached at 781-4941 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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