We were lucky to catch up with Sage Phillips recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sage, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

You know, I think about that a lot, usually when my card declines at the grocery store. (Just kidding!)
I’ve had plenty of “regular jobs” in my life, and I think that realistically, unless you have access to a generous benefactor willing funding your entire life Michelangelo-style, having a “regular job” is sometimes just part of the deal of being an artist. I’m extremely lucky to have jobs in creative fields adjacent to my artistic practice over the most recent few years, but most folks I know (even the ones who have “made it,”) have some sort of side-hustle or more conventional income to support themselves.

That said, when I catch myself wishing I had studied Business Management or something, I always remember that It is so much more rewarding and freeing to be living and working in alignment with your authentic soul–even if that authenticity isn’t currently breaking the bank. I wouldn’t take a trillion dollars to pretend to be someone else.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m an oil painter and visual artist, living and working in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I grew up in Champaign, Illinois, and attended a Quaker liberal arts school in Indiana for a few years before transferring and finishing my BFA in Painting/Drawing at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. I currently have my own studio practice in Minneapolis!

I focus on colorwork and animal life in my paintings. I’m often inspired by fantasy and dreams, which is maybe spurred by the Pisces in me. I love to create alternate worlds and to examine the ways in which our own lives and interior landscapes reflect processes found in nature. Recently I saw the Northern Lights during their unusually strong appearance in the spring, which led me to become inspired by natal homing (the process of animals returning to the places they were born, famously showcased by sea turtles and salmon,) and the other internal systems animals possess that we don’t quite understand. I find the disconnect between those two worlds to be a huge amount of space to explore and make poignant work inside–as well as a space to find an even larger amount of connections.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

This is a bit silly but: the library! We are living in such a digital age that it’s easy to forget about physical resources for research and learning. I used to work at my art school’s library, and it is SO much easier to find any information on any topic in a book than it is to try and Google anything yourself. It’s also super fun to go to the library, type a random word into their database, and find a bunch of cool books about wacky topics that you would have never learned about otherwise!

And, this one is more of a “soft” resource: people. I know everybody is a bit shy and self-conscious sometimes, but, seriously, talk to people! Most everyone is either more understanding or less intimidating than you think. We only exist as much as we exist to other people, so, get out there and start chatting.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Fund our projects, buy our artwork, and offer any specific knowledge or tools up to people who want to learn from you. If you think some random guy on the street would like the work of the person who’s stuff hangs in the local coffee shop, connect them and tell them about it! Even just messaging an artist “Hey– I really love your work!” goes a long way.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sage.pictures
• Instagram: @wolfbitten

Image Credits

courtesy of the artist, Sage Phillips