We were lucky to catch up with Noah Sanders recently and have shared our conversation below.

Noah , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

My first realization that I wanted to pursue a lifelong profession of art struck me like a thunderbolt at a young age.

I was 7 or 8 and I already had a robust habit of doodling little characters in my school notebooks. I also enjoyed studying the ‘Masters’ in the newspaper, namely Garfield, Calvin and Hobbes, Peanuts, and many others. But on one particular morning, I ended up staying home from school, probably from some pretense of being ‘sick’. I spent the morning laying out all of my doodles and loose papers to review my body of work. It was at this moment that I was struck with a matter-of-fact thought that this–drawing, illustrating, creating stories–this was the work I am supposed to do.

Since then I never wavered from that conviction. I was a ‘Cartoonist’, at least that is how I referred to my earlier self. Over time I delved to into painting and pottery and all sort of other creative mediums and eventually took on the general mantle of “Artist”.

Noah , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I create paintings of woodland animals utilizing a wide variety of salvaged wood and other material. I pursue a vibrant yet rustic style as I try to combine the elements of my animal designs from my sketchbook with worn and weathered found materials. I show my work at about a dozen outdoor art festivals throughout the year, mostly in Minnesota!

I love painting but my heart and soul are now consumed with my newest project, a full-length comic called Foxy and Friends. It’s a newspaper-style comic of the ongoing adventures and antics of Foxy and his woodland friends Orion (the raccoon), Lil’ Red (the squirrel), Jack (the rabbit), and many more. The story begins with Foxy trying to help Orion the Raccoon find a job, but does Orion even want a job? As this is going on, the rest of the woodlanders are busily getting ready for the annual Great Go-Kart Race. I am currently releasing the comic weekly bit by bit on Instagram but I hope to put the comic into book form once the story is complete.

On top of all this I am still working a part-time job, which is also creative. The place is called Makeshift Accessories and we create jewelry out of salvaged materials. Along with helping to create the jewelry, I also help manage our wholesale accounts and online sales. It’s a great workplace and I owe Devin the owner much credit for all the amazing experiences I’ve had learning how to run a creative business. Many of the skills I have learned I am using in my own business now!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I will never get over the thrill of completing a piece or project and holding the completed work in my hand. That excitement of seeing the final product–something that was just a concept in my head–manifest in tangible form in my hand is incomparable.

I believe we are all wonderfully created in the Image of God and part of that identity means that we are creators just as He is the Creator. So when I partake in these daily acts of artmaking and creating I experience something inexpressible and deeply spiritual that humbles me and draws me near to God. It is similar to when I held my newborn children for the first time. It is the holiness of creation. It is a window into the divine- an opportunity to encounter God. What could be more rewarding?

Have you ever had to pivot?

As I create and grow, I am constantly pivoting in small ways. Sometimes a pivot can be by instinct when inspiration hits me and I jump into a project with a new idea or materials. Sometimes a pivot comes when I have gotten enough feedback on a body of work that tells me that the work is not interesting or successful.

I also have had to pivot in my expectations or business ambitions as I navigate family life. Each time my wife and I have welcomed a new kid into the world there is always a season of shifted focus.

I am sure many artists have stories of big pivots in their life. A life-changing moment, a failed venture, etc. So far my pivots have been small and gradual, and I am thankful for that. Hopefully the big pivots that come will be positive ones!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artofnoahsanders.com
• Instagram: @artofnoahsanders
• Facebook: Art of Noah Sanders

Image Credits

Full credit to my wife Jennifer Sanders. She is a wedding photographer and is an expert with the camera. She has helped me with digitizing my work since the very beginning.