We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sabin Filip. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sabin below.

Sabin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

There is a story behind my first dollar earned and how someone’s opinion changed the perspective of earning from my creative work. And this is not about making money selling art, it is about earning recognition from a buyer who found my artwork interesting enough for them to buy. They valued my creativity and help me continue to believe in myself.

The story starts back in middle school when I learned about colors and forms. One day I came home with a pumice stone the size of a soccer ball and started carving it until it took the shape of a head. My mom saw it and asked my art teacher to look at my drawings and the small sculpture. His answer was simple and clear: “don’t waste your time, he’s not going to make money out of art”. That didn’t stop me from continuing my creative act and didn’t stop my mom from pushing me to do what I love.

My first money earned was for a set of ten clay face masks with each of them expressing an emotion or gesture. When the curator and interior designer asked me to sell my sculptures for this client I realized that my work is not a waste of time.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a Romanian born artist living and creating in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than fifteen years. After graduating from The Art University I worked in an art gallery and marketing for a couple of years. Moved to the United States in 2007 and worked in different fields to make a living. Painting was my refuge from the stress and anxiety and continued to create for that reason.

In terms of the process you will often find that I incorporate earth tones reminiscent of Romanian landscapes, alongside traditional iconography and religious symbolism. This fusion of influences results in deeply textured and layered abstract compositions that evoke both place and emotion. I like to invite viewers to connect with the natural world and discover my emotional journeys on a visceral and abstract level.

My artworks are emotive symphonies painted on the canvas of human experience. To express that, I love using intense brushstrokes and earth tone colors with hints of vivid colors that transcend the tangible, delving deep into the realms of emotions and feelings. An invitation to explore the complexity of our condition in this overwhelming environment called reality. The intensity of our emotions and the sense of wonder.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Detaching from reality and immersing myself in that zone of imagination and creativity that it’s hard to explain. Discovering the side of yourself that makes you uncomfortable and curious; that area where your imagination takes control of the process. The most rewarding moment is when you know the painting is done.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

“The Creative Act: A Way of Being” by Rick Rubin made a big impact on the way I’m approaching my art process. Before I was more concerned about how my audience will see my creative act instead of focusing on creating paintings that reflect my emotions and personality. It definitely made me reflect on what’s more important for me as an artist and now I’m enjoying the freedom of creating something that represents who I am.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sabinfilip.com
• Instagram: @sabin_filip