We were lucky to catch up with Sadie Fields recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sadie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Well, I went to school originally for graphic design. I figured because I knew how to draw that it would be a piece of cake and that was my true calling. I finished school with my associates degree in Graphic Design and then in the fall, transferred to what I thought was my dream school to get my bachelors degree. After struggling in school for a year, I realized that graphic design was no longer my passion and quite frankly, I actually hated it. My professors didn’t really believe in me, I would miss classes and assignments and I was completely burned out. On the last day did my junior year of college I changed my major… I know that was completely unorthodox and very risky but hey, I panicked. I was in my professor’s office and she and my advisor were just bashing me and not really trying to help me. They wanted me to retake classes I already had one degree for, compared me to other students and asked why I couldn’t be like them and that they wish there was tutoring for this. Felling defeated and on the verge of dropping out, at that moment I changed my major to Painting. I told them that they say my portfolio to get into the program, and my advisor said “We saw that you can draw.” Now I hadn’t really painted before so I didn’t know what to expect. I used to tell myself I wasn’t a painter, so I never did it. Senior year comes around and we had our first critique. Everyone chose my painting to critique… They loved it! At that very moment, my new professor/mentor reassured me that I was definitely a painter.
I continued my year as a new painter. By the end of the year, I managed to bring my grades back up, I won “Best in Show,” and my previous advisor presented me with the award, and I graduated on time.
If I hadn’t taken that risk of changing my major, I wouldn’t be the artist I am today.

Sadie, 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’m that girl that “does art and stuff.” Through trial and error, I became a painter and a digital artist.I’m sort of a movie (horror and cartoon movies the most) buff and absolutely love music and 90s nostalgia-in which i like to incorporate into my work.

I started off doing commissions for people through word of mouth; Greek paraphernalia, jackets, paintings, and even graduation caps. I’ve even made some bracelets for a while. I’ve been posted on the Shaderoom for my graduation cap, and I even had a repost from Big Sean!

The phrase “Wydsadie “ impacted me a lot because I could be found working on some kind of art project or commission for someone. When I post it, it’s kind of me hyping myself up as in “wow, what is she doing now?” Kind of thing. It’s sort of my superhero signal, to show that something is coming.

Now, I can be found in the studio instructing painting classes or occasionally doing some random dope art.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Early in my career, I was under the impression that the consumer was the key for me to be put on the map for becoming an artist. In other words, I had to do commissions for people in order to be successful . I started off doing gifts for people which eventually led to paid commissions and graduation caps.

As stated before, I did bracelets, jackets, decorations, personal items, and the list goes on. People would follow me on Instagram based on work that their friends got from me and they wanted something done too. Business was pretty steady for the most part, but It eventually became mentally taxing because while I was at work
I would be working on something for someone else, or even right before I walked in graduation I was working on someone’s cap. I felt like my creative freedom was being clinched and it became more of a job and less of a passion to create.

As the years progressed, I decided to pivot from doing commissions, and get back to the root of why I loved to create in the first place. When I found out I was a painter, it wasn’t just because my professor told me I was, but also because I felt that this was the one thing I was drawn to do. Painting/ creating art that I wanted to showcase is what actually opened the door. Through my commissions, I was using other people’s ideas to convey a message whereas where I created for myself, I used my own voice.

During the rise of the pandemic, I decided to regain my voice and out of boredom I started painting again. After seeing such positive feedback on a piece that I just naturally created, I was able to form an unintentional conversation piece-that turned into a series. I fell in love with creating again and I was in charge of what I created. To sum everything, I had to unlearn that being an artist meant that I had to produce for everyone else, instead of producing for myself. It’s not just the art that makes the artist, but also the process. Sure I can do commissions here and there I decide to, but I don’t want to have to rely on it. I learned that I’m not an artist because I occasionally do commissions, but rather I’m an artist because creating is what so love to do.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Although I’m still learning and no where close to where I want to be, I started growing my audience on social media through networking.

Since I used to do commissions, word would spread around and people would always refer to me as “the girl that does art and stuff, right?” So, I went with it. Sometimes people would come up to me and say, “I love your artwork! I’ve seen some of your work on Instagram and you also did work for a friend. I can’t wait to get something done from you when I graduate!” Each time I would be so humble and over joyed because I didn’t even know people liked my work like that! Now I’m getting new followers and message requests because people want something done.

Another thing I used to do to engage with audience is I would go on live and I would paint or I would include them in on my art process. For example I would do polls and have them vote or I would form a conversation. I used their feedback to spark the interest of my next piece.

As someone who is still learning and aiming to grow my audience, I would say the best way to build a presence on social media would be to be present. Create what makes you happy and figure out what content or what type of audience you want to reach. Engage with your crowd and follow like-accounts. Don’t stop creating and don’t stop building. I say this as a message to myself as well because social media can be very exhausting.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @wydsadie_
• Facebook: Sadie Fields
• Linkedin: Sadie Fields
• Twitter: @wydsadie
• Other: Art page on Instagram @wydstuios

Image Credits
Sadie Fields