We were lucky to catch up with Sandra Branco recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sandra, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
I always liked drawing and painting, i remember that i used to paint oil when i was younger, i still have some artworks that i made and my old paint box. When i finished highschool I really wanted to go to Fine Arts School but i ended up taking a licentiate degree in Design because of the professional opportunities. After i graduate i’ve worked for 8 years in a Marketing and Publicity Agency. And after that another 8 in a business partnership in a local store. Those last years really consumed me, my mental and physical health were greatly altered. It was a long-lasting project that still allowed me to be creative, but it wore out and never became completely satisfactory and successful on a personal level. By the end of 2021 i left that project, in an attempt to rescue myself as a person and as a creative, and also to have more family time. I left a stable job with an average salary with no idea what I was going to do. But my conscience told me that if I wasn’t feeling well and wasn’t happy in what I was doing, it was time to change. So i did it. I was feeling so bad that it took me several months to get back on my feet. I wanted to get back to my innerself and art helped me in the process, it was non intencional, it naturally happened.
Although i started drawing digital, i rediscovered the passion i had for painting and fell in love with watercolor. Along the way I studied the watercolor technique, I delved deeper, I took courses and I fell more and more in love with it.
Since i left my old job i am working as an artist and as a freelancer designer. I already teached an workshop, and i long to do it again, i am working in my online store and i can’t wait to see what the future holds. This decision was a life changing risk that i had to take. If it wasn’t at that precise moment, it believe in my heart that wouldn’t happened anymore.
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.
Hi! My name is Sandra Branco, i am an artist and illustrator from Portugal. My creative journey revive from a decision i’ve made to change my life. I’ve been working in my art career almost two years now. My inspiration comes from Nature, its shapes, patterns, textures, colors, it is such an immense and beautiful world. I paint flowers, plants, animals and landscapes as well as illustrations. I love to hike with my family and stay close to nature. I always had a huge respect for nature and strong environmental concerns. I am a watercolor artist but I also work as a freelance designer, mostly graphic design: visual identity, marketing and advertising and packaging. I think it is because of my university education that i also enjoy making pattern design. I love to create a seamless patterns and see them applied in many products. My patterns are always drawn by hand and i also use many nature finds in my creative process.
One of the biggest projects from last year was a mural painting i did in a holiday home. It was such a good and valuable experience that I would definitely repeat.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
There is such a wonderful and rewarding feeling that comes from being able, as artists, to leave our impression in the world. It is a part of us that we leave, our inspirations, our views, our personality. Also the impactful power of a work of art on a person who sees and feels it in the most varied ways. I think the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is feeling like we have met the expectations of the work requested, whatever it may be, and being recognized. And also the fact that we can inspired others to express themselves too.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
One of my goals is being able to do different projects in the area, i am always trying to challenge myself because i believe that is how we can grow up as an artist. I am currently working in my online shop. I would love to be able to repeat the teaching experience, as i said before, and I would love one day to illustrate a book. Along the way, I hope I can inspire other people to try to paint and learn watercolor and to love and, not only see but, to look into Nature.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sbranco_art/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-branco-331224289/
- Other: https://www.behance.net/sandrabranco https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/sbranco_art https://www.etsy.com/pt/shop/sbrancoart