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

Sara, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

After taking my first photography class in community college, I decided to pursue a BFA in Photography from Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapid, MI. While at KCAD, I took numerous classes in photography, where I was encouraged to think about how I could use this medium to express the topics that were important to me. After taking a color darkroom class, I fell in love with the process of shooting on color film. Since then, I exclusively shoot on Kodak Portra 400 to capture photographs of a family home. After graduating from KCAD, I went on to get my MFA from Indiana University Bloomington, where I continued my education. My mentors strongly encouraged multi-disciplinary approaches to our artist practices. While at IU, I took my first textiles class, where I learned how to print onto fabric and manipulate the image’s surface. Successful artists experiment with many mediums to find the best way to communicate their ideas visually. Art takes time, and your best ideas are not always your first. Trusting my instincts and allowing myself to make mistakes lead me to the work I do today.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I currently work as a Visiting Lecturer of Photography and Print Studio Coordinator at the University of Notre Dame. Throughout my education, I discovered that I enjoy teaching and being in an environment that promotes continuous learning. Through my students, I find inspiration to continue my artistic practice. I desire to learn the newest techniques and approaches to the medium, which fosters creative growth not only in myself but among fellow faculty, staff, and students.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Seeing and hearing others relate to my work. It is a beautiful experience to communicate with others through images and hearing their stories. Art has a unique way of making one feel like they are not alone in their thoughts.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Expressing oneself through art is a very vulnerable experience. Anyone who has taken an art class or attended an art school can attest to the stress involved in finishing a project and showing it in a critique for it not to be received well. I cannot tell you the number of times I have made something and was told that it doesn’t work or is awful. It can be incredibly discouraging, but I’ve learned that this is all a part of the process. Not everything will work out, but now you know one more way it doesn’t work. If anything, artists are excellent problem solvers.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sarafahling.com
• Instagram: @sarafahling_fineart