We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sara Nevius a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sara, 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.

After graduating with my BFA in 2022, I was hit with the uncertainty that often follows: What’s next? I debated whether to start applying for MFA programs, go solo traveling, look for a steady job back in Texas, or take the risk of trying to launch an artistic career. One evening at the dinner table in the early summer, I shared these thoughts with my parents. My dad, after listening quietly, said something that stuck with me: “It only takes one.” One yes. One opportunity. One door opening. That’s all it takes to get started.

That mindset pushed me to start applying. I didn’t know what would happen, but I put myself out there. Eventually, I got my first yes — and it changed everything. Beginning with an artist in residence program for six months leading to two solo exhibitions. At the end of my residency, I packed two suitcases and moved to New York City to attend the New York Academy of Art for their MFA program. I didn’t know anyone there. I had no plan beyond showing up and seeing what was possible. But that’s where things began. I fell in love with the city, with the energy of the school, and with painting in a new way. I started to find my voice.

That phrase “it only takes one” became something I returned to often. Rejection is part of the process, and it’s unavoidable. But hearing “no” doesn’t carry the same weight when you understand that one yes can shift your entire path. And once you get that one, you realize it was worth all the rest.

Sara, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Sara Nevius, and I’m from Tucson, Arizona. I was born into a military family and spent most of my life moving around the United States. My mother, a graphic designer and fine artist, introduced me to art at a young age, sparking an early interest that has always stayed with me. Toward the end of high school, I found myself pulled in many directions, unsure which passion to follow. But after completing a teen artist program, I realized I couldn’t imagine doing anything other than creating.

After earning my BFA in Drawing, I participated in an artist residency that changed the course of my life. It was a pivotal experience that gave me the confidence to apply to the New York Academy of Art. There, I immersed myself in both the art and the culture of the city, relearning everything I thought I knew and ultimately finding my voice in painting.

I’m proud of the work I make now and excited to share it. Having spent much of my life in the shadow of eating disorders, my work explores the vulnerability of the body both in its aesthetics and its physical presence. I focus on amplifying aspects of the body, especially the flesh, creating abstracted imagery and atypical compositions. The act of body checking a negative, compulsive examination of one’s shape, size, or appearance is recontextualized in my work as a more objective, even meditative experience. Using oil paint and a reductive drawing process, I build up layers of flesh that overwhelm, consume, and reshape the figure. The result is a perceptual shift: an abstracted, fleshy form that challenges and expands how we view the body.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

There are several factors driving my creative journey. First and foremost, I truly believe this is my calling, it’s the only path I can see myself on, and I want to pursue it full-time, even though I know how challenging that can be. I’m committed to this work not just because it’s what I love, but because it’s the only thing I feel truly called to do. I also want to succeed in this field to honor the many people who have supported me along the way, especially my family, who have been instrumental in shaping and encouraging my creative life.

In addition, my background as a competitive gymnast for nearly 15 years plays a big role in how I approach my art. That experience taught me resilience, discipline, and what it means to be hungry for something. I’ve carried that mindset into my artistic practice when I set my mind to something, I stick with it. Even if success takes time (and it usually does), I’m fully committed to the work for as long as it takes.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is how personally fulfilling it is. It’s like an itch I can’t scratch, something deep inside me that only creating can satisfy. It’s not just about the final painting, but the entire process. Making art is cathartic and therapeutic; it’s how I process my life, my struggles, and my emotions. Being able to express all of that through my work is incredibly healing.

What makes it even more meaningful is when others connect with it, when someone sees what I see or feels what I feel from the work. Even if they don’t relate to it on a personal level, just having someone appreciate the effort, time, and thought behind a piece is so rewarding. That’s what it’s all about for me: using this gift I’ve been given to contribute something good to the world. I believe that creating beautiful, and thoughtful things is a way of doing that. I want my work, and everything I do to add positivity into the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://saraneviusart.wixsite.com/saraneviusart
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neviusart/?hl=en
• Other: https://linktr.ee/Neviusart

Image Credits

No other info