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

Sara, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

During my final year of college, we had to develop a body of works connected by a theme. After months of concept development and research, Alchemy was created.

In short, Alchemy is about moving into the future by embracing the past. It is about taking the uglier parts of yourself and accepting them as part of how you got to where you are now instead of something to hold you back.

There have been a lot of challenges in my life. When I was younger, I coped with the world around me by scribbling. If I was having a hard time with how things made me feel, I would scribble on a blank piece of paper and turn it into something beautiful. I loved drawing in ballpoint pen because there wasn’t an undo button. I found the fact that you couldn’t erase your mistakes really poetic because in life, you can’t just use white out on your mistakes. Both when you’re living life and making art, there’s going to be a lot of things you don’t like or wish turned out differently, but you only get one piece of paper. If you make a line you don’t like, it’s up to you to decide whether it’s ugly and not worth the effort, or if you continue to add to it and turn it into something more.

For my senior collection, I wanted to show my connection with drawing and my love for making jewelry. Alchemy is a story that begins with a crown made from pieces of wire that were hand-cut and soldered individually to create sharp, edgy lines. This is meant to connect to the jagged, fast, emotional lines I made while scribbling. Hands are then introduced into the designs to represent slowly finding people and creative outlets to lift you up into a better place. Some hands have holes and textures to represent how messy and difficult it can be, needing help and accepting it from others instead of isolating yourself when things get difficult. Stones are also included to represent the opportunities around you and how it is up to you to find them and grab them while they’re there.

At the end of the collection is a wire collar necklace meant to mirror the crown. I chose a collar because I often wear collared shirts when I want to feel confident in myself. I wanted to turn those sharper elements into something that represents security in oneself and in the past. This collection is about finding a hint of light in a world full of darkness and opportunities for growth in every experience.

Finding and accepting yourself is an ugly, uncomfortable, and complicated process, but the journey and its outcomes can still be beautiful. This juxtaposition is where the name alchemy comes from. Alchemy is an ongoing project I have within myself as I try to be a better person and artist every day.

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

My name is Sara Grace Wiley. I recently graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design with a major in jewelry and a minor in business management and entrepreneurship.

Honestly, when I think about it, how I got into the industry was very random. When I was starting at SCAD, I had no idea what I wanted to do. All I knew when I picked SCAD was that it was where I was supposed to be. I started out as an illustration major because I had always been into drawing when I was younger, but it felt wrong for some reason as time went by. I love drawing, but whenever I would think about doing it for myself, I would get exhausted before even starting. At that point, I knew it was time for a change.

Because I felt a bit unsure of what I wanted to do, I went to a majors and minors fair and randomly stumbled into a talk about the jewelry program. It sounded interesting, so I brought it up to my design professor, Jennifer Lee Hallsey, who also majored in jewelry. Pretty much right after that conversation, I switched majors. Everyone in my life thought it was crazy because I had never even thought about making jewelry before, meanwhile I had never been so sure of anything in my life. I’ve become quite the, “everything happens for a reason” type of person because all the pieces fit so beautifully in place. Switching was the best and most random decision I’ve ever made. I don’t think I’ve ever fallen in love with something as quickly as I did with jewelry.

Jewelry is one of those things I could do forever. Every project has the potential to become something so personal and beautiful. I love how making jewelry keeps my mind sharp, as each piece has its own set of problems to solve. There are a million different ways to do everything and techniques to explore, so it’s impossible to ever be bored. It’s such a hands-on medium, and the industry is constantly evolving and innovating, so really, there’s space for everyone.

I really enjoy being able to draw my designs and turn them into real life. In a way, I feel like I’m still scribbling; it’s just 3D now. What I like to do is take anything like a feeling, song, or experience and turn it into what I feel would look like a piece of jewelry.

What makes me different from others? Truly, I’m fueled by a passion for creating. I spend countless hours every day working incredibly hard with the simple goal of wanting to make something worthwhile. I love everything about jewelry, and I like to think my love for creating shows through the final product. I think overall, I’m proud of my individual growth. I only started making jewelry a little over two and a half years ago, and it has been such a pleasure learning, being challenged, and improving along the way. Words cannot describe how lucky I feel to have found this passion so early in my life.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I don’t know what it is about who I am, but I’ve always been very motivated to try my best in everything. I think it’s important to try your best in everything in life, whether it be making art, in relationships, or just being kind to others, and that’s what’s behind every part of my creative journey. I’m not afraid to admit that things happen and mistakes are made often. Yeah, mistakes are difficult to deal with in the moment, but what you do with those mistakes is what actually matters. Every day is a new day to try something new or try something else again.

You’re not always going to succeed all the time, and you’re not always going to feel great, but if you did your best, that’s all you can do, and that’s okay. Tomorrow you will get up and try again.

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

I think the act of making is very fulfilling. While developing my senior collection, I was very aware that my time in school was coming to a close, and I tried to be very mindful of how I was spending my time. If I was having a good day, I thought more about why. I wanted to be very present in each moment and made sure I took some time to stop and enjoy the process. Even when things didn’t work the first time, I had a good time problem-solving through it, and I’ve realized it’s important to recognize the parts of each day or action that are special and not take the little things for granted. More often than not, you never know what day is going to be a good day until it’s already over. There’s something really special about having an idea and being able to see it through and make it a reality, but it’s not always just about the finished product.

If I had to choose one thing though, I would say the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is being able to express what words can’t and help those who need it. Art resonates with people in ways we don’t always expect and it’s really something special to connect with people to show them they aren’t alone.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.behance.net/SaraGraceWiley
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gw.jewelry_/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-wiley-4449a1224/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_soJgmy4Su/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 

Image Credits

Abigail Cortright
Mandee Bertone