We were lucky to catch up with Sarah Brown recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Sarah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
I loved learning to paint. I started taking art classes my freshman year of high school, but I never picked up a paint brush until my junior year. I remember only caring about drawing and thinking that painting just wasn’t going to be for me. Once I started painting in that art class I instantly fell in love. I started with acrylics and got pretty good at them, and then when I decided to continue my art practice into college I was moved to oil. It was very challenging and it took me awhile to adjust to the new process. Through the encouragement of my professors, art classes and practice I finally was able to understand how to use the paint and that’s when I realized I wouldn’t go back to acrylics. I think if I could tell my past self one thing to help with this learning process it would be to really look at my use of color. To me color is what stands out the most in paintings and can make or break the image. That was a very essential skill that I had to learn and work for because it was not something that came easy for me. I think it is the one factor that has really transformed my work in the past couple years. Besides figuring out color, I think the biggest obstacle that I and most artists face is finding what you want to make your work about. This really stood in my way for many years. I was unsure of what I wanted to say in my work. Once I did find it, I was really able to expand my vision and learn how to depict more complex images and stories. It’s hard when you have learned the skills, but the end product is not at your standards because your heart isn’t into it.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am an oil painter who primarily focuses on realistic depictions of my life and the spaces I occupy. For the past couple years, my work has centered around my grandmother’s home, where I lived alone during the pandemic. This period allowed me to discover more about myself and grow a deep appreciation for the house, which, to me, is a living art piece. It is frozen in time still holding its old wallpaper, light fixtures and furniture. Painting it became a way to capture the home’s character. I try to create a narrative through the use of light, dark and perspective each aiding in depicting a passage of time. It’s also very important for me to put a part of myself into the work, reflecting my personal experiences within the home from childhood into adulthood. Living alone in an old home brought challenges and anxieties, which I subtly weave into my work whether that be through a dark doorway, an empty room, or the suggestion of a viewer peering into the house. This approach allows me to encapsulate both beauty and darkness within the same image, fulfilling a concept I always try to achieve in my art. I want there to be a sense of nostalgia and warmness in the work while also creating an emptiness like something forgotten. Lately I have really been into creating small pieces that zoom into the little moments of a day. Maybe the corner of a room where the sun hits only in the morning, or a worn out light switch left on. These little moments matter to me in portraying the ideas of the home having a soul and the structure remaining as time continues to pass.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
One important resource that I think all artists should know about is callforentry.org. It gives artists a list of available shows, residencies and all other sorts of things to apply for. I wish I had known about the importance of instagram earlier in my journey as well. Social media is such a great way to share your work and connect with other creatives and galleries. The one really important thing that I learned in school was how valuable it is to have your own community. My most important resource is my friend group. We share open calls, art openings, give mini critiques and just encourage each other. Having them has been the biggest drive and motivation for me to keep working.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One thing that I had to unlearn was that if you just keep creating it is enough to propel your career. Although it is important that you keep working on your craft, it is just as important to step out of your comfort zone and become a part of your art community. Going out to shows, meeting new people and discovering new artists is crucial. I learned this a little late in my art career. I was too scared to go out to shows alone and I was missing out on a lot of great art and people. I eventually found some friends that I could go with and then started to go to shows alone. This change allowed me to feel more connected to the community and establish connections with artists I wouldn’t have met otherwise.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: drown.brown