We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Coppola. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.
Hi Sarah, thanks for joining us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?
I don’t actually remember my very first dollar! My mom is a full-time potter, so I grew up in her pottery studio. I started making my work to sell when I was probably about 5 years old and would have a little basket of my little pieces at my mom’s shows. I’d clink things together to get people’s attention and sell things like pizzas, snowmen, and ponds for quarters. A few years ago a woman reached out to my mom – she had bought a bunny I made in 1989 when I was 6 and a half years old. She was getting older and moving into a retirement home and thought I’d appreciate it back. She sent it to me with a sweet note about how much she enjoyed it all these years. I also go to shows occasionally in my home town and still have people buy from me who bought work from me when I was a child. It’s really fun to still have that connection with people after all of these years!
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 have been an artist all my life! I grew up in rural NC with a mother who is a full-time potter. As a child, my two younger brothers and I were either outside playing in the woods and the creek, or we were in my mom’s studio making little sculptures. My dad also did some woodworking, so we sometimes tried to make tables and toolboxes out of his scraps as well.
We accompanied my mom to her craft shows and were exposed to every kind of art you could imagine. It was inspiring. I began selling my little sculptures when I was probably about 5 or 6. I’d have a little basket of my workout at my mom’s shows and would happily talk to anyone who would listen about what I made. I loved going to see all the other artist’s booths, and if my mom did well, she’d sometimes let me pick out something to buy – I cherished those pieces!
I firmly believe I developed an eye for art due to all of that early exposure. My mom encouraged us to try all different types of art and I had an entrepreneurial spirit from early on. I also always loved science and ancient history and devoured everything I could read on the subjects. So, once I got to college at UNC, getting a BFA and double majoring in anthropology with a focus on archaeology was pretty inevitable, despite trying other things first. In my senior year, I had the privilege of studying in Florence, Italy. I’m 1/4 Italian, so studying the art, language, and history was like connecting with my ancestors – understanding my roots.
I’ve worked in a variety of art jobs, most notably a sculpture studio, art gallery, photography studio, and candle and soap making supply company, as well as a few home decor retail stores in my teens and early 20s. I think all of those early years being around so many different types of art and then honing the ones I love later on through a variety of jobs has brought me to where I am now – with a few too many mediums I love and can’t let go (clay sculpture and jewelry, photography, apparel design, and painting)!
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
One thing I think non-creatives may not understand is that artists go through life thinking everything everywhere could be used in art. Whether it’s a random weird box you want to keep that you’re not quite sure what you want to do with yet, scenery that strikes you, something that triggers an idea, whatever… We are continually experiencing the world with that in mind. It may mean we take FOREVER taking photos on a hike or trip from different angles (and lament missing a good shot for weeks or months) or we have an overflowing “art closet”. It actually can be quite exhausting sometimes, especially when you feel like you just want to relax.
Another related thing, is we always feel like we should be working. Making more work, working on our website, marketing, etc. I come home from 50 hours a week at my full time job and sometimes work on my art every night or the whole weekend – and feel guilty if I don’t do anything!
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I couldn’t really learn it earlier as it didn’t exist, but ChatGPT has been really nice for creating Etsy listings and brainstorming keywords. I can’t tell you how many countless hours I’ve spent trying to write uninspired, keyword rich descriptions for things when all I wanted to do was be making art instead!
Contact Info:
- Website: indigoartsnc.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/indigoartsnc
- Facebook: facebook.com/indigoartsclay