Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Hall. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sarah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?
Everyone should marry their biggest fan. I was dating my now husband for nearly a year when I started painting. I went out and purchased supplies that I needed and later started my first painting late one July night. When I worked up the courage to show him, he gushed over my sad acrylic little painting. I told him I was going to practice until I was really good and start selling my art. He pulled $20 out of his pocket and said, “I want to be your first customer.” That painting has hung in his office for nearly six 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 am Sarah Hall of Sarah Hall Creative. I mostly create using watercolor paint and nice quality cold pressed paper. I originally started with acrylics, and I dabble with them, but watercolor is my truest artistic love. Recently I have started offering Live Wedding Paintings but most of my work happens in my studio just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Making art that brings others joy is something that I have found along the way and is why I continue to create today.
I have a steady rotation of house portraits, pet portraits and family crest and release a few specific collections a year. However, I have created everything from wedding invitations to doll houses to floral arrangements. Recently, I debuted an abstract collection called “Release” that was inspired by my grief in recently losing my Dad. In all honesty most of the art I create for myself is about releasing negative emotions and turning them into something beautiful, or at least tangible. I am working on some products with my art on it to create a passive income stream so that eventually I can quit my day job and live my dreams.
My main source of inspiration comes from other creatives online. Social media platforms are so influential in feeding my spark that I set aside time to specifically catch up with my favorite artist and deep diving into their profiles. Thanks to these platforms I have created lifelong bonds with some incredibly talented individuals.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I love sharing the knowledge I have or how I go about doing certain things. I don’t claim to be an expert in any one thing but a student of all things creative. So, when people come to me and ask about my supplies, or how I did something, or books that I am reading to get better at different techniques or different styles I readily share that information. I am so driven about always continuing to improve that I am overjoyed by questions by those seeking out knowledge on subjects I am passionate about. Likewise, I am so grateful for those who have answered my questions along the way; not everyone is willing share in order to help built a community.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
In my experience, people who are not inherently creative feel like they lack talent, and that is why they do not express themselves creatively. Talent is largely a myth, practice and the desire to create is all you need. Everything I am capable of doing is because I was ok with being bad at it for a while. When I look back and where I started, I am so pleased with my grow. I feel like creativity is a muscle and it is something that needs exercised. Everyone is creative in their own way. There also isn’t a wrong way to go about creating. Grab a piece of paper and a pencil and just start drawing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sarahhallcreativeco.com
- Instagram: @sarahhallcreative
- Facebook: Sarah Hall Creative
Image Credits
First three images are curtesy of Megan Garrison Photography