We were lucky to catch up with Sara Marie E.B. recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sara Marie, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I was one of those lucky people who was born with a passion for many things. However, I would not say that I was born knowing “my purpose”. I knew in general what I wanted to become, but I have spent the last nearly thirty years of life chiseling away at all the versions of myself to reveal what my purpose on this earth truly is. I have always been a writer and an artist in some capacity. I do believe that it is a blessing to have such a strong inclination toward some career path at an early age, but sometimes knowing whole-heartedly what you want to become can keep you limited and blind to who you are meant to become. Truthfully, I am just now refining and focusing more on what I believe my purpose is.
I used to think that I was bound to become a famous artist by my late twenties. Well, here I am and far from “famous” for my artwork. If I had dug in my heels and forced myself to stay the course of what I had believed for so long was my purpose, then I never would have allowed myself to shift my focus toward my written works, which have in turn, focused my paintings.
Finding your purpose is usually not something that just happens. It takes work. You have to ask yourself, what do I enjoy most? What breathes life into my soul and inspires or helps those around me? Purpose is found in the crosshairs between drive, discipline, and inviting others to share in that life-giving passion that gets you up every morning.
For me, that passion is creating a world one can escape to. A place of adventure, inspiration, joy, peace, and self-exploration, in both my written and painted works.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am an artist and a writer. I believe that this gives me a unique perspective and opportunity in my career journey. I enjoy painting with words and building my fantastical world, both in written and painted form. I am currently working on a series of paintings that will bring my readers and viewers even further into the world I have created, and I cannot wait to share them.
Though I am predominately focused on my written works and my new painting series at this time, I still accept commissions for graphic and painted pieces. My first novel, The Moon and Her Sun, has been available for a little over a year and the sequel, The Lying Dark, will be available before the end of this year. Shifting my focus from painting to writing has given me a fresh perspective on not only my purpose, but also what I am truly inspired by and wish to bring into the world.
I am also thrilled to announce that the audiobook version of The Moon and Her Sun is now available on your preferred platform!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
If I had to pick three things that were most impactful to my journey, I would have to say that number one is belief in yourself. I know this may sound cheesy and cliche, but it truly is most important. In any career path you will be faced with people who doubt your ability and your passion. They will question if you are committed or capable. Knowing who you are and what you want is key to pushing past the doubts of not only others, but also yourself.
The second quality is discipline. This one is hard. It is difficult to stay committed to your practice when you are not seeing the results as quickly as you would like, but you have to stay focused. Make promises to yourself and do not break them.
I would have to say that the third area of knowledge that has been most impactful to my journey, has been knowing how to network. Finding those who inspire and motivate you and reaching out to them, may be the greatest step in your career. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. The people around you are a fantastic source of inspiration and knowledge.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
I was blessed with incredible parents. It is difficult to pinpoint a single impactful thing that they did for me, so I am going to name a few.
Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, they allowed me the freedom to be me. They allowed me to create and pursue whatever I desired. As I have mentioned before, I always knew that I wanted to be an artist. They invested in every form of art they were able, from drawing lessons, to ceramics classes, to connecting me with a professional painter that I worked under for a few summers in high school. They invested in me, and they pushed me.
When it was time for me to go to college, I knew that I could not afford four years at my dream school, Savannah College of Art and Design. But when I decided to pursue that dream and transfer, they were there to support me. I truthfully do not know where I would be in my life without them and their investment in me.
As I grow older, I am more in awe of everything they did and taught me. My father is a graphic designer and most of my knowledge about graphic design and much of art in general came from him. I have found recently that my mother has a great affinity for writing, so perhaps I get that from her. I think some people are too quick to undermine all their parents did for them, but I recognize that I am who I am today because of them, and I am eternally grateful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sublimesipstudio.com (artist) and https://www.authorsmarie.com (author)
- Instagram: @saramarie_artist and @authorsmarie
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saramarieartist/
- Linkedin: S. Marie
