Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Roberts. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Sarah with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I believe the best work ethic comes from an innate desire to do the work you are engaged in. I have so many positive feelings and thoughts about the work that i get to do- my drive to capture beauty in my artwork, to improve my skills, grow my creativity, and engage with my customers – that “going to work” every morning isn’t a burden. I cultivate love for what I do by continually looking for inspiration in other artists and remembering to relish the things I like about being an artist. However, loving the work that I do isn’t a magic cure-all for feelings of weariness. I use to-do lists in my planner to help me stay on track with all the tasks on my plate and push through those I’m not so excited to do. I might not ever feel like bookkeeping, but I can still shoot for the good feeling of checking it off my list!
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 focusing primarily on outdoor and nature-themed fine art. I started my business focusing on watercolor painted flowers but I have started dipping my toe in landscapes, and I have plans to branch out in subject matter (fossils, trees, constellations, etc.) and medium (oils, pen and ink). My completed works are mostly series of paintings that I put together in collection prints. For example, my “Cacti of the Southwest” poster is a print of thirteen original paintings of blooming cacti native to the American southwest. Besides collection prints and the original paintings that go into making them, I also produce individual prints of my originals and commissions.
My artwork is characterized by a combination of features: a vintage natural science textbook-level of detail, dramatic compositions with arching stems, drooping seed pods, swirls of petals, vibrant colors, and an unmarred garden of Eden-like perfection. I want those who look at my art to be transported into the painting, to touch the silky petal texture, smell the subtle flower fragrance and feel the warm sunlight. Artwork energizes me the most when it takes me somewhere. Perhaps somewhere I can’t go, like the garden of Eden, or an idealized memory, or an imagined place. Wherever it is, I want to give my audience a vacation to that place every time they look at my art.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I would say the top three qualities I have found most useful in launching my art career are:
1) Cultivating the habit of noticing, and continually keeping an eye out for inspiration. When I was around ten years old, I did a 4H project on wild birds. I remember bringing a little notepad and pencil and finding spots to watch birds in my parents’ yard. I took notes on their behavior and sketched them. It was the first time I remember getting excited about being outside and observing nature. I was amazed to discover there was a whole other world happening around me that I had been oblivious to before! Maintaining this habit of noticing and appreciating the nature around me fuels my creativity with ever fresh inspiration.
2) Be willing to slow down or start over. One of the worst feelings I frequently experience as an artist typically happens at the beginning of a painting. I’m excited to see the painting take shape and go a little too fast – making a sketch with incorrect perspective or improperly mixing a paint color. As soon as I realize the mistake I’m faced with several options: continue painting leaving the flaw as is, back up and fix the flaw if possible, or start again. Slowing down and fixing what’s not working is never what I feel like doing in the moment, but always leads to a piece of artwork that I’m more proud of in the end.
3) Fight discouragement with small steps. There have been a lot of parts of starting my own art career that I didn’t feel confident about. Sometimes you feel downright stalled at the monstrosity of a new task you don’t feel qualified to take on. I’ve learned that when I feel stuck, the best thing I can do is to take baby steps. Put microgoals down on my to-do list, and use the momentum of completing these small steps to get me past the finish line.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
I intentionally focus on my strengths as an artist. As a brand new artist, I had a very open mind to any and all tips from YouTube videos and friends. All of these tips and suggestions were great for giving me ideas. The problem came when I tried to do too many of them, which led to a sense of lost identity as an artist and brand. For example, I saw other artists’ making greeting cards and thought “I can do that!”. But just because you CAN do something doesn’t mean you SHOULD. In the end, I decided to abandon my idea of launching a greeting card line and instead focus on being a fine artist. Figuring out where my focus is and sticking with that lane has given me greater confidence and a clearer brand. I no longer wonder who I am as an artist and what I should be doing, and my customers know what to expect from me. However, focusing on my strengths doesn’t prohibit me from trying out new ideas – I hope I never stop experimenting! Focusing on my strengths just means I evaluate those new ideas and confidently move forward with yes – this is something I want to focus on or not.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FlowerGirlPainting
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flowergirlpainting
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flowergirlpaintings
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-roberts-09194127
Image Credits
Sarah Roberts
