Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Larsen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Sarah , thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.
I defy creativity blocks by understanding that believing in them is the essence of their existence. Motivation comes from the act of doing, and so long as I am expressing in some way, eventually that’ll lead me to wherever it is I’m going. Less focus is placed on the destination. More focus is placed on being in the present moment, and allowing myself to feel what I’m feeling. My creative process is part intuitively guided met with my letting go of control. Whatever I create unfolds as it is meant to, and I trust in it while I imbue my work with love. So long as I do, no creative blocks exist.
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?
My name is Sarah Larsen and I’m an artist from Nebraska, now creating in Baltimore, Maryland. I made the big move two years ago, and have enjoyed having the opportunity to share love from the Heartland on the East Coast! My story originates in loss. Upon grieving the deaths of my parents, I engrossed myself in art to help heal my aching art. Before that, I’d daydream daily about creating art but being a private practice owner and mother of 2, time never was on my side.
Loss changed everything. Upon rediscovering my passion, I fell back in love with sides of me I’d been so long detached from as life got in between myself and art over the years. I set out on a quest: I wanted to share love with others and I knew exactly how to. The answer was, and has always been, through art.
What began as a means to heal eventually gained traction. From rural Nebraska, I was able to create an art career leading to multiple art gallery exhibitions in Denver, Omaha, Baltimore, NYC, Dallas, Martha’s Vineyard and more. I became published nationally and internationally, and knew a move was upcoming soon. From there, my work was selected for art fairs and I won an award during my debut at Miami Art Basel 2022.
My work has since branched into advertising and was selected to exhibit for the 2023 MvVO AD ART Show/Clio Awards. In 2024, in a collaboration with Patrick Jones Gallery and Artsy, I had the honor to exhibit in Artsy’s Winter “Foundations” show. My work debuted in Chicago this year, and I’ve a group exhibition upcoming in California which will be my first time there, too. I’ve also an adult coloring book combined with musings that is set to publish soon.
At the end of the day, all I want to do is love you. I feel emotions so deeply, my art is expressive with movement, variable sizes, and vibrant colors. I am also limited with my range of motion in my right hand due to a large tumor. A lot of what I create isn’t controlled because of my ailment. Nevertheless, the feeling I lead with most is love. And each piece is created with love with the intention to love you— today, tomorrow, yesterday, my work serves as a reminder that you are loved.
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?
You must believe in yourself and have the ability to envision what it is you’re pursuing. Because if you can’t? Then, you’ve already created and accepted that limitation.
You must be brave enough to pursue it. That means you mustn’t fear change. You cannot let fear take the wheel of your life to drive you. Fear doesn’t lead you anywhere but in circles.
You must understand that nothing is personal. Absolutely nobody thinks about you more than you do! So when you put your heart and soul out there by sharing your art and it gets rejected, that does not mean that *you* are rejected; nor, does that mean anything about the quality of your work. Understand that being rejected just means that you aren’t included. Whatever isn’t meant for you means something up ahead is better (timing/more aligned) for you. This is that trust thing I was talking about a little while back. You have to trust in the process and you also have to trust in yourself, too.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was they loved and accepted me for me. That said, they let me make my own mistakes and supported me through them rather than be critical. Whatever I wanted to do, they believed I could and never doubted. I very much lead by those same principles with my own children. I have spent many hours by my parents’ gravesides seeking that love and support I’m no longer able to get in person. But, I still do. I still see their smiles. I still hear their laughs. And, when times are challenging, I hear their voices with supportive things they used to say and would still if they were here.
That is the thing about love— it’s infinite. We still feel that love long after their photographs start to fade. And, if we can still feel loved through photos, videos and sentimental belongings then we can also feel loved through art.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intuitiveartbysarah?igsh=MzZnbmw0emJ1ajJu&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://www.artsy.net/artist/sarah-larsen
Image Credits
Image 5: Miami Art Basel; Booth #1001 Spectum Miami “Best Booth Design” Award 2022
Image 7 & 8: Ethan & Associates
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
