When you were a child, what made you the happiest?
I was very much a tomboy, so exploring outside until the sunset were always the best days for me. I grew up in Portland, Oregon - the summers were magical.
What inspired you to become an artist?
While in business school I took a photography class and just fell in love with the technical and creative aspects. I could spend hours (sometimes 9 hours at a time) printing in the darkroom. Then I took non-silver photography and never looked back. This class opened up my eyes to non-traditional processes that helped reveal a whole new approach to my art.
Is there a roadblock you had to overcome to get where you are today? How did you do it?
Not necessarily a roadblock but a hurdle for sure…was deciding to leave a well paying (and creative) job to do my art full time. It was frightening and challenging but unbelievably rewarding in many ways. I am so thankful I took the chance on myself.
Tell us your creative process. Is creative inspiration something you wait for, or something you work at daily?
The creative process starts by showing up to the studio everyday and working on anything where creativity is flowing. This could be editing photographs or painting backgrounds – it’s like a warm up. Inspiration spills out creatively from just being in the studio, surrounded by my art, books and good music. Also important is to step away from the studio so you can recharge. Coming back to engage the work with new and fresh ideas is really great. And of course one of the most important and wonderful ways to inspire is to travel.
What inspired the “Isn’t It All About Me” series? Tell us more about this work and what it means to you.
This work actually started out as a self-portrait painting. Most artists will explore this idea at some point in their career. I was not a figurative painter but wanted the challenge, so I began a very stylized interpretation. I kept working and working on this piece with no satisfaction in the results. So one night in the studio I handmade a stencil of “me, me, me’s” and started painting them all over the canvas to break the spirit of the piece. I loved the vibe with the text elements, thus creating the “Isn’t It all About Me” series. It was in a way a very personal self portrait but taking it back to my abstract painting roots. I loved the blend of the two.
What does choosing yourself mean to you?
It means trying to understand yourself and your vision while allowing “you” to come through.
How do you practice self love and care on a daily/weekly basis?
Yoga (usually with my husband) every morning to clear out the mind and stretch out the body, which totally energizes the day. If I don’t make it to yoga, a long bike ride on the beach is a must. Wind in your face is spiritually healing…enough said!
What do you love most about yourself?
When I have the confidence to create. It is not constantly there, so when it surfaces it is a powerful thing.
What is your message for our tribe?
Challenge yourself - but have the fearlessness to accept the outcome. And don’t take everything too seriously.
Finish these sentences:
Women should: feel empowered.
Women can: be loved.
Women will: conquer their dreams.
I am: what I am. (Popeye !)
Learn more about Sara Abbott and her artwork by visiting www.saraabbott.com