Meet Sarah Laird: Artist / Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Laird and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, what inspires you?
I am inspired by many things… music, colors, dreams and nature are a few. However, I am most inspired by relationships. Whether those relationships are with people, nature, or God, they have a heavy influence on my work. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My journey as an artist started young. I distinctly remember the first sketchbook I ever received and the joy I found in filling it with my creations. I only took one “official” art class in high school but consistently filled up sketchbooks on my own time. By the time I graduated high school I completed over 20 sketchbooks. This passion for creation drove me to pursue and achieve a BFA in Studio Art: Drawing & Painting from the University of North Texas. There I learned to push my creative mind and experiment with abstract expressionism. What I strive for in my work is the awakening of self reflection. When people see a piece that strikes them, they interpret it based on what they know and believe to be true. Truth differs for each individual and since everyone has lived a different life, people refer to their own past to make sense of what’s in front of them. My art is designed to draw out memories and emotions from a person’s past based on what speaks to them through my work. By implementing abstraction with techniques of exclusion, color chemistry, and figure metamorphosis, I invite the viewer to discover a piece of themselves within the painting. I would like to say that making art is my full time job, but it is not. I do however curate my own art shows and have held a few in the Bishop Arts District as well as Downtown Plano. My goal for the exhibitions is to bring people together in community and discussion. If I’ve learned anything in my journey as an artist, it’s that art is an expression of the human experience. No matter what you make it’s a reflection of who you are as a person and your purpose here on earth. It’s okay to change and make mistakes because sometimes the process is more important than the finished work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a huge coffee nerd. If any of my friends visit I have to take them to at least one of two of my favorite coffee shops (Dunn Brothers Coffee, 1418 Coffee House and Sip & Stir are a few). There are literally so many places to eat and hang out in Dallas, however one of my favorites is Ichigoh Ramen Lounge in Deep Ellum.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am all about seeing other people engage in their creative endeavors. Those who have encouraged me on my own journey as an artist are, my good friend and fellow alumni Nicki Newell, my cinematographer husband Bradley Laird, my parents who continue to encourage me and of course many more.

Website: http://javainkstudios.com/painting
Instagram: Javainkstudios

Image Credits
N/A