Meet Sarah Magaña | Freelance Artist

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

Hi Sarah, what matters most to you?
One of the greatest challenges when working as a freelance artist is the freedom that this type of work offers. Having control over your own schedule, establishing your own rules, and being your own boss comes with significant advantages; however, it also exposes us to the risk of lacking discipline in our projects. Organization, cleanliness, and punctuality are essential factors for maintaining discipline in both our work and our careers. I believe that success is largely dependent on discipline.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I believe that an artist’s life is always filled with change, constant learning, moments of trial and error, new ways of seeing life, and new skills to absorb. In my case, my journey through art has been full of knowledge and new forms of artistic expression; however, I am still in the process of experimentation and searching for my own style, my own art, and my own audience.

Sculpture helps me release all the accumulated stress; it is my therapy and the moment when my creativity shines without any obstacles. What I enjoy the most is representing death through one of the most iconic symbols of Mexican culture, the Catrina. On the other hand, painting remains a complete challenge for me, despite being the medium where my skills and techniques are most developed. It demands so much from me, and many times I end up frustrated. I continue in the search to show what I want to teach the world. I greatly enjoy realistic portraiture; I have always loved how expressive the human being can be and how complicated it can become, but it is still not enough for me. Even so, I am proud to have come this far.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would definitely plan a very diverse food tour: from a 50’s-style ice cream shop to the best churros in the city, I would take them to the best cafés and bakeries for breakfast, and we’d have the best tacos at 2 in the morning. The food would depend on the cravings of the moment, but they would definitely have to try quintessential Mexican dishes (in case they’re from abroad). I would plan a visit to “Jardines de México,” one of the largest botanical gardens in the country with a romantic history behind its creation. Museums and more museums! Mexico is one of the first countries in the world to have an immense number of museums, and at least on the list would be the National Museum of Art, the Soumaya Museum, Frida Kahlo Museum, Memory and Tolerance Museum, and the Palace of Fine Arts. We would take a ride on the cable car, use the city metro, and have fun at the Papalote Children’s Museum, which focuses on interactive exhibits on science, technology, and art.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I tried to enter the National Academy of Fine Arts in Mexico to study painting when I was 20 years old, but I was rejected the first time, and without a doubt, it was the best thing that could have happened to me. After not being accepted, I looked for an independent school that would help me create a new portfolio and apply once again for the Academy of Fine Arts, and it was then that I discovered ARTINSIDE, Animation and Fine Arts Academy. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to this institution and all of its educators for always welcoming their students in the most cordial manner, for their dedication and outstanding mentorship, for their genuine care, professionalism, and for making their school a sanctuary for each of us.

I would also like to extend my deepest gratitude to the most important people in my life. To my mother, for always providing me with the best tools to pursue my dreams, for never doubting me, for all her support in every decision I make, and for always being there. To my two sisters, for the support they give me and for always being my number one fans. Lastly, I want to thank myself for always keeping my goals clear and never backing down, always striving for self-improvement.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samaor_art/