Life & Work with Sarah Starling

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Starling.

Hi Sarah, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up just outside of Chicago and have loved art since I could pick up a pencil. I think I was always drawn to the colors and movement in some of the well-known pieces from the masters. My Grandpa was an artist and would always send me hand-painted watercolor postcards on his travels. I have fond memories of sitting at his kitchen table, opening up a nature book, and picking out what animal we would draw or paint that day.

I have a Bachelor’s degree in both Marketing and Art with an emphasis in painting. I’ve dabbled in all sorts of mediums- oil, acrylics, pencil, charcoal- before settling into a medium called encaustic (beeswax). I felt reinvigorated after discovering this. The process of using heat and fire to create art is magical. I have been working with this medium primarily for the past 6 years, practicing and playing and documenting my processes on social media. This really started to take off in 2019. What first started as a hobby has grown into a budding business, with collectors all over the state and country.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It certainly has not been smooth! I actually came very close to giving art up entirely in 2020. I worked in the corporate world at that time, and our team was extremely short-staffed. It was maybe three of us, I think carrying the workload of seven people. The insane workload combined with the world shutting down just made my mental health take a tumble. I am sure many people can relate! It took me almost 18 months to get the courage to pick up a paintbrush again. Since then, art has been exploding out of me. Now, it’s more of the internal battle and getting over rejection. I am challenging myself to get at least five rejections per month. This way, I know I am taking the opportunities I need to take to get into that gallery or the next art show. Rejection doesn’t mean I’m a bad artist, but it does motivate to become even better.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My primary medium is encaustic- beeswax and damar resin, which is from tree sap. I started working with this medium about 7 years ago after taking a class in Chicago, then became obsessed with it after moving to Colorado in 2016. The medium itself is very fluid; you lay the melted wax down in layers and fuse it all together with heat (my choice is a torch). It’s just FUN. My current body of work is primarily abstracted landscapes. Most are from my head- I lay down paint until something forms and don’t stop until I’m satisfied. The depth and texture you can create with wax is truly unbelievable. Recently I’ve been working from images I’ve taken during trips which has been a new challenge. Working from your head allows you a bit more freedom and room for mistakes, but working from images is almost more difficult. I have to remind myself that perfection is not what I’m after, it’s the process and capturing the essence of a place. This year, I did a series of pieces inspired by a drive to Santa Fe last fall. One of the pieces was accepted into a juried show, which I was not expecting! It’s definitely a highlight this year, and I’m so proud to be showing with so many other talented artists.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I think luck has played a minimal role in my life. I think it’s been mostly about working hard, following through, and putting yourself out there. I do feel lucky with the opportunities that have come up this year, but would I have those opportunities had I not put in the work before? Who knows? I had a teacher in high school that always said “Good luck!” before a test, quickly followed by a “You don’t need luck, you have skill.” Cheesy, sure, but still resonating with me today.

Pricing:

• $60 (4″x4″) and up

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sarahstarlingart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahstarlingart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahStarlingArt