Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah J. Schwartz
Hi Sarah J., it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have always loved creating and drawing since I was a little girl. My mom would have a hard time putting me to bed some nights! I went on to Cornell University to study architecture (a more ‘practical’ career than being a ‘starving artist’ as my parents always said) and practiced architectural design in New York City for about 1 year before switching to a career in product design.
I lived in NYC for the next 8 years, working at various startups, while visiting my painting practice on and off.
Then the pandemic hit, and in that solitude, I returned to my art, like a moth to a flame, and I haven’t stopped since. I moved out to LA in 2020 and my art practice has been steadily flourishing ever since.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I know I can be my own worst critic. And with that, comes bouts of anxiety and depression. The anxiety keeps me from sleeping, and the depression can keep me from getting out of bed. These waves can make it hard for me to continue my art practice some days. But I know that it’s all part of what makes me human, and it makes me appreciate the days I can flourish and find my flow state that much more.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work often evokes conversations of contrasts: light and dark, textured and smooth, scattered and calm, colorful and neutral, contemporary and vintage. And my practice itself takes me to a calm and centered headspace where I not only escape the chaotic world around us but also free myself of most concerns about the final outcome of my work. The result? A fluid flow state, losing myself in time and paint.
I find joy in navigating constraints by breaking “rules” with intentional choices and unexpected moments (who says art has to stay inside the frame?). I scour for atypical surfaces like worn skateboards, wooden trays, and thriftable frames—breathing new life into the discarded.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Catching fireflies in the backyard with my brothers, Eric and Sam.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sarahjschwartz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjaclynschwartz
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahjschwartz/
Image Credits
Michael Harley Photography
