Today we’d like to introduce you to Sabrina Armitage.
Hi Sabrina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
From an early age living in New Orleans, I had a passion for sketching items found in daily life. Drawing was a way to quietly and deeply connect with the world around me and take notice of the curves, imperfections, shades of light cast and transform the world into a more interesting place while growing up. After studying a year of Architecture in college, my curiosity shifted from understanding structural frameworks to exploring the framework of the human psyche. I graduated with a degree in Psychology and a Master of Social Work and soon moved to the South Bay working as a Clinical Social Worker in greater Los Angeles.
After starting a family, my desire for creativity re-emerged through jewelry design which then led me to study Fine Art at Otis College of Art and Design. My father-in-law had introduced me to encaustic painting (pigmented beeswax and resin), and by chance, Otis offered their first encaustic class while I was there. I fell in love with the medium, and by 2012, I was fully immersed in the world of encaustics, taking workshops and learning everything I could about this ancient process. I began exhibiting and selling about a decade ago, and I’ve been a Collective member of Indivisible Arts in Hermosa Beach for close to 8 years, participating in small and large group shows. Currently, I also work with designers and private clients creating commissioned pieces. My next large show is the LA Art Show.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I am very grateful to be able to be an artist. Although it can be a very solitary act, I have been fortunate to be a part of a Collective. And thanks to so many online resources and the generosity of many enthusiastic artists/teachers, it feels like the opportunities for community and learning abound. It is challenging to be self-employed, and as most artists would agree, the business end of marketing yourself can feel uncomfortable. But remembering that we as artists have the chance to do what we love from an authentic place definitely melts that discomfort.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
My encaustic artwork is abstract, dimensional, and textural. The physicality of working with beeswax and resin, using torches, scrapers, and carving tools, creates an intimate dialogue between myself and the art pieces. More recently, my art practice has focused on a balanced integration of opposites… creating stillness through movement/vibration, using linear components to create textural rawness, and evoking a sense of fragility and impermanence while remaining grounded. My latest work merges Japanese paper, fire, and beeswax as an exploration of the complementary nature of structure and spontaneity using mindful repetition and universal forms to promote a peaceful experience.
Looking back now, I see how drawing, architecture, jewelry design, and psychology all became interconnected as sources for my expression through encaustic painting. The tactile nature of the medium allows me to approach it like an excavation, slowly building up and stripping down the wax layers, which seems like a parallel of the unfolding of human stories and imperfections. As I move around and through each piece, slowly constructing it, the sense of being a traveler leaving footprints in search of home always comes to mind.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The online marketplace for art seems to have grown exponentially, including sales through social media and online exhibits. While this is a great potential resource which expands the audience, I love seeing and participating in live exhibitions. There’s really nothing like seeing art in person, and in particular, as my artwork has a sculptural feel, I really enjoy clients being able to engage with it from all perspectives. I also feel more and more alternative spaces are available to show art, including pop-up shows, which, of course, increases the exhibiting opportunities for artists, as well as exposing a much more diverse audience to the arts. It’s a win-win.
Contact Info:
- Website: SabrinaArmitage.com
- Instagram: @sabrinaarmitageart
Image Credits
Sabrina Armitage
Gene Yano
