Meet Sabrina Stiles | artist

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

Hi Sabrina, how do you think about risk?
You won’t get anywhere if you don’t take risks as an artist. I’ve learned that if the work pleases me it will probably please others. As a painter the possibilities are endless and that suits me. I love to play and experiment. That’s not to say I don’t adhere to tried and true principles of my craft but once those have been dealt with it’s time to push the envelope. With so many brilliant artists out there, it’s important to find your own voice if you want to get any sort of recognition. Of course I’d continue to follow this path whether I got any recognition or not.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a pastel artist. Pastels are pure pigment and work well with all other mediums which is one of the reasons they appeal to me. There are just so many options for creative exploration. I paint a wide variety of subjects and styles, from abstracted landscape to plein air landscape and buildings. I would say my recent cow paintings are perhaps the most popular. For me it’s finding a balance between making a beautiful painting and telling a story. Being an artist takes perseverance, tenacity. With each rejection and failed painting, you’ve got to get up, dust yourself off, and move on. I think of them as gifts or stepping stones that push me to the next level. I ‘ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to study with many nationally recognized artists via workshops and at the Art Students League of Denver. Of course there’s so much available on the internet now you don’t really need to leave your studio to get world class instruction. I work hard at my craft and am very thankful to all of those who have encouraged me along the way. My goal as an artist is to grow, to get better at my craft. That takes a lifetime, lots of failures, and courage.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am 45 minutes from Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National park so those are always at the top of the list. Beyond that, downtown Longmont, CO is a fun place to check out with lots of restaurants, distilleries, breweries and a great cidery within a block of my home. There’s a tubing park nearby that’s a fun place to hang out in summer. There are also tons of trails and parks in the area to go for walks and check out the wildlife.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The pastel society of Colorado was a great jumping off point for me. The members were very supportive and helpful early in my artistic venture.

Website: https://sabrinastiles.fineartstudioonline.com

Instagram: sabrinastilesart

Facebook: Sabrina Stiles Fine Art

Image Credits
Julie O’brien