Meet Sarah Blackwell | Artist

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

Hi Sarah, why did you pursue a creative career?
I have this sort-of craving in the back of my mind to create or to draw and I’ve been doing just those things for as long as I can remember. I feel the most at peace with myself and how I fit into this world when I’m drawing and bringing ideas to life. It feels like this path was chosen for me before I was even conceived. There was a time I had tried to convince myself otherwise, I tried to stop, tried to pursue other careers but nothing ever sticks in the way that drawing does. It’s almost instinctual for me. Like there’s some itch in the back of my brain that isn’t satisfied unless I’m creating something. It could even be painting or making pottery, but my hunger is simply not satisfied with the outcome of any other work. For a while, I had a really tough time finding my purpose and finding happiness because I allowed myself to be convinced by others that pursuing a career as an artist was nothing more than a pipe dream. I even went to college for a few years just trying to find fulfillment in other work, but I couldn’t fool myself and I couldn’t fool others either. The day I ultimately discovered that I was meant to pursue this destiny as an artist was when one of my mentors approached me and said “It would be such a shame to see you choose any other career path that doesn’t utilize your creativity and skill.” that was when it all clicked, this passion I have for drawing and creating is so much more than just a silly hobby. I now know that creating art, no matter what it be, is my inescapable fate. I’ve begun to pursue this path simply because it is unquestionably the reason I am here and feel as though I would be doing a huge disservice to the universe to ignore this incredible passion that I’ve been given.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a self-taught commission-based artist currently working in Fort Collins, Colorado. I’m so excited to be a part of the amazing community of artists and creatives here in Fort Collins. I primarily work with pen and ink to create custom designs and prints for businesses and individuals. I also specialize in charcoal portraits and still life drawings. In my free time I am most often experimenting with different mediums such as watercolor, acrylic, and multimedia paintings. I like to say that it was my community that started this career for me because it had never been my intention to make money from my work, nor did I ever think it could be possible. I started the Instagram page @TheArtGazette simply to document my journey of development as an artist. Merely a digital portfolio. Eventually, people started reaching out to me because they were interested in purchasing some of my work, and not long after that, I was opening my page for commission. Now I sell everything from prints to posters and especially custom pieces. In my professional career, my greatest aspiration is to continuously learn and improve upon my skill. I find it so fulfilling to work in an industry with such a tremendous amount of opportunity to evolve. It is such an incredible feeling to work for people who love my work just as much as I do. Although I’ve already come such a long way, I know the journey of development lasts a lifetime and I am beyond excited to see where this path takes me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d have to start them off with a cup of the best coffee in town from Beantrees. A tour of downtown Fort Collins is an absolute must. On our walk, I’d take them past all the incredible murals and art installations throughout town to work up their hunger before grabbing the best breakfast sandwich they’ll ever have from the Jersey Cowboy food cart. We’d take a drive around Horsetooth reservoir and Roosevelt state park for some great views while hitting up the best hikes along the way. We would have to spend some time hanging out at the exchange, maybe grab a quick drink at CopperMuse Distillery before heading down to the Aggie to see some great live music.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost I’d like to give my greatest gratitude to Liam Hye who is not only an incredible chef and owner of the best food cart in Fort Collins but who has also been my biggest supporter. thank you for introducing me to so many new opportunities, I will forever be grateful. I’d also like to give a huge thank you to the amazing people over at Beantrees Coffee for creating such a positive environment and providing me with the amazing opportunity to grow and learn alongside an astonishing team of hard-working and creative people. Especially to Ray English, Kendra Novotny, and Chevy Saba who in themselves are fantastic artists and who have become great friends, providing me with endless amounts of motivation and encouragement. You all are the reason I have the confidence and the strength to continue pushing myself further. I am so lucky to have met you all and endlessly fortunate to have such a phenomenal support group.

Instagram: @TheArtGazette