Meet Sophia Rae Barnes | Multimedia Artist & Singer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sophia Rae Barnes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sophia Rae, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I’m definitely an impulsive person who is not afraid to take risks every once in a while. When it comes to my art, I think starting with a blank canvas can be intimidating, so being able to be courageous and taking risks is very important in my practice! Even when taking a risk doesn’t work out, there is always something to be learned from direct experience. Growing up as an anxious person, it has taken me a lot of time and experience to feel comfortable expressing myself the way I do now, and I’m so grateful for that and that my art could be such an amazing catalyst for my own healing.

What should our readers know about your business?
One thing you should know about my brand is that this is truly only the beginning. I have an overflow of creative ideas that never seems to end, and my notes app is full. I love learning new creative mediums and consistently improving my brand as an artist and person.

The journey to becoming a running art business has been riddled with challenges, but I have also learned a lot from my experience as a working artist in Denver. In-person art shows, networking, and building my own website to sell prints have been a super fun experience, and I would love to continue to expand and create more series. Currently, I am working on some more watercolor and larger installation collage and painting pieces in the Denver area, so make sure to follow me to stay up-to-date with everything I’m working on and up to! @backtolumeria on Instagram

I am also incredibly grateful that I have had the chance to expand my creative side to fashion and music this year! I created a super fun summer collection through @groovyjupiterfashion on Instagram, and look forward to continuing to create more patterns and designs for a future fall collection. I was also able to release an EP that I have been working on lyrically for years, Learning To Cry On My Own on Soundcloud. It has been great to expand and continue learning and creating this year!

There have definitely been challenges, mainly figuring out what works best in terms of marketing, advertising, and funding. I’ve found it’s been important to keep several sources of income to be able to stay afloat and be able to expand! I’ve definitely learned how to budget a lot better and make sure that I am making smart choices with how I spend my time.

My brand is much more than just artistry, it is me as a person and what I want to contribute to the world. I want to show others the healing power of art and music, and be able to continue learning and creating for the rest of my life! As someone who also is very influenced by spirituality and my own psychic gifts, I would also love to expand one day in that direction as well. My next steps look very exciting! Grad school, creating more art, and continuing to be active in the Denver community are all important next steps in my journey, and I can’t wait to see what’s to come for me!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I have lived in the Denver area for years, so you’re definitely asking the right person. And I will say, it definitely depends on the season and what type of activities you are interested in because Denver has a lot to offer. Here’s what I would plan for a week-long trip this summer:

Sunday – Start the day with breakfast from one of the fun restaurants on Colfax. Preferably Fox Run Cafe. Check out the local farmer’s market (several good options here, but Pearl street is my favorite!) Go for a mountain drive through Sedalia and end the day eating dinner at Morrison Inn complete with margaritas and queso.

Monday – Walk around Broadway and show them all my favorite boutiques and cafes! I love Mutiny Cafe to find rare books, and there are several boutiques and vintage shops in that area that I love! We could grab food at one of the delicious Thai restaurants, and then head over to the Denver Botanic Gardens to view all of the beautiful flowers.

Tuesday – Grab a Santiago’s breakfast burrito and eat in Cheesman Park! My favorite park and breakfast in Denver absolutely. Check out any plant sales at City Floral, and grab some candles from Herbs & Arts on Colfax. Get an incredibly affordable and delicious greek salad from GyroZ, and then relax for the rest of the day.

Wednesday – Go into the mountains and go camping! My current favorite area to camp is in Gunnison National Forest (Ute Territory) near the river! Set up camp and make delicious camp food.

Thursday – Go on a hike, and visit a local hot spring, preferably Mt. Princeton where you can sit right in the river to cool off. Grab food in Salida and check out my Aunt Brenda’s thrift store!

Friday – Visit my grandparents in Buena Vista, and paint with my professional artist grandfather Joe Lothamer! Check out the gallery he works at, and get something to eat in town at a local diner.

Saturday – Return home from camping and mountain trips, rest, eat street tacos at Taco Wagon, and get ready for a concert at a local venue. My favorite smallish venues are The Bluebird and Red Rocks, but if they’re sold out Blackbox usually has something good. REST.

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?
Throughout my life, I have had many inspirational people who encouraged me to express myself artistically. Most importantly, my younger self would be so impressed with everything I have created thus far. I always loved to create art, stories, music, and fashion as a kid, and I’m so happy I’ve been able to pursue so many creative avenues as an adult.

Another important part of my journey as an artist was discovering the healing aspects of creation and art. For me, creating different forms of art is incredibly therapeutic. I also have experienced the healing of others through art during my time as an intern for Safehouse Denver, so shout out to them! I was in charge of the creative curriculum for the kids’ group for several months, and I was amazed at the talent and healing I saw firsthand in the kids who had been through so much. It was definitely a huge inspiration for me to continue my own practice and transmute some of my own hard emotions through art as well.

Currently, in my journey, I run Collage Club at a local organization in Denver called RedLine. It’s an amazing organization that provides art resources and events in the Denver community. I’ve been a volunteer for several years, and have just started to create a larger sense of community in the art world of Denver through Collage Club on Saturdays. Collage is an approachable art form that I love, and I’m so happy to get to share that love with others in Denver and at RedLine.

Website: backtolumeria.com

Instagram: @backtolumeria

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiaraebarnes/

Twitter: @backtolumeria

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soph444/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKgRxqwrtZHTZB8V4nFYrdg

Other: @groovyjupiterfashion on instagram https://groovyjupiter.com https://www.facebook.com/backtolumeria https://www.facebook.com/groovyjupiterfashion https://twitter.com/SophiaRae1111 https://twitter.com/groovy_jupiter https://soundcloud.com/sophiarae777

Image Credits
Printful auto-generated template photos from my designs (Shirt and hoodie) Yoycol auto-generated template photos from my designs and pattern-maker (Dress)