Sara, the maker behind Homebody is as sweet as she is nice. With a Alberta College of Art +Design background she makes the most wonderful and unique assemblage paintings with multiple decor items. There’s something so soothy and enchanting that all of her work has. Can you put your finger on it?
Sara – HOMEBODY
WHAT DO YOU MAKE/SELL? TELL US ABOUT YO’ SELF.
Right now I am currently working on my collection homebody; a line of work that includes small scale assemblage paintings and other home decor items centered around the motif of houses. I guess I would categorize myself as a painter. However I can never choose just one medium. A mixture of paint, photo transfers, salvaged wood, found hardware, oil pastel and graphite reinvents my work and keeps it interesting both in progression and final outlook.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR BUSINESS?
I’ve been making work since I graduated from college in 2011 but I officially started selling under my brand homebody this past November 2015.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
When I was attending the Alberta College of Art +Design, I did a lot of work outside the studio photographing and collecting things from abandoned structures. I had a multitude of beautiful windows, doors, bits of weathered wood, naturally patinaed metal and hardware that towered in both my studio and my parents’ basement. One day I was cleaning and I randomly placed a rusty latch on top of one of my unfinished paintings and homebody kind of snowballed from there.
WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOUR WORK?
The conversations/relationships between structure and landscape, presence, memory, old family photos, song lyrics; Miranda Lambert, Loretta Lynn, those pump one another up talks between friends and other dreamers, drives from point A to point B.. and a prairie sunset doesn’t hurt the creative juices one bit either.
WHAT DO YOU DREAM FOR YOUR BUSINESS IN THE FUTURE?
I’d love to give more time to my work. Also as I build my brand homebody I look forward to a range of collaborations with not just creative individuals but other types of entrepreneurs.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM AND WHY?
I am really loving Instagram. I just joined this past September and I’ve been addicted since. I’m always the last of my friends to get with the times {be it Facebook, a smart phone; their smiling to themselves as they read this..} but eventually I give in and become fully addicted. Instagram is not exempt from this. I find it to be such an amazing community of like minded individuals. Since starting my account I’ve connected with other incredible artists that I would otherwise not have known about. It’s also inspiring to witness people being able to create the life/job they want in this technological age.
HOW DO YOU PICK YOURSELF UP WHEN THINGS GO WRONG?
I’m really close with my parents and a talk with them can help almost anything. They’re both so positive and have always just let me be myself. I have a tremendous respect for my dad’s business sense and he recently said the best thing to me, “You just got to keep trying. Keep going with plan A, if you have a plan B, you’re screwed.” Also I like to sweat out stress in my weekly spin class and when things are really down, I just get back to it in the studio. Working is always better than worrying.
WHAT’S ONE THING NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT YOU? GIVE US AN INTERESTING FACT!
Despite my outgoing personality I really need my down time. I’m a loner at heart. I have a small circle of friends who I love spending time with and care deeply for, but at the same time I love travelling solo, quietly reading blogs about artists and nutrition, and working in my studio alone with my thoughts. I’ve also been in a country music video! {I guess that was a couple of facts.}
IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPER POWER WHAT WOULD IT BE?
To make a cup of tea in my fancy flower mug that forever stays hot and deflects sawdust. Oh and to control time; you know make a quiet day in the studio or a trip to visit my hometown last just a little bit longer. {That’s more than one again-sorry.}
WHAT ARE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES? (Please include links)
Instagram: @saragirletzart
Facebook: www.facebook.com/saragirletzart
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOUR STUFF?
Little Deer Market Springtime Shopping Affair , Innisfail {May14th}
I am also looking forward to launching an Etsy shop in the coming months!