Meet Artist Sarah DeYoung of Sarcreate
Picking up a paintbrush early in life, venturing through art school and becoming a fully fledged artist - we've been excited to chat with Sarah DeYoung of Sarcreate to learn a little more about her creative journey, what the future holds and some pro tips to getting your art career started in our latest Her Waves, Her Stories artist interview.
ABOUT ME
Ever since I could hold a crayon, I’ve been exposed to the arts. I credit my mother for constantly providing art enrichment activities around the house and my grandmother for enrolling me in summer art programs. In art college, my medium of focus was painting, though I currently work primarily as a digital illustrator and designer. I earned my degree in Art Education and have always loved enriching the lives of youth and adults through art. I have roots planted in Michigan, Hawai’i, and Alaska.
GROWING CHANGES
All throughout primary and secondary school, I thrived as a young artist. Going to art school took a lot of fun out of the creative process, tackling strict deadlines and uninspiring projects. Three years post-grad, I am finding inspiration all around me. I’ve lived all over the United States, and my most current inspirations come from the surf life and organic elements of Hawai’i.
SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THE WIN
Social media has helped grow a community around myself and my art. On the daily, I am able to meet and collaborate with artists all over the world, sharing ideas and encouragement. I encourage everyone to connect with those in and out of your creative niche. I’ve curated an amazing network of friends on and offline. It’s amazing to collaborate with people in any way you can. Recently, I gave a friend some free art prints in exchange for some product shots.
BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT
Gaining my first wholesale account was such a victory for me. It’s awesome when someone believes in you, your work, and the ability to sell your product.
WORK-LIFE BALANCE
Don’t quit your day job until you’re ready. You can still be successful while working another job. Having an alternate income to rely on while creating art takes the pressure off of making sales, and you’re able to focus on creating for you!
Do one thing every day that makes you happy. Every day I try to take a break (or multiple) to do something that fuels me. This could be a quick surf, snowboard sesh, or a walk with my dog, depending on where I’m living.
PRO-TIP
MAKE MISTAKES! TRY IT OUT Invest in yourself and take the risk. Printing a large number of prints, stickers, or any product is a big deal, but it’s a necessary step. Give it a go, and if it doesn’t work out, pivot! Turn around, change your approach and learn from your mistakes. Honestly, I don’t look at any of my (many) failures as a mistake. They’re all beautiful life lessons I’ve had the privilege of learning, whether it be a hard or easy lesson.
Try anything you can. Throughout my art journey, I’ve been into painting, ceramics, photography, to name a few mediums. If I didn’t try all of these new techniques, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Two years ago, when I started working digitally, I didn’t know I’d end up here, commissioning works of art for individuals and designing for companies. Aesthetically, my art two years ago is drastically different but still a part of who I am as a creative.
SUPPORT SARAH'S CREATIVE JOURNEY
If you like her work, you can find more at her website www.sarcreate.co, or in her Instagram feed @sarcreate
