Hi, I’m Sarah. I am an American living in Holland and am married to Rende, a cabinetmaker and photographer. With me in the photo, is Lucie (Lucida Bright), our much adored purebred fox terrier.
I started this blog in 2008 to share my journey as an artist searching for more engaged ways to work with my creativity.
In my 40 years of professional life as an artist I’ve worked as a graphic designer, calligrapher, book designer, fine artist, and period instrument decorator. Depending on the commissions that come on my path I still do all these things. Plus I’ve always been active as a teacher of calligraphy, art and creative process.
I guess the thing that has shaped my journey most recently has been the last 15 years spent as a healthcare artist here in Holland. From that experience I wrote ‘Chocolate Rain’ which was published in England last year.
I recently completed a dream commission- decorating a period instrument (Ruckers harpsichord) songboard made by Matthias Griewisch.
I’ve been invited by St Cecilia’s Museum of old instruments to give a workshop and lecture in period instrument decoration in Edinburgh, Scotland this summer.
Another completed collaboration is with artist friend Alicia Devine designing and acting in an internet course on Creative approaches to communication in dementia for caregivers and social workers. The CD should be available to carers in Inverclyde soon, through David Ramsay at the Inverclyde Council.
Right now my main focus is working on my oil paintings. I share my discoveries and practical working methods on this journey in this blog in the category Paintings.
One last thought; I have always known that for me, ‘art is a gift, not a commodity’ (Lewis Hyde, ‘The Gift’). While we as artists need to survive, a central question in my creative life is how to keep the gift element alive in my work and life. And also, more recently, how to counteract the widespread conviction that unless sold as a product, art has no intrinsic worth. I am currently writing articles, and blogs, on this subject which are intended to grow into a book.
My site is ArtWell, it is slightly out of synch with my current interests so will soon go through a complete overhaul.
You won’t find me on Facebook, Linked in , or Twitter because I’m not interested in the kind of popularity contests these media inevitably come down to. And I’d rather be in my studio or garden.
I probably miss out on some sales and exposure, but this stance feels true for me.
Still, any extra help is always appreciated, friends often do Twitter favorite posts of mine or share them on Facebook. Fine with me.
Thanks for visiting. I really enjoy meeting people through my blog, you all enrich my life.
July 31, 2008 at 6:26 am
What a wonderful life. : )
Holland! I can never get away because of my dog rescue/sanctuary and horse rescue, but the one place I want to go more than anything is Holland. I’ve always wanted to visit the Anne Frank House, ever since I was a young girl and read her diary.
And I heard Amsterdam is a wonderful city.
Wow!
Em
August 4, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Yes, it is a good life. I have to keep that in mind during the autumn like grey weather we often have in August though.
Next timee I am in Amsterdam, I’ll see if I can go to the Anne Frank house and tell you what it is like. Too bad you can’t get away.
Yes Amsterdam is a cool city. I live further north, but get there regularly.
Of course your corner of the world is also one of my favorites.
August 4, 2008 at 10:13 pm
It is beautiful here in AZ too, yes. Too bad we couldn’t take a week and switch lives, lol.
If you do get to the Anne Frank House, I’d *love* to hear about it, definitely. : )
Em
August 5, 2008 at 10:09 am
That’s an idea! Who knows!
November 16, 2008 at 5:28 am
There are times when I come across a blog that makes my heart race because I recognise little pieces of myself in them. Your blog, your art and your views on the healing powers of art make my heart race.
November 16, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Dear Sarah,
I am most impressed with your website! It is beautiful, clear, easily navigated and full of such inspiring art! With your permission, I would love to use your site as a model for my students to see. It would be a fine lesson indeed exploring your site with my 4th and 5th graders.
November 18, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Dear Miriam,
What a compliment, coming from you especially. I am so glad you took the time to exlore it and that you feel my site would be a source for lesson material. You have certainly inspired me and provided me with a number of projects over the years.
Please, feel free to use my site, blog, anything. And let me know how it was received, I am very curious what you will emphasize and what particularly will connect with a group of 10 and 11 year old New York American children!!
December 20, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for checking out my blog and thank you for introducing me to your site. It’s wonderful. I’ll bookmark it and check back frequently, as it’s something completely different from the other blogs and sites that I regularly visit!
December 20, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Yes, I thought so, your blog was the same for me, thanks. I guess it is easy to get caught in our own disciplines, there is just so much going on on the web.
I don’t spend much time visiting other blogs, but I will drop by yours again sometimes. Enjoy your teaching.
January 12, 2010 at 3:30 am
hi Sarah, thanks for having such an interesting site. I too suddenly discovered Jeroen Krabbe by accident and his paintings had a similoar effect on me. I love his use of colour and I certainly feel inspired by him.
I was interested to hear that he has made a dvd of one of his exhibitions and I wondered if you could tell me where I could purchase a copy. As I live in the UK then a dutch dvd should be ok to play here.
I like your paintings by the way and I will certainly bookmark your site. Thanks alot, Joanna.
March 3, 2010 at 5:57 am
Hey Sarah! Thanks for the comment on the pesto, I didn’t even think of blanching the garlic! I hope you’ll leave another comment when you make it, would love to hear how it comes it
And omg, butter-browned brussels are AMAZING. Finish with some freshly grated pecorino romano and you’re in heaven!!!
~MS the Younger
March 3, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Hi MS the younger, I’m already in heaven just reading about it, as well as drooling all over my keyboard!
March 6, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Dear Sarah,
I once upon a time in Pgh.PA knew you as Linda Morris. I remember that you came to one of our Fourth of July parties (Jim & Jeanie Moran’s) at our house on Winebiddle and drew a tomoto plant with clusters of cherry tomatoes on my leg cast. I had just broken my right ankle. It’s good to see you and your lifework. I love your site. I just read the info about decluttering. It is so pertinent because Jim & I have been living in our house for 20 years and have lots of stuff. We just remodeled our kitchen and now we are moving onto other rooms to paint and do we ever have stuff. I like the idea of moving everything out. I’m going to do that in my studio space downstairs. That’s the trouble with big houses. There’s lots of places to put our stuff. This year is about getting rid of stuff also. I’ve also kept almost every book I could think of buying over the years. I have lots of books on weaving and I haven’t done weaving in 30 years. I even have the 40 ” Macomber loom I bought from Rose Bank. You remember her don’t you? I also have a big library of self help books. I’m now into painting with all kinds of mediums and doing collage with mixed media. And of course a lot of books on art. What got me into painting is that I fell and broke my hip 10 years ago and couldn’t go back to work as a nurse. So, I took one drawing class and have been taking a lot of different classes through the years. I did this for my own personal healing and continue to do so. I just had this idea “Can I count on your support to keep encouraging me to let go of stuff by just asking me “How’s it going?” Just a thought. My cat Dingle just sat on my lap. He says “Hello”. We have one other cat. His name is Zendo. They’re both brothers & Chocolate Point Siamese. Well, I best go as we’re having some friends over & we have to do pick up so the house is decently presentable.
xo,
Jeanie “Beanie” Moran
March 7, 2010 at 9:15 am
Jeanie, it was serendipitous to wake up this sunday morning and find your message, it confirms something I was thinking about. It is really nice to be in touch, I will reply in length personally later, but thank you for your thoughts. Do you know about Arts and Healing network?
May 15, 2011 at 1:46 pm
you are such a gift! i was feeling down lately because i feel the pressure of most people i know to go the popular way in marketing my art… even up to the point of creating what can sell the most. ahhh, i know there’s got to be some people out there who think otherwise. i found you through spoonfulzine, a site i discovered lately which is inspiring. thanks for sharing your art and your ideas.
May 15, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Well, Alpha, you are a gift too.
I ‘ve spent some time at your site and blog and love the warmth radiating out of your work. (I also like the mini-painting idea very much).
I see you are already quite accomplished in marketing your art, I don’t know what more you should be doing?
Yes I like Spoonful a lot too, another case of someone followig their heart and enriching others lives by doing so.
May 20, 2011 at 9:53 pm
Hello,
I live in the US, and I am going to grad school in the LA area( Claremont Graduate University) in the fall, but I cannot afford it. I am starting a sponsor program, where people can donate money to my education, and in return I will give them a piece of art. I was researching artist sponsorship when I came across your blog and your May 21st 2008 piece about sponsoring an artist. It was written so beautifully I do not think I could do a better job. Could I link it to my website and blog, and print it out and hand it out to future sponsors. I will of course sight you as the author. By the way, thank you for this blog- it is very inspiring.
Stephanie Meredith
Stephaniemeredith.net
fineartstef.tumblr.com
Fine Art Stef on facebook
May 21, 2011 at 11:10 am
Hi Stephanie,
Thanks for writing, I love the painting on your homepage, it really speaks to me.
Please do use my How to Sponsor an artist piece, I am so glad it can benefit someone directly. And thank you for the credit, I’d enjoy any extra readers that come to my blog and become interested in what I am writing about.
I would like to make a small donation to your education as a gesture of support, please send me your paypal info. You don’t need to send me any art, it is a gift. Sarah
December 30, 2011 at 4:52 pm
Hi Sarah
What a wonderful blog and website. I like it a lot and am very interested in the work you do especially in healthcare..it’s something I would love to know more about doing myself.I found your blog looking for information about Suzi Gablik(which I found) for an essay I am writing-I’m also a real admirer of her writings. All the very best and I will check out your blog again soon, I’m sure!
December 30, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Hi Eleanor, what a nice comment to find here. I’ll mail you. cheers, Sarah
January 27, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Dear Sarah,
Remember your visit to St Cecilia’s last August?
I haven’t forgotten about you! Do you remember we were talking about some event possibly linked to painting harpsichord soundboards? Well, we are planning two events for later in the year with the intention of drawing attention to the decortive aspects of early keyboard instruments. Some of the enthusiasm for this has come from a young intern, Catherine Peck who is with us for a year.
At the moment things are still tentative . We have a”Festival of Museums” week in May and hopefully an Exhibition following which will carry on through the Festival on the them of “Art of Music”
We are hoping to be able to attract some special funding for these projects.
I would love at some stage to be able to include some sort of painting workshop event and wonder whrther you might be interested to participate in some way?
have really enjoyed reading your amazing Blog!
Can’t wait to get my paints put again!
January 27, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Yes, of course, I would love to John. I’ve replied to you personally.
February 18, 2012 at 12:33 am
Dear Sarah, I love Hyde’s book the Gift. I’ve been inspired by the British writer Jeanette Winterson’s book, Art Objects. I don’t loan it out anymore, because it never came back and I often want to refer to it. You might enjoy it. P
February 18, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Patrick, thanks for dropping by and for your recommendation. I’ve read most of Winterson’s books up until recently, can’t remember Art Objects. I’ll look it up.
I had the same with ‘Art & Fear’ (Orland and Boyles), I finally bought an extra copy strictly for lending, but that never came back either. So I have just the one which I no longer lend out.