Sarah creates her stunning artworks with acrylics and clay and is most well known for her use of textures and metallic golds, with multiple layers manipulated to create abstract works. Her paintings continually evolve and are a constant exploration of texture, depth, and light.

We wanted to know more about what inspires Sarah, so caught up with her recently to put her and her artwork under the Spotlight….

Carol: What is the inspiration behind your artwork and how does it relate to your pieces?

Sarah: Inspiration for me has always come from the essence of materials. I am magnetically drawn to highly textured art materials and how they can be used on the canvas. My painting style has evolved to a point where I feel that I am now able to convey my exploration of rich textures alongside light and depth.

Carol: When did you know you were going to be an artist?

Sarah: Only quite recently! I worked in graphic design, and painting for me was just a hobby until the 2020 pandemic hit. That’s when I really started painting with gusto, simply as a release from the worry and stresses that the spring lockdown brought about. I then started giving works away to friends and family and finally started (surprisingly to me) selling works to customers online. It really took off very quickly from there to the point that I became a full-time artist later in 2020

Carol: What artist inspires you?

Sarah: I’ve never been wowed by literal artwork, I appreciate the talent that goes into drawing real objects or scenes, but it never evoked a response in me. Earlier in life when I knew only a little about art, I was drawn to the Great Impressionists. These days I enjoy work by organic abstract artists such as Inez Froehlich, Nemanja Nikolic and Julia Swaby, as well as more industrial feeling abstracts by Robert Tillberg.

Carol: - How do you start your pieces?

Sarah: It all depends on the piece itself, if it’s a commission then occasionally I will be given some outline of the style and colours needed for a client. Otherwise my brain will obsess about my next piece during everyday life, until I get the piece created!!! Each piece is then started by creating the textured structure and waiting a couple of days for the clay to cure before I can proceed.

Carol: Can you tell us about your process?

Sarah: I work with lots of mediums from clay and resin through to acrylics, inks and spray paints. Texture is the main element, which I lay down first using a high-density modelling clay on trowels and, weirdly, a cake icing knife, which is my favourite tool!!!

After curing for a couple of days I then use metallic spray paint on the clay, often in gold, and then proceed to add other mediums such as resins with inks, or acrylic paints. Metallic model paints are the final medium that I use to really emphasise the juxtaposition between light and depth.

Carol: How long does it take to complete a piece?

Sarah: If I had to put the hours spent together I would say around a week on average for a large work. This may happen over 2-3 weeks however, as there are so many layers with the texturing clay and the resin, with each layer needing to cure before I progress onto the next.

Carol: What is your studio like and where is it?

Sarah: I am lucky enough to have a large studio in my garden complete with drying racks and amazing light with glass doors the whole length of the studio.

Carol: What do you like doing when you are not creating?

Sarah: As a mum I enjoy spending time with my family and our cocker spaniel, we enjoy going for long family walks and dining out together. Other than painting I also have a real passion for gardening.

Carol: What is your perfect weekend?

Sarah: Ooh, good question! I’m a summer sort of girl and love nothing better than to be in the garden planting in the sunshine. That was actually the point of a garden studio, even in the worst weather I can spend time in the middle of nature painting. Most weekends through the nicer months will be spent half of the time gardening then nipping into the studio to work on an artwork. Then a nice glass of wine around 5 (often in the studio, oops!) followed by dinner in the fresh air. Perfect!

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Artist In The Spotlight:.....Sarah Berger

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