Michelle Hazard – Art Feature Monday May 13th

Sarah Tule Artworks

I met Sarah on line networking Traverse City, I stumbled across her blog from her volunteer work being highlighted by Island.

Every month Sarah creates a piece of art work and auctions it off which 100% of the proceeds go to her charity of choice Manna Food Project I wanted to help artists learn how to use social media to sell their art so Sarah and I spent some time going over what she was doing, and how she could improve her exposure. She now has the primary social media tools employed and continues to network. I interviewed her and made arrangements for her to be photographed for this piece by Sandra Lee Photography a local photographer and an admin on our Network Traverse City, Michigan Facebook Page. (Thanks Sandra)

Here is the interview we did on line, as we really are a virtual network.

Michelle:  Please give us a brief bio, where you are from and how you started in this field?

Sarah:  “I’m originally from Cheboygan, MI.  Lived there all of my life. So needless to say, when I turned 18 I got the heck out of there. I’ve lived in Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Novi, Farmington, Sault Ste. Marie, Houghton Lake and Petoskey. It’s been a busy seven years!   But back to Cheboygan….when my sister and I were little, my parents used to take us on annual family trips. We went everywhere from Acadia National Park, in Maine to the Grand Canyon and New Orleans. This, I believe first sparked my love of the world. There’s so much to see! And in it’s own way, almost everything is beautiful.

Michelle:  When did you first discover your creative talents?

Sarah:  “I’ve almost always had a drawing utensil in my hand. When I was 5, I won the local coloring contest for Carters. I received a king sized snickers bar for my efforts. ”

Michelle:  Any influences or anyone you look up to when it comes to painting?

Sarah:  “My art teachers were very influential on me. I had Mr. McNeil in elementary school and he made art fun.  Then in high school I had Molly Jo Nolland as my art teacher.  She encouraged my ability and I even skipped from Art 1 to Art 4. Thanks to her, I realized that being an artist was a career choice where as I had only considered it a hobby before.

I was accepted into Grand Valley State University’s rigorous art program, but after a semester dropped out. I didn’t like college.

That’s when I made the move to Ann Arbor and started experiencing other aspects of life, something that I think was crucial both to my growing up and for my art career. Ann Arbor is so full of life and art and it was really just an inspiration unto itself.” There’s been several artists who have influenced my work but those who jump out at me are:

Quentin Blake for his amazing illustrations

and local artists such as Mary Lou Peters of Mackinaw and Debbie Stiller of Rogers City.

I also greatly admire the work of Georgia artist Karin Jurick.”

Michelle: What is your favorite medium?

Sarah:  “My favorite medium to work in is pen and watercolor but I began my career in acrylics and still like to dabble in it every now and then.”

Michelle:  Could you tell us about some of your work?

Sarah:  “My work tends to show natural and local scenes. I am absolutely taken with nature. There is so much to draw from creatively! The way the sun comes through the trees, the colors of the waves rolling in on a cloudy day. My work also tends to be on the small side. I like to paint 5″x7″ up to 11″x14″. I’ve gone as large as 24″x36″ but it’s a rare occasion.”

Michelle:  Where are you showing/selling your art?

Sarah:  “My work is currently for sale at:

Northgoods Gallery and Gifts in Petoskey, MI

Mackinac’s Little Gallery on Mackinac Island

Cycling Salamander Gallery, Charlevoix, MI

And it can also be purchase on Daily Paintworks and Etsy.

I also have several shows scheduled and the information for those can be found on my blog at www.sarahtuleart.blogspot.com under the “Look for Me” tab.”

Michelle: What inspires you to keep going and how do you keep yourself motivated?

Sarah: “What inspires me to keep going ?

Deadlines certainly help. But I also enjoy making art and when I hit one of those inevitable ruts, I remind myself that I want to keep doing this for a living and not have to go get “a real job.” I really don’t know what I’d do if I wasn’t making art. It’s really the only thing that makes sense for me.”

Michelle:  How will you describe your style?

Sarah:  “My style, well, I’ve been compared to Holly Hobby and I thought that was cute. But I like to think that my work stands apart from anything else really. I like my paintings to seem real, like you could imagine being there, but in a simpler, softer way.”

Michelle:  Describe yourself in 5 words.

Sarah:  “5 words to describe myself, Curious, Hopeful, Youthful, Determined, Stubborn”

Michelle:  Share with us something funny that has happened to you recently.

Sarah:  “my sister and i were walking a dune trail a few weeks ago and we missed the connecting loop…we ended up walking 8 miles. Not funny then but funny now”

Michelle:  Lastly, any words of advice for aspiring artists?

Sarah:  “My advice to aspiring artists is to begin at home. Reach out to the surrounding communities. The people that love you will lift you up and help you out and it’s a good solid beginning. There are opportunities everywhere, you just have to look for them.”

Links to my online media:

Daily Paintworks:

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/sarah-tule-3055

My Pinterest:

http://pinterest.com/tuleart/newest-paintings/

My Etsy Shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SarahTuleArtworks?ref=ss_profile

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/SarahTuleWatercolor

Also, I recently began illustrating children’s books with author Jessica Schaub. Our first book together is titled “In His Garden” and should be available late summer 2013.