Sara Adams is an emerging contemporary artist from Perth whose style blends boldness with a meditative soothing aesthetic. Sara draws inspiration from nature, the intricate patterns of mark making and the delicate details of embroidery. Sara’s stunning works are now gracing the walls at Bivouac.
Get to know the artist…
Tell us about yourself and your practice as an artist.
I have always enjoyed being creative and would spend hours drawing in my room as a child, however my adult career took a very different route. I studied at University for 10 years, and worked for almost 20 years in public health strategic planning for the WA Government. After experiencing severe burnout late 2021 I used embroidery and art to recover and have not looked back - art really was always my first love.
The meditative style of my work is probably no accident as the creation of my work is a form of active meditation practice for me, giving me a sense of calm and peace.
I have loved experimenting and exploring my artistic style. My house is full of inspiration such as plenty of indoor plants, embroidery hanging on the walls and various artworks - some that are very graphic and others that are delicate and detailed, including Indigenous art and watercolours.
I have two young daughters, a husband and a dog, so life is full, fun and busy. My art practice brings a welcome focus amongst the chaos of life.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I love nature and plants, particularly botanicals with strong almost architectural lines. I also love intricate details such as embroidery and mark making, so my art has evolved to blend those two. In more recent times I have enjoyed exploring light and dark in my pieces, almost as a reflection of modern life, where there are ups and downs, highs and lows.
My preference is to use earthy tones, as I feel they add another dimension to the soothing experience I aim to evoke in my audience. My choice of acrylic paint allows me to bring in a graphic element to my work, combining that with acrylic pens that bring the delicate details.
How did this collection come about?
This is my debut collection so it is a reflection of my exploration as a new artist, combining my inspirations as discussed above, along with the influences of some of my favourite other artists such as Sally Ford, Karina Jambrak and Kristina Forrest. I started with digital art before I moved to painting, so my collection began with a more graphic aesthetic and has evolved over the past 6 months to incorporate the inspiration I have taken from my embroidery and mark making.
Is there a piece in the collection that holds special significance for you?
My “With the Wind” painting is probably my favourite as it symbolises a need to be flexible, and move with the ups and down of life. Perhaps a symbol of what I have had to do since leaving my other career to embrace my love for painting.
