Hi, I’m Sarah

About Me

I’m a Western Massachusetts native, growing up in the North Quabbin area.

I am primarily acrylic & oil painter, but I also dabble in a bit of linocut printmaking and digital photography.

In my free time, I can be found painting, coaching creative entrepreneurs, working with local makerspaces, and playing video games while creating video game based news and content (my second love outside of being an artist).

My art journey started when I was in high school. As a first generation college student, I was unsure of what I wanted to do in college - but I knew I was interested in one thing and that was in the arts. I pursued my AA and BFA in art and after college I spent several years in small businesses trying to navigate my way into adulthood, taking on several full time opportunities and learning the backbone of small businesses in New England.

In 2020 when the pandemic hit, I realized that I lost my spark for my art and started creating again. I knew then that I wanted to take my re-found love for creating and merge that with the business foundation that I had learned in my young 20’s. That curiosity of blending business with the arts is what made me seek out graduate school, where I studied virtually at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) for my MPS in the Business of Art & Design. I learned the ins and outs of creating and sustaining a small creative business and I wish it was information I knew sooner! This understanding of business is something that not many creatives have the opportunities to learn and I want to change that. I want to help others like myself so that they can live a life doing what they love instead of thinking it is just a far off dream somewhere.

  • Paintings: With my paintings, I always use bright colors & textured brushstrokes. I like being a bit rough around the edges and open to interpretation. I let the flow of the color and the paint lead my hand when painting. My subject of painting as of late has been colorful abstracts as well as landscapes from a distant world, taking inspiration from the popular MMORPG – Final Fantasy XIV Online (that holds a place near and dear to my heart).

    Photography: Photography is still new to me, but I thrive on taking photos of wildlife, nature, and landscapes. Pretty much anything that is in nature, but hard to capture. I love the challenge and I’m getting more inspired any time I take a photo!

    Printmaking: Printmaking is something I haven’t touched in awhile, but I am interested in getting back into it! I love making prints with heightened texture. Examples of subjects I’ve done for prints includes Spiders, Eyes, (or a mix of both), and butterflies. I will be doing more of this style in the future!

  • Degrees

    Master of Professional Studies in the Business of Art & Design – 2021

    Maryland Institute College of Art – Baltimore, MD

    Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art – 2014

    University of Massachusetts – Amherst, MA

    Associate of Arts – 2012

    Mount Wachusett Community College – Gardner, MA

    LinkedIn Learning Certificates

    2022 - Entrepreneurship Foundations w/ Kim Kaupe

    2022 - Creating Your Personal Brand w/ Lida Citroën

    2022 - First Five Things You Have to Do to Start a Business as a Creator w/ Mitchel Dumlao

    2022 - Mentoring Others w/ Todd Dewett

    2022 - Start a Business Online w/ Naomi Simson

    2022 - Small Business Tips w/ Chris Guilleau

    2021 - Learning Art Direction w/ Bonnie Siegler

    2021 - Leadership Foundations w/ Dr. Shirley Davis

    2021 - Creative Thinking w/ Drew Boyd

    2021 - Art and Illustration Careers: First Steps w/ Kristin Ellison

  • 2023 - Deerfield Valley Art Association - Figuratively Speaking - Northfield, MA

    2023 - Friends of the Agawam Public Library - 3rd Open Juried Virtual Photography Show - (virtual) Agawam, MA

    2022 – Present – Virtual Hosmer Gallery Community Art Exhibition - Northampton, MA (online)

    2022 – Mill District Local Art Gallery – North Amherst, MA

    2021 – Art League of RI – Annual Members Show – Pawtucket, RI

    2014 – Tor(e)ment: a BFA Thesis Exhibition – Amherst, MA

    2013 – a-mal-gam – Student Art Exhibition – Amherst, MA

    2013 – MWCC 50th Anniversary Celebration: Alumni Art Exhibition – Gardner, MA

    2010 – Artspace – Annual Teen Art Exhibition – Greenfield, MA

  • Publications:

    2012 - (Cover Art) A Certain Slant - MWCC Literary Arts Journal, Spring 2012 (A Certain Slant - Amazon)

    Press:

    2012 - MWCC CareerFocus - Featured Interviews on Pages 1-3 & 8-9

    2012 - MWCC Commercial - (YouTube)

  • 2012 - Arthur F. Haley Scholarship, MWCC, Gardner, MA

    2012 - Robert Weibel Scholarship, MWCC, Gardner, MA

    2012 - Vision’s Program President’s Award, MWCC, Gardner, MA

    2012 - Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges, MWCC, Gardner, MA

    2010 - President’s Education Awards Program Award in Recognition of Outstanding Academic Excellence, Mahar Regional, Orange, MA

    2010 - Brian Lanou Memorial Scholarship, Mahar Regional, Orange, MA

    2010 - Goddard Trust Scholarship, Mahar Regional, Orange, MA

    2010 - Mahar Teachers’ Association Scholarship, Mahar Regional, Orange, MA

    2010 - Second Place Award - Mixed Media Category, Self-Portrait Collage, Artspace Annual Teen Art Exhibition, Greenfield, MA

    2010 - First Place Cash Prize- Socially Responsible Idea Ages 16-18, BizVenture BizIdea Awards, Orange, MA

    2010 - Second Place Cash Prize Idea Ages 16-18, BizVenture BizIdea Awards, Orange, MA

  • 2023-Present - EforAll - Holyoke, MA - Business Mentor

    2022-Present - The Print Shop - Holyoke, MA - Member

    2021-Present - LaunchSpace (Orange, MA) – Board of Directors, Strategic Planning Committee Chair

    2021-Present - ArtWorks of Westfield (Westfield, MA) – Member

    2021 - LaunchSpace (Orange, MA) –Entrepreneur Member (Pilot Program)