Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Marzi.
Hi Sara, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I remember enjoying playing with colors since I was a kid, but I did not take my artistic skills seriously until later in life. I was born in Italy where I grew up inspired by the nature around me. Adventure books kept me company while I was struggling to find my place in the world, but when my American pen-pal from California came to visit me after 10 years of long-distance friendship, I could not imagine the new shape my life was about to take. The love we share for one another led me to make the decision to move to the United States in 2021, more precisely to San Diego. Since then, I have been making a lot of art — it is easy to be inspired when you are surrounded by so much beauty! It is in the US that I found a new self in drawing and observing nature. I am also a student in community college, and I want to transfer to CSU Monterey Bay to finish my major in Environmental Science. Between classes, I am teaching myself to blend my artistic skills with my growing knowledge to spark an interest in the natural wonders around us.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I can say it has been challenging. As a self-taught artist and adult learner, I have faced struggles, but I see them as precious life lessons. Art is never a steady, straight path. It is also easy to question yourself when you are a creator. Questioning, though, should never hold you back from creating, and unfortunately, that is what happened to me when I still lived in Italy. Changing life radically has helped me to grow individually and to evolve as an artist.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Since I moved to San Diego, I have been inspired by the precious biodiversity of the area. Deserts, mountains, and the ocean — southern California has a lot to offer to artists! So, I have been teaching myself to draw animals and nature by observing them with the intent of understanding ecology on a deeper level.
I have made several acrylic paintings of wild animals, and these works come with additional research I conducted in my spare time — this helps me conceptualize my feelings and gives a wider dimension to my goal. My works are in fact meant to offer a critical view of human interactions with nature, to explore the beauty of wild animals in the habitats they are supposed to live undisturbed and unharmed. Aware of the heartbreaking and destructive effects we have on the environment, I aim to communicate my emotions through acrylic colors. The smooth and ample backgrounds depict the intrinsic balance of life, and their peaceful look demonstrates a world untouched by humans. While my style is still evolving, my aesthetic is consistent and flows through my typical use of bright and colorful hues.
In other words, I use art to promote conservation, draw awareness on issues like animal extinction, and share experiences of wonder as well. I do believe that our relationship with nature can be restored and put into a no longer dualistic perspective, where humans and animals are part of the same community.
I do not limit myself to acrylics, but I have also created watercolor and pastel drawings. I have received several commissions for pet portraits in 2022, and I am very happy when my customers enjoy the work they purchased. I have also produced a few Californian landscapes, and as a nature enthusiast my intent is to make even more in the near future.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
When I still lived in Italy, it was not easy to stick out as an artist. Over there, wherever you go you find yourself amazed by monuments, ancient castles, beautiful churches, and museums filled with incredible art. People are used to seeing so much beauty that, sometimes, they may seem to not recognize it. I also struggled a lot finding a good job and making an income through my art seemed impossible to me. When I came to the US, I realized that things are very different. First of all, living permanently with my partner with no more distance had definitely a positive effect on my life – long-distance relationships can be emotionally draining. My husband helped me to understand the American life, and thanks to his support I found my spot right away. In college, professors always give me a lot of space to use my creativity and convey academic meanings through my art. For a class, I worked on an online art gallery that I filled with my paintings about animals and information regarding their status in nature, and I got positive feedback both from professors and students, so I am proud of the work behind that project. I had to wait a while before I could receive my green card, and that did not help me to work on my art business as I was not allowed to work or make an income. So, I made art for myself for more than a year, and at times it was hard because my desire was to make art for others rather than myself. Then I began to see that time as an investment on myself and on my skills. When I could finally receive my green card, new doors opened immediately. I got a dozen of commissions within the month of December, and that helped me to be a lot more confident as a self-taught artist. At the end, I matured a lot throughout the past two years and, more importantly, I realized that beautiful things take time to happen – they need you to be patient and hopeful. I am truly happy to live in the US and in California. I feel blessed and beyond grateful to be in a country that gives value to talents and passionate people no matter where they come from.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://saramarziart.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/saramarziart
