Episode 2: Sarah Shaffer
Sarah Shaffer, 2019 Box! Box! project. On the corner of Tillotson and Riverside. Learn more at munciearts.org/boxbox
You will find me out on the veranda.... I mean technically its a deck, but doesn't "veranda" sound more fun?
What Muncie Neighborhood do you live in?
I recently moved just outside Muncie city limits.
I call myself a:
Painter, artist, muralist, crafter, and dancer
What is your creative practice?
My current creative practice is large scale painting, specifically murals. I love approaching a wall, a traffic box, or a patch of concrete and finding a way to add an image to it. These endeavors are usually created in the public and intended for the public. I think art is for everyone and when we create work in the view of the public, art becomes more accessible. Someone who might not go into a museum might go by a mural, which then could strike an interest in learning more about that piece of art, which might then even inspire them to begin creating something themselves.
In progress shot of my mural in Gaston IN
In progress shot of my traffic box.
How did you get started in your practice?
I have always loved to draw and at the age of 15 (about 20 years ago), I was able to participate in the very first Main Street Chalk Walk in Fort Wayne. This was an event put on by the Fort Wayne Museum of Art during the Three Rivers Festival. This festival provided chalk artists an 8 ft by 8 ft square in the middle of Main Street to create something amazing. That first year, my mom and I shared a square. While my mom is also an artist, she allowed me to be the architect of our design. That support on such a large project at such a young age planted the seed that has allowed me to go bigger and bigger with my projects. In the following 10+ years, I created my own solo designs and continued to participate in the Chalk Walk. I was in love with the challenge of creating something in a larger than life scale while passersby looked on. I was encouraged by the engagement of those that attended the festival; those that wanted to talk to me and speak about art. Creating art in a solo studio can be very isolating. I love to work in the public, so when given the chance, I go for it. This experience led me to projects like Box! Box! and the mural I am currently working on in Gaston, IN. Because I am comfortable working in the view of the public, I have also been working as a performance painter at local churches as well as public events.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I am inspired by nature and the people around me. I have a wonderful group of supportive friends and family.
An 8ft portrait of my husband - I won the "Tromp L'oeil" award that year.
What materials, instruments, or technology do you use in your practice?
Because of the nature of my work (and the fact that my house is pretty modest and doesn't have an extra room) my studio is mobile. When painting on a canvas, I take my standing easel and my TV tray and find some space to paint. I like painting outside on mild days overlooking my back yard. When working on a public art project on site, my most used piece of equipment is my TV tray. Let's talk about my tray. For the 5 years that I have been pursuing art (creating commissions, teaching classes, etc), my TV tray has held my paints, brushes, and cleaning water. It started as natural wood, part of a set of four from my Grandma. The paint that covers the tray is a physical record of each of the paintings I have created with it by my side. A splash of water, a stain from wiping my brush off on paper towels, an accidental paint spill; they all tell the story of my time as an artist.
What is your favorite thing in your studio / workspace?
I love the variety that a mobile studio brings. On a nice day, I'll paint outside at home or onsite if I have a project to work on. And because my studio is mobile, I can put away one type of art for a while and pick up another. I love to draw, crochet, paint, and create jewelry. If I get tired of one form, I can shift to another.
What’s on your bookshelf or playing in your studio these days?
As an avid swing dancer, I am a big fan of Postmodern Jukebox.
Gotta use a Ball jar for my paint water, this is Muncie after all!
What do you wish others knew about your practice?
Art, in general, has something for everyone. Art can and should be accessible. Maybe your art is painting or maybe it's dancing or crocheting or doodling. What is important is that you art, no matter what that looks like. My practice won't necessarily be your practice, but that doesn't change its importance.
If you could be doing anything right now, what would it be?
I'd love to be a traveling muralist (once the pandemic is over). I would love to go to a new place with my family and explore the local area while also providing public art for that space.
These paint stains are the physical proof of my artistic journey.
Where can people see your work or learn more about you?
If you'd like to see my work in person, you can find my Box! Box! on the corner of Riverside and Tillotson and my current in-progress mural in Gaston on the side of the building that houses the Barking Cow. I'm on Facebook and Instagram under the name Sarah Shaffer Designs and can be reached via messenger on those pages for questions, sales, and commissions.
Website: www.facebook.com/sarahshafferdesigns/
