Interview with artist Sarah Hickey
Sarah Hickey’s artwork was highly recommended to me, and when I came across her mixed-medium works, I was blown away. Each piece is just so enchanting. I could just stare at her work for hours and notice new little details each time. And now I’m a bit obsessed.
Her work is almost like a collage of beautiful things, including fabric, lace, aerosol sprays, and paint. Sarah explains that her female idols are influenced by images of women from many cultures and backgrounds. Sarah tells these stories through her layering of images, textures, and patterns.
It’s hard to believe it, but for many years Sarah struggled with her own creative practice. With dual degrees in fine arts and education, Sarah’s career leads her to full-time art teaching. Many years later, it was through Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way, Sarah was able to find new inspiration and drive to create.
A few years later, Sarah’s iconic feminine works have featured in eight solo shows and nineteen group shows. The most recent show at the end of 2011, was Horned Laced Idols in Brisbane. Many of the works featured are from her latest collection.
In 2009 her series “Goddess” was selected for the brand identity of Barossa Belle wines and Sarah was selected as a Finalist in the Clayton Utz Art Awards.
Become a fan on Facebook to follow Sarah’s latest work and see more of her beautiful artwork on her website.
How have you got to where you are today?
I went to Art College straight out of high school. Floated about, deferred, worked in a bakery for a while, and then went back to finish my degree. After that, I didn’t practice for a little over a decade. I became an art teacher in high school, so I was around this creative deliciousness but with full-time work, I didn’t have the energy or impetus to do anything.
I also had this hang-up about being an ‘Artist’ with a capital ‘A’. I didn’t think I was dark enough or interested enough in underground ‘cool’ things.
I felt I was very mainstream and I might not have had anything of worth to say. I was searching for a reason why we felt compelled to make this stuff. I never really quite understood why.
That changed when I read this book by Julia Cameron called The Artists Way. It really spoke to me about the spiritual fulfilment and happiness you get from being creative.
I finally found a reason to create – because it essentially made me happy. I firmly believe we’re all creative and it’s important to reconnect with that creativity in any way we can.
In a few words, describe yourself…
Happy, fulfilled, appreciative.
What are you spending your time on at the moment?
I’m having a crack at the Archibald prize so I’ve just completed a portrait for that. She’s a gorgeous subject, I just don’t know whether to reveal it just yet – I have to run it by her first.
Do you have a ritual for getting into the creative mindset? Or a creative process?
Just to be very, very easy on myself.
I’m not a ‘get down into the studio at 9am every day’ type of person. There are some days spent in absolute slothdom – everything is slow-paced, nothing is achieved, nothing is done.
I always find that once I give in to a feeling of procrastination, it soon lifts and I am inspired to get back to it.
What or who inspires you?
So many people… In terms of the contemporary Australian art world, the ‘Big Guns’ Ben Quilty, Michael Zavros, Del Kathryn Barton – these guys are travelling the world with their art and selling their work for some mind-blowing prices. I love that they’ve dreamed big.
I have recently stumbled upon the work of James Jean (American Artist) and though his work is dark, I love the push and pull between the technical skill he obviously has and the spontaneous mark-making. Bundit Puangthong, Catalina Estrada, Lori Fields… Recently reviewing the work of some great masters, Henri Rousseau, Van Gogh, Klimt… The artists I’m connected to on Facebook – what a fabulous tool for connecting. My hubby George and my friend Di.
What are you most proud of?
That I’m back creating again. I’m glad I’ve taken the time to reconnect to that little kid inside of me that delighted in playing in the mud, making up stories, and finger painting.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
It changed quite a lot and just a few of those included a famous Hollywood director, actress, fashion designer, journalist, airline stewardess, artist, author, teacher, and nurse.
