We are pleased to offer you this glimpse into the studio of London-based artist Sara Willett.
Sara in her studio. Click here to view her portfolio.
Favorite material to work with?
I work with a variety of paints and other materials, whatever happens to be right for what I’m doing. In the end I do love oil, the smell, the texture and the glow. Michael Harding oils are a dream to work with.
What themes do you pursue?
I guess I have always been drawn to the decorative, but because it is so often used as a pejorative term, I started to think about its position in contemporary art and how it could be employed without appearing twee. The capacity for the decorative to act as a disruptive or disturbing force is something that fascinates me. The way that female artists or those outside the mainstream started to use decorative elements in their work to provoke and undermine the status quo in the late 20th century was probably my starting point.
How many years as an artist?
11 years practicing with a studio
Sara’s studio
Where is your studio?
My studio is in The Lewisham Arthouse in South East London, an artists’ collective, housed in a beautiful old Edwardian Library. The library was closed in the 90’s and started to go to rack and ruin, before a bunch of artists moved in. We run as a co-operative; all money from studio rents are ploughed back into running the building, a gallery, an education programme, and a workspace for experimental music, film, and other creative work.
What was the best advice given to you as an artist?
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – that’s how we learn. Keep pushing, experimenting, and try to grow a few extra layers of skin while you’re at it. I’m still working on that one.
A work in progress. See Sara’s completed works here.
Art school or self-taught?
Art school, but I know some wonderful self-taught artists. I was lucky enough to spend two years on the MA fine art course at Camberwell College when Rebecca Fortnum ran it. She and her team were inspiring. They were very supportive, but expected a lot in return – just as it should be.
Sara’s paints
Prefer to work with music or in silence?
Well, quite a few members of my family are musicians so music is very important to me, but, strangely, I really prefer silence when I work, although I have just done an installation piece with a local musician and sound artist.
What’s around the corner from your place?
We’re blessed as we have Goldsmith’s College next door and are part the burgeoning South London art scene. Nearby, Deptford hosts a fantastic contemporary art festival each year, and it seems like there are galleries and artist-led spaces opening up locally every week.
“Dancer” by Sara Willett. Click here to view Sara’s portfolio.
Where can we find you outside the studio?
As I said, locally there’s a lot to see, but I still love what the rest of London has to offer. It’s such an exciting city and wonderful to have so much on my doorstep. I also have children, so they keep me nice and busy.
Sara’s sketchbook.
If you couldn’t be an artist, what would you do?
To keep a practice going we often have to do a lot of other things, but this shouldn’t stop us from calling ourselves artists.
Day job?
Luckily the studio is my day job. I also spend quite a bit of time helping run the studio complex.
“Razzle Dazzle” by Sara Willett. See more works by Sara.
What do you collect?
I collect art, mainly from artists who are friends and whose work I admire. My home is full of work that is very special to me. I also collect china, vintage clothes, and books.
Another view of Sara’s studio.
Favorite contemporary artist?
I don’t have just one, so here are a few: Beatrice Milhaze, for her exuberance; Ellen Gallegher, for her inventiveness; Therese Oulton, for showing me that abstract painting can be both beautiful and relevant; and those great female pioneers Louise Bourgeois, Judy Chicago, and Kusama.
If you could only have one piece of art in your life, what would it be?
The Triptych of St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist by Hans Memling.
Who are your favorite writers?
Patrick Hamilton, Carson McCullers, Marilynne Robinson, Raymond Carver, Graham Greene.
At work.
Use anything other than paint?
Yes, a Stanley Knife when I gouge acrylic. I also make installations using a variety of materials including crochet shirring elastic.
Is painting dead?
As someone who paints, of course I say no, although I think it’s important to ask the question and to think about why you are doing what you are doing. When I saw the Gerhard Richter exhibition at the Tate, I felt strongly that this was someone who was fully engaged with the debate and the problems of being engaged with painting as a contemporary artist, but who continued to do it anyway.
A work in progress. See Sara’s work here.
Monet or Manet?
Manet for me. When I first saw “Dejeuner sur l’herbe” in Paris, it took my breath away. The “gaze” was thrown right back in your face. No wonder it caused such a stir when it was first shown.
“Webeye ii” by Sara Willet. Click here to view all of the work in Sara’s portfolio.
Fabulous sumptuous work – ripling seas of colour – and refreshingly intelligent and bullshit free approach to talking about art.
Dear Sara, really good to see this uncompromising work. Also a great advertisment for Deptford, to bring people to see the work. As I live luckliy
in Brockley I have visited your studio Keep Pushing the boat out! From Phil Baird.
Thank you so very much for this lovely comment. Its very much appreciated
What a wonderful message
Visually vibrant and technically masterful, Willett’s work explores perception at its most visceral. Powerful painting.
Thank you Derval, not only for taking the time to reply, but for the wonderful compliment.
Stunning!
Congrats.
and thank you very much Mikkey
Full of complex energy and vibrancy – fantastic!
Thank so much
Playful and joyful, melodic work remiscent of microbiology with flair!
Thanks Elizabeth for your lovely comment
Wonderful work. I love the vibrancy and energy of the Dancer. The pages from the sketchbook grow on your mind. Inspirational.
I so pleased you liked the work and the sketchbook doodles!
So please to see fantastic art which isn’t validated by the institutional masters degree ‘certificate’ crowd. I watched a fantastically inspiring youtube clip with self taught artist Margarette Bagshaw, you can find her work on the http://www.goldendawngallery.com she paints huge amazing works, and has very enlightening ideas on being self taught. It is well worth watching the Smithsonian lecture by her, it is an hour long, I found it also on her website and was very refreshing. I am so over the snobbery and clickiness of the institutional art scene, and I’m sure many of the art buying public are bored of it also. As Sara willett mentions mistakes and experimenting is how you learn to find your own voice in your practice, not becoming the ‘mini me’ of an egotistical teacher, where is the originality in that, just keeping boring snobs in an elite job being gate keepers. I still can’t believe people are actually given grades with A B and C’s in art schools, it seems very backwards to me.
WELL DONE SARA THE WORK YOU PRODUCE REMINDS ME VERY MUCH OF THE ART FOR SALE AT BRITISH DEPARTMENT STORE JOHN LEWIS
whoops I just noticed you do have a masters degree… Your work looks like weaved paint, ripples and undulates with trickery and illusion.. Very art school but in the best possible way. Sorry I should have checked and should have known it ‘is’ very obvious. I love your colours in the big blanket like painting it is really stunning and clever. I’ll shut up now..
Don’t worry Kate, I enjoyed your earlier comment anyway! One of my all time favourite exhibitions was of ‘outsider’ art that the Museum of Everything in London. As I said there are some wonderful artists out there who have not been through the system. Thank you so much for taking such and interest in my work
Really fantastic…wonderful textures and rich colours…love it !
Thanks Sarah for this great feed back
That has got to be one of the most organised and tidiest art studios I’ve ever seen!
Great artwork, though, and I do like the way you recycle food packaging and use it as a handy paint pallette
Well you didn’t get to see the other side of the room! Thanks for your nice comment, and yes its good to recycle take aways
I really enjoy the glimpse into your sketchbook.
Some really fantastic and exciting work. I’ve been conflicted also between what is design and what is considered art. Thanks for the inspiration and I wish you continued success. All the best, Barry.
Enjoyed walking thought your sketch book you have a wonderful approach to your art …love your design work …continued success to you …
Hi Sara,
Beautiful and powerful work. Thanks for showing it.
I’d like to talk to you about this artist’s collective where you work. I would greatly appreciate if you could sher your experience.
The reason I am asking is that we are beginning to think about something similar in the small Spanish town where I live (Sant Pere de Ribes, 40 km south of Barcelona). Amazingly enough there are artists of all kind and of all ages in this small spot on the Mediterranean and we had last night the founding meeting of our coming Artist Forum. Great nmeeting, bubbling with ideas.
If you’d like to see what I do, I am on Saatchi Online and you can also find my work on my website http://www.bellaiche.net. You are welcome to drop me a mail if you’d like.
Kind regards
Michel bellaiche
Beautifull and wonderfull energy .
all the caments the peaple leave you are true.
It take me to the net Universe, to the infinit.
love it.
I wish there was a way to come to England and study under you and learn some of your awesom techniques. I’ve been working digitally for the last year. When I get some posted on my website I’ll drop line and you can look at them at your leisure just for fun. Many thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks Barry, I’ll look forward to seeing it….and thanks too for the great feedback