A lovely honest artist parent interview @artist_parent with Sarah Nelson @sarahnelsonstudio, an artist from Gaunless Valley, Durham Dales, UK.
Tell us about yourself?
I trained as a theatre designer at The Central St Martin's School of Art and Design, London. Dramatic space and movement in economy of line remain central to my work as an artist. I'm mother to Noah, 22 and Hector, 20.We had been expat in the Middle East, but following a separation from my then husband in 2015, I returned to the UK with the boys to a cottage in coastal East Sussex. We were and remain a happy unit. Hours wandering through shingle ridges and along deserted beaches invited a desire to paint how I saw and felt.
The Rye Creative Centre offered opportunity to develop my painting and printmaking and to exhibit. The boys grew up, I came back to my native north east to build an eco home studio. I have been live drawing the build process and local community at livestock auctions.
How has being a parent had a positive impact on your artistic practice?
When the children were young I wouldn't have said there was any positive impact on my practice, quite the opposite! Looking back though, I can see that, simply having an interest in art and design as a parent, feeds into family life : cut and paste, Lego building, poster paints, visits to museums and galleries, drawings stuck to walls. I think we went on a supportive creative journey. It's fabulous, when I have a piece on exhibition when we all see it together.
What are the challenges you have faced in your artistic practice being a parent?
Interruptions !
Any advice for other Artist Parents and how they can continue to nurture their practice?
Having a new baby and young children can be tough. I didn't know what I was doing and felt as if I'd moved to an alien planet. I would have liked someone to say ' try not to give yourself a hard time, you can do what you can in the time available to you with resources that you have. This might mean just a few marks a day or maybe nothing for months or years, you will get back to it again.'
Is there anything else you would like to say, share or promote?
It was winter in a park, I was pushing a young snoozing baby Noah in his pram and had sat down on a bench feeling tired, lonely and emotional when one of two elderly ladies opposite clearly understood exactly and gently called across to me 'enjoy it all, they will grow up in a flash, time goes very quickly' and that is exactly what happened.
Thank you to Sarah for sharing her story and thank you for reading. If you would like to read more stories or for your work to be shared then follow and tag @artist_parent on Instragam.
