Check out Sarah Craig’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Craig.

Sarah, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I am originally from Europe and moved to the States a few years ago. I have been a card reader since my early teenage years. Art has always been a part of my life as well. I have studied art for several years and have a degree in Visual arts and education. It is as an art teacher that I first started my career. Now I am the proud owner of Sugar Moon Magic, an online business/community that’s completely run by me. One of the things I do is online card readings, although I would like to start doing them in person as well. Because of my European background, I use the Madame Lenormand cards instead of the better known Tarot-cards.

Besides the card readings, I offer spell work, sell witchcraft supplies and Pagan/Wiccan inspired artwork, as well as feminist inspired stickers and postcards.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
The art I create for Sugar Moon Magic, can be divided into two groups, there’s the Pagan or Wiccan inspired artwork, Often in a very graphical, black and white style by using traditional pen and ink, and then there’s all the feminist-inspired artwork, that’s more colorful, maybe even a bit quirky and whimsical at times.

A new recently started project, are the Sabbath boxes. These boxes are made to give people the opportunity to celebrate the 8 Sabbaths (Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, Mabon, Samhain and Yule). Everything you need to celebrate these Sabbaths is included, and each box comes with two originally designed Pagan/Wiccan inspired artwork postcards.

All the other art in my online shop is feminist-inspired. I currently sell postcards, stickers and votive candles with my artwork. In the future things like t-shirts, patches and pins might be added to the assortment.

As being a female entrepreneur, I think it’s important to support and encourage other women. It is an artist’s job to not only inspire the public but to make sure certain messages come across. It’s important for us, women to take a stand, state our opinion and be proud of it. Since my work has a positive, empowering message and is focused on not only the importance of self-love but also on helping others, ten percent of each sale gets donated to a local Phoenix women’s shelter called Umom.

I believe together. We really can make a difference. It can be through the financial donations, as you support the women’s shelter with each sale. But it can also be through sharing a certain post that might inspire someone who needs it. It can be by talking about self-love and self-care or as being an ally for all other people that need one.

Unfortunately, even during these modern times, a lot of people still feel like they have to ‘hide in the closet.’ We as females, mothers, witches… should unite and stand up for ourselves. And not only for ourselves, but we should also be an ally for all other people or communities (people of color, the transgender community, LGBTQIA, sex workers, …) that might need our support. The times of getting burned at the stake are over, and nobody should have to feel as if they have to hide their true personality.

Do current events, local or global, affect your work and what you are focused on?
I don’t think the role of artists has changed. I think an artist’s role has always been to communicate certain messages/opinions and to maybe open up the eyes of the general public a little bit. It’s an artist’s job to question regular day society and to share other ideas and opinions, even if those are considered the ‘unpopular’ ones. It’s a way of expressing our thoughts, and different view on things that other people might not question anymore and to support groups of people that need an ally, as I mentioned earlier in the interview.

I think artists all through art history have always done this. Even when there wasn’t freedom of speech under certain government systems, artists would always find a way to share their thoughts, take a stand and criticize their society anyway.

What has changed is that it’s a lot easier these days to share our art and message behind our work through social media. It’s also a lot easier to be in touch with other like-minded people, who might be living on another continent.

I think national and international events definitely influence my artwork. Feminism is a very topical subject. But I would like to go even further and maybe let more international or global issues inspire me to make a difference on that level.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I use Etsy and Instagram. You can see and buy my work, or order a card reading through my online Etsy shop (sugarmoonmagic). You can also follow me on Instagram (@sugarmoonmagic) where I post very frequently about feminism and card reading/witchcraft related things. I’m building a positive community on there, where we can support, inspire and empower each other. I talk about the theory behind the card readings, for people that are interested in learning more about it. Other subjects are: the importance of self-love and acceptance, the power of positive thinking, the law of attraction, but things like reiki, meditation, the healing power of crystals and my connection with the moon are often mentioned too.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.etsy.com/shop/sugarmoonmagic
• Phone: 6023380499
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/sugarmoonmagic

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.