Life & Work with Sarah Simmerman

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

Hi Sarah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have been painting all my life. My parents encouraged me from an early age and found me extracurricular art lessons after school. After high school, I went on to earn my Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Savannah College of Art & Design, where I graduated with a major in Graphic Design.

After college, I began my career in graphic design, which eventually morphed into marketing. For 10 years I continued down this path, before taking on a leadership position at a medium-sized local business. At some point along the way, I began to lose my focus on creating art regularly and kept myself so busy I did not realize how much I missed it. Now, I am back to painting daily, and feel better than ever!

Up until recently, I struggled with sharing my artwork with others. Art is so personal and sharing it with the world can be quite intimidating. Last year I decided that it was time to put myself out there. If I was successful, wonderful. If not, at least I will not wake up one day regretting not giving it a try.

I am so grateful that I have had such a positive response to my work over the past year. My work has been added to collections across the county. I hope that my work brings the same joy to others, as it brings me when creating it.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The initial challenge was building up the confidence needed to simply share my work and my story with everyone. I am a very quiet and private person, so putting myself out there was quite a big step.

There are constant challenges with starting a new business on your own. You must learn and manage everything, from finances to marketing to shipping logistics. Time management is very important, as I still need to spend most of my time creating art, or there is no business to manage.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve always been fascinated by color. Colors can create a feeling, inspire a desired mindset, or trigger a memory. In my work, I use color to express myself, my emotions, challenges, and the world around me.

I am intrigued by how individuals can experience the same art differently based on their past experiences; the artwork can tell a unique story to each person. I love that abstract art can convey specific energy by using various brushstrokes, textures, layers, and colors. It can inspire energy and motion or tranquility and peacefulness.

Currently, I have two primary collections. My Abstract Expressionism Collection uses color and texture to convey and tell a story of emotion. My Abstract Desert Landscape collection uses geometric blocks to compose a kaleidoscope of desert shades to create an abstract landscape.

I am so grateful & proud of all of the love and support my work has. I have been included in multiple exhibitions around the Valley over the past year, and additional exhibitions across the country. I am excited every time I find out that someone has chosen to add one of my paintings to their collection.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
The Phoenix area has a marvelous art scene. I love that art and creativity are embraced throughout the state. I really enjoy all the hiking trails throughout the Valley, you can’t beat a sunrise hike in Arizona. The colors in the sky and the reflecting off the mountains are truly inspiring.

I grew up on the east coast so I do miss dense forests, snow, and easy access to the coast every once in a while.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sarahsimmerman.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahsim_art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtbySarahSim
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sarahsimmerman_art