Sarah McGrain

I am inspired by Nature. All of my paintings and ceramic sculptures feature landscapes or animals. I find so much beauty and peace in Nature. In the spring, I love seeing the green come back and take over, watching the water flow in the creek, and listening to the birds sing. I want my artwork to capture the majesty of the natural world, and its magic.

I love animals, and I enjoy that I can express that through ceramic sculpture. Animals are both relatable and mysterious, a paradox I hope to convey with my ceramic works. I am fascinated by fantastical, exotic animals from different continents that look like they belong in fantasy novels. I love making sculptures of these animals. Specifically I make jars, similar to canopic jars from ancient Egypt, where the animal’s body is the container and the head is the lid. I start from the bottom up, with a flat slab, and work my way up with layers of coils. For a while the jars don’t look like animals, until certain key details are added; for example, my red panda sculpture initially looked like a pair of pants, until I added the tail. I enjoy that these sculptures can be used for something instead of collecting dust on a shelf.

While I haven’t been able to make my paintings utilitarian, yet, I do also enjoy painting. I’ve painted quite a few of my pets, along with landscapes. I relate to my pets a lot: the way Zoe sprawls across the floor when she’s tired, or how Chance whines when the dog licks his face. However, they also mystify me, like when they stare off at seemingly nothing, seeing something you cannot.

In my landscape paintings I want to capture a vastness that dwarfs humanity. Nature is so allencompassing, and I enjoy putting that on a flat surface. I love how paradoxical it is: so much space conveyed on something so flat. I want my art to evoke awe the way Nature evokes awe in me. I want my artwork to inspire people to go outside and look at the world.