I Am An Artist Feature | Sarah Shotts

As part of launch week of my new I Am An Artist Print + Project, I am introducing you to some of my favorite artists and how their print reflects their journeys and who they are. I love Sarah's approach to art, creativity, and life and am so happy to have her as one of this week's artists. Please see her work and words below!

"I am an artist" feature, sarah shotts

 

SARAHSHOTTS.COM | @SARAHDSHOTTS

 

When Olivia invited me to participate I knew right away I wanted to try cyanotype for this project. Sometimes this process is referred to as sun printing because it involves exposing sun sensitive paper to UV light. It’s a blend of photographic and printmaking techniques.

I’ve dabbled with sun printing in the past using pretreated paper, but have always been curious about mixing my own solution. This can then be applied to paper, fabric, wood, or even pottery.

Here’s how the process works:

First you pour 400ml water into two jars. You then measure out bright red crystals into one jar. And deep golden brown into the next. Stir and let fully dissolve for 24 hours. (I was feeling very mad scientist at this point.)

Next you dim the lights and apply the solution to your paper. You can submerge whole sheets in trays, but I used a paintbrush. For this piece I kept the brush strokes for a painterly effect. At this point it is a pale spring green. 

Once dry you can place objects or negatives on the paper and cover with a clear glass plate. Then expose to light. On a bright sunny day the color darkens right away and eventually shifts to a dark coppery blue. After it’s fully exposed the print is then rinsed and hung to dry. Over 24 hours the blue deepens into a vibrant cobalt.

"I am an artist" feature, sarah shotts

"I am an artist" feature, sarah shotts

I chose cyanotype purely on an intuitive level, but it also turned out to be the perfect metaphor for my creativity. 

The heart and soul of my creative process is curiosity. I love learning new things and experimenting with techniques that combine different mediums. The botanicals I used for my sun print represent the important role that nature plays in my creative process. I find it is a powerful metaphor for creative exploration and is also restorative, meditative, and inspirational. It’s a key part of balancing my creativity and mental health.

I’ve enjoyed this project, and can’t wait to see how all the other prints turned out!

"I am an artist" feature, sarah shotts

The idea of following our curiosity seems to get a little bit lost sometimes as we get older. Sarah reminds me how important it is to continue to be curious and find wonder and awe in the things around us. We never know where they may lead!

What are you curious about? What elements in nature speak to you? How do you balance your creativity and mental health?

You can learn more about Sarah by visiting her website, SarahShotts.com, Instagram, YouTube Channel, and podcast! She is also hosting a 10 week creative retreat that begins Sept 6th--I've signed up and can't wait to dive in! If this sounds like it might be for you, learn more about the program here: Discover Your Creative Ecosystem

Thank you Sarah for sharing this interesting process (it's something I have always wanted to try and learn more about!) as well as your print and story with us. I think it beautifully captures who you are and the art you create!

Keep an eye out for tomorrow's artist feature! This artist had a very special role in making this print possible. Have a wonderful rest of your day and talk to you soon!

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