Meet Sarah Rosa Glickman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Rosa Glickman.

Hi Sarah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Thank you so much! I was born in the Bronx, NY, raised by my superwoman of a mother in Rhode Island, and moved to North Carolina to get my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2014.

In 2020, when the pandemic hit, I found myself jobless and in need of an income. I have always made art, but at that point, I had never sold my art before. Creating my pieces had always been something just for me – a way to isolate myself from my thoughts and feelings. But, I needed to pay my bills, and I had piles of artwork that had accumulated over the years.

So, I took some pictures and made a Facebook post. The amount of support and encouragement that I received from my friends, family, and beyond was eye-opening. It made me realize that I have something special – an ability to create tangible representations of emotions and feelings. But more importantly, these creations of mine have the ability to speak to other people – to connect with people from all walks of life in all kinds of ways. And that they want to see it, they want me to share with them. The best way to explain it is that it felt like all the puzzle pieces of my life finally fell into place. I finally felt like I was doing what I was meant to do. I had been fighting it for a while, my natural desire and passion to create and to see art in everything, everywhere, all the time.

I was trying to mold myself to fit what I had been told I was meant to be and meant to do, and had closed my mind to the idea of pursuing the one thing that made me feel the most me. My art. So, I made an Instagram page, loaded it with pictures of my work, and googled art galleries in my area. That’s when I came across Cecy’s Gallery & Studios on Foster Street in Downtown Durham. I went in one day and introduced myself to Cecy, showed her my work, and was invited to show my pieces. She also introduced me to Davit, the owner of a shop inside of her gallery, Heal Tree CBD, who was looking to hire an operations manager. I didn’t know much about CBD but the opportunity to work with such great people while being completely surrounded by art was everything that I wanted. I did a lot of research and educated myself as much as I could and was fortunate enough to be given the position.

The time that I spent working for Heal Tree and inside of Cecy’s helped me learn and grow my understanding of what goes into running a business. It was such a special experience being able to help people through Heal Tree while also being able to meet people who were seeing my art on the wall and were interested in purchasing or commissioning. My time working at Heal Tree and inside of Cecy’s taught me about taxes, inventory, and the value of valuing yourself and your own potential. From here, I was given the opportunity to work at Artpost Art Supplies & Studios. The owner, Holly, and her team have taught me so much about the world of art and the beautiful community that we have here.

I began getting involved in the art market scene and had a lot of success with selling at markets. I prioritized these, trying to do at least 1 to 2 each week, which allowed me to secure the income I needed to pay my bills and my rent while also having a decent amount of free time to work on more pieces, different pieces, and to pursue other opportunities. Now I am 27 and spend the majority of my time working on commissions, markets, live painting events, collaborations, and continuing to learn about who I am as a person and as an artist.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve had my fair share of road bumps and obstacles throughout my life – things that have nearly destroyed me, but ultimately have helped me develop my strength, solidify my passions, and understand myself. There will always be hardships, heartache, and hard times, but, in the words of poet Rupi Kaur, “If you were born with the weakness to fall, you were born with the strength to rise.” If ever I feel weak, if ever something feels unfixable, if ever a pain feels too powerful to overcome, I remind myself of this.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love to paint and draw. My style changes based on the creative phase I am in, but my favorite mediums to work with lately have been acrylic paint and drawing. I have been focusing a lot on my line drawings – one line, continuous line, contour, and blind contour style. These designs allow me to depict the human face, body, experience, and the connection between these and nature. They are simplistic and minimalistic in their form, but full of power in their concepts.

But, sometimes I want to paint with no real direction, just pour all of my feelings and thoughts and battles out from within me and onto a canvas. This is where my abstract paintings come from – within. These are the pieces that I really disappear into when creating. I lay out all of my paints by color with my palette knives and brushes, put on the music that I feel connects the best with the mindset I’m feeling, and then I wait. I wait for the colors to tell me which one wants to be used, which painting instrument, and what the placement will be. These feelings can be so intense and strong, filling my whole body with an answer or guidance right away, but I can also stand there staring at the piece for long stretches of time waiting for the next move to come to me.

I also love to use the leftover paint from a painting to add art to clothing. I will do a big thrift haul of jean and khaki material jackets, pants, jumpsuits, etc., and add a mixture of leftover paint and line designs (like the pants I am wearing in the photo). Creating a painting with an accompanying jacket is my favorite type of commission because it allows the client to wear a piece of their painting, carrying it with them wherever they’d like.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Sometimes it can be easy to experience tunnel-vision with our work, focusing all of our time, energy, and attention on our own path and our own creations. What I have found is the more that I open my eyes and my mind to taking in, appreciating, and understanding the work of others, the more people I connect with.

Their inspirations, motivations, and approaches not only allow me to see new perspectives and approaches to creating, but also to find others with who I share goals and interests. I don’t have a single mentor, but rather a whole community of artists, makers, and entrepreneurs who I have connected with and can observe their success and reach out to with questions and for advice.

I have people I talk inspiration with, people I talk taxes and business with, people I talk markets and opportunities with, and people I create with. Staying curious and being confident in pursuing that curiosity is my best advice.

Contact Info:

• Email: sarahrosacreations@gmail.com
• Website: www.sarahrosacreations.com
• Instagram: @sarahrosacreations

Image Credits
Liz Pope