Monday, May 14, 2012

Sarah White - Artist of the month

There are painters who transform the sun into a yellow spot, but there are others who, thanks to their art and intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun.
- Pablo Picasso

I have always admired art, people who have flair with brush and canvas and their incredible creations. Today I’d like to feature a very prominent artist in Oman, Sarah White.



Sarah White studied art at Canterbury College of Art, obtained a BA Hons in Fine Art the University of the West of England and a Master’s with distinction in Fine Art (specialising in printmaking) from the Royal College of Art (RCA), London. At the RCA, she was the recipient of many distinguished prizes including the Darwin Scholarship, the Fleur Cowles Award and the Rosenberg Foundation Prize. Sarah has participated in both group and solo exhibitions in London, New York, Stockholm and Muscat since 1986. Her artwork is inspired by her connection to the man-made and often derelict environment and a presence of human history, cultural reflections, perceptions of beauty and embellishment, myths and legends, memories and dreams.

She has greatly contributed to the development of art in Oman for over 2 decades; as an artist, curator, art consultant and author (having published the first book in English on contemporary art in Oman). She had a leading role in the establishment and current development of Bait al Zubair Museum, where she is Museum Director and Arts Advisor of the Bait Al Zubair Foundation. Omani Society for Fine Arts(OSFA)have also recognized Sarah’s contribution to the development of art in Oman and she is the recipient of an honorary prize for her artworks exhibited in the 2010 annual Fine Art Show. Sarah is dedicated to promoting global awareness of the arts, heritage and culture in the Sultanate and the enhancement of national pride

Her advice to upcoming artists-
"You need to train your hand and eye to capture what you really see and this requires concentration and continual practice, work from life not photographs. Once you learn the basics start to experiment in a creative yet consistent way. Keep your heart and mind open. You never know enough and you can always learn more. Art is a journey of discovery that can provide both positive and negative impacts, it can enable you to learn much more about yourself and the world around you. Art is idea, is inward thought, is outward expression, is culture, artists work with their head, hands and hearts. Art is everywhere, is creative energy, is ever-evolving, is reflection and artists make us see and expand our horizons!"


Here are some of her incredible paintings that will leave you mesmerized by the colors, aesthetic details and texture -



Title: Mono-brow
Statement: this is part of a series connected with perceptions of beauty, embellishment and dress, inspired by contemporary fashions and weddings in Oman.



Title: A Life Eclectic
Statement: This piece reflects Sarah's identity as a 3rd culture artist, having lived over half her life in Oman and originating from UK and coming from a family who have lived outside the UK predominantly in this area, having developed and nurtured an eclectic lifestyle and taste. It reflects personal emotions, fears, challenges and passions.



Title: Hidden
Statement: this is part of a series titled ‘painted poetry’. Messages are painted and hidden behind a traditional facade of vernacular architecture in Oman, secret messages from the past, that are tucked into the mud stucco



Title: Flower Power
Statement: this is part of a series connected with embellishment and dress, inspired by contemporary fashions and weddings in Oman.



Title: Love
Statement: a playful piece inspired by sunshine, love & friendship.



Title: A Walk into somebody else’s life
Statement: this is about intrusion on space and culture.


If you would like to get in touch with Sarah to know more about her work you can email her at sarahwhiteart@gmail.com and join her facebook page Sarah White Artist.


All images courtesy Sarah White


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

:-) what a lovely article about a wonderful lady

Rachel said...

Thank you... RIP Sarah White... will miss you and your creativity.