Contemporary artist Sara Pope is known for her bold, seductive paintings of voluptuous lips. Taking inspiration from a successful career in the fashion industry (as a shoe designer for brands such as Paul Smith), and also her work in magazines as a designer and art director, Sara aims to capture the glamour and seductive power conveyed by the lips and mouth. Here, we spend a day in the life of Sara Pope, from morning workouts to finding it hard to switch off at the end of the day.
MY ALARM GOES OFF…
Recently, I’ve started doing the ‘Wim Hof’ course first thing - the Ice Man! It’s a mixture of breathing, yoga, meditation and then a cold shower. I never feel like doing it first thing, so it’s always a mental challenge to wake up and start, but I know it makes me feel good afterwards, so I crank up the motivation. Also, I give myself the promise of a chocolate and coconut croissant (they have to be eaten to be believed), on the other side.
HOW I STARTED LIFE AS AN ARTIST…
At school I was more obsessed with fashion and make up than art; how you can express yourself through the way you look, the colours you use, and the shapes you make, and all the subtle inferences that go with how you choose to present yourself to others. Later on when I was actually working in fashion, I loved it and I loved the creativity, but at one point it just didn’t feel enough, I needed more depth. Art can incorporate so many things, philosophy, psychology, maths, popular culture… so that’s when I felt compelled to start painting.
MY TYPICAL DAY…
I actually don’t have a typical day, which is one thing I love about life as an artist (Lockdown has obviously thwarted that). Usually though, I might be in my studio painting, or travelling to visit galleries, or doing a photoshoot, or travelling abroad to do exhibitions. I love to spend time alone in my studio creating, but I also love to feel connected, so I like going to exhibitions, meeting with people and seeing what’s happening in the art world.
MY MOST MEMORABLE ARTISTIC MOMENT…
The first time I had an exhibition I sold three original artworks. I was kind of blown away by that. Until that point my paintings hadn’t left my kitchen/makeshift studio, so I didn’t have any notion that my art may be of interest to the wider world. Seeing that people were engaged by my art massively encouraged me to continue making it.
THE WORST PART OF BEING AN ARTIST…
I do find it very hard to switch off and relax. Lockdown is not helping…!
THE BEST PART OF BEING AN ARTIST…
I love the creation part of being an artist, all the parts of the process, from mixing lipstick colours, to the photoshoots, and of course the best part, painting. I do also like exhibiting my work and seeing how people react to it. Often people seem to find a joyfulness in my art, which resonates with me as I find it a joyful thing to create. That feels satisfying.
AFTER I CLOSE MY STUDIO DOOR AT THE END OF THE DAY…
I often like to be out and about, going to exhibition openings, meeting friends, eating out. But it could also be just a yoga class then cooking some tasty food at home.
IF I WASN’T AN ARTIST, I WOULD BE...
I have an already realised ambition, to work in fashion as a shoe designer. Another one would be to create something with makeup.
