Welcome to Zara's Artsy World...
Hello, and thanks for stopping by to find out a bit more about me and my work!
About me
I am a UK artist currently based in Belper, Derbyshire (but I'm a Londoner at heart). I am a self-taught artist – the only art education I've had was a Fine Art A-Level at school. I have practised my art in one form or another over the years.
After many years trying to fit into the social norms of working a "normal" job for a living, and experiencing burnout over and over again, I have decided in my 40s to finally try and make a go of being a full-time Artist.
About my work
I am at the beginning of my journey, documenting it on Instagram and Facebook. I ran a pet portrait business for a few years, so my artist identity has been linked to that body of work.
This means that I am entering a stage of rediscovery – connecting with what inspires me now to create a new body of work, and hopefully to see a new style and direction emerge.
"Zara's Trees" (an ongoing project)
Initially, I was interested in a series of photographs I took of abstract treetop silhouettes against a stark sky. I took these when I had to move back to London after a painful breakup, and I felt lost and claustrophobic being back in the city.
Looking up at the sky provided a sense of relief, but the trees also seemed to represent the barrier between me and the space I needed to breathe at the time. The crows that feature in some of the photographs spoke to the freedom and escape I craved.
It was a freedom and escape that I craved from myself rather than the city, though. I have always struggled with my mental health. I started creating my digital drawings from these photographs leading up to a diagnosis of a rare type of bipolar disorder called Cyclothymia.
They were often hand-drawn on my iPad during manic phases of total, tunnel-visioned focus. I drew the intricate branches for hours on end, sometimes working throughout the night and into the next day without sleep.
It was a cathartic practice; I wasn't consciously developing a body of artwork at the time.
I am now using those digital drawings as a starting point to launch my new art brand "Zara Makes", and I have released them as open prints and greeting cards in my shop.
I want to develop these further to create a collection of original paintings.
"Home" (current work)
I seem to currently be interested in drawing the things around me; things that feel familiar and that evoke a sense of home – from houseplants and the objects I own, to scenes from my garden and walks with my dog.
I think I am being drawn to this theme because I have had to move house many times over the years, but the things that make me feel "at home" are the objects and memories I take with me each time. I can easily recreate my home now, no matter how unstable my living situation may be.
Drawing "home" feels like I am reinforcing the idea of it, so that it's not just a concept; it's a physical thing, and that feels grounding to me. I'm excited to see where this theme takes me, and the body of original artwork I produce from it.
"Opulent Mutts Pet Sketches"
I am still taking commissions for custom pet sketches via opulentmutts.com. However, I am also keen to develop a collection of original artwork based on my experience of drawing other people's pets living their best lives.
My favourite commissions are the photos I get of dogs being dogs; not necessarily posing for a portrait. I love drawing them racing across fields, sleeping in awkward positions, playing with a favourite toy, or just ambling alongside their owners on a woody walk. I feel these are what speak the truth about that special bond we have with our animals, and the joy they bring into our lives.
How to follow my journey as an Artist
I find it interesting to follow an artist's journey, especially from the early stages when they are still finding their voice and working out what they want to say through what they make and how they present it to the world.
If you would like to follow mine, there are a few ways you can do so while supporting me along the way:
Join my Mailing List – This is the best way you can follow and support my work. I appreciate you trusting me with your email address, and so I only send out news when I have it. You can expect occasional updates, and you will also be the first to know about releases of new original artwork, limited editions, and one-of-a-kinds.
Bookmark My Site – This makes it easier for you to visit my site to see new available work, and have the freedom to visit my blog to catch up with my latest news and posts in your own time, with no distractions from ads and other content.
Social Media – Find me on Instagram and Facebook, but keep in mind that while it may seem like the most convenient way to stay updated, it's not the most effective. Algorithms choose your content for you. Visiting my feed manually from time to time can give you an overall view of how my work is developing and what I am currently working on.
More ways to support me...
If you are looking for ways to support me and my work financially, you can purchase art and greeting cards from my website or get in touch to commission something special.
I am also very happy to accept one-off or recurring donations, although I don't have anything set up to receive these yet. Please get in touch if this is something you would like to do, as I am always appreciative of any gesture that helps me to keep creating and maintaining my art business and career as a full-time artist.
Thanks always for your time and support,
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