Meet Sara Marzi | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sara Marzi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sara, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
There is not just one thing that inspires me, but if I had to pick the one that drives everything I do is the land. It’s the reason I make art, and most importantly it’s the lens through which I view and understand the world around me. The geography, topography, geology, and ecology of the places I immerse myself represent the compass by which I observe, look, and think about the land. Whether it’s a stream, the peak of a mountain, the barren sight of a desert, a lush valley, or a pristine beach, there I find the source of the existence of my art. As a painter, I find it important to recognize grasses and plants and say which one is native, or walk through the woods and recognize birds by their calls. With that comes a lot of respect and enchantment that I convey on canvas through soft brushstrokes and vibrant colors. Observing the land to identify the organisms and elements that characterize it fuels my desire to capture the beautiful scenes in front of me, and it engenders a profound appreciation for the intrinsic essence of their existence and the forces that sustain their being. If there is a major teaching California has transmitted to me is that each ecosystem is equal in its magnificence, and I am immensely grateful to have learned that as both an artist and aspiring naturalist.

Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Establishing myself as an artist in San Diego has never been easy. I have faced several challenges while trying to get my ‘foot in the door,’ so to speak. The process of gaining recognition, both online and within my community, is one that I am still navigating. I would be lying if I said that the slow pace of progress does not sometimes discourage me. However, there is also a great deal of enjoyment to be found along this journey. I have the opportunity to make a lot of artworks, hone my skills, explore my style, and experiment with various mediums on a daily basis. As long as I am able to continue this pursuit while in college, my desire to strive and dedicate myself to my art cannot fade. Art is, ultimately, my greatest teacher in life. Through colors and observations, I get to understand my surroundings on a deeper level. Without this urge to create a painting, to capture a moment, or to simply share the beauty of a place through paints, I would lack a lot of knowledge and appreciation for the land I find myself in. In school, I have deeply explored topics whose meaning art helped me enhance and share with others. Without my sense of art, my engagement with ecology and geology classes would not have been as fulfilling, for the theoretical knowledge alone would have lacked the vibrant support that my love for colors, shapes, and space provides. Art is empirical and merging it with theoretical knowledge has proven to be the most valuable lesson I have learned as an artist.
Through my art, I aim to share my personal experiences of the natural world that are of excitement, astonishment, and harmony. Within the intimate boundaries of my paintings characterized by vivid colors, graceful subjects, and scenes of a free land, my love for the West is sealed. I want to express nothing but my deep, true love for this country bounded by high mountains, sweetened by lush valleys, and freshened by the comforting breath of the Pacific Ocean, and for all the living beings that inhabit it. My major hope is that the attention I aim to draw to animals and ecosystems will ultimately make the community ponder on the delicacy of such creatures and habitats. The respect I nurture for the natural world is the one I intend to teach through my art.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
More than anything, I would want them to experience the beauty of San Diego County by taking them to the most beautiful beaches, like Black’s Beach or La Jolla Cove, where plenty of seal lions bark at the waves crashing on the shore. Then I would take them to Torrey Pines State Preserve, and after showing them the picturesque cliffs made of sandstone and the deep ravines overlooking the ocean, I would tell them how here there’s our nation’s rarest pine tree, known as Torrey Pines. After a delicious burrito and some churros at The Taco Stand, I would pack the car and take them inland, where we would spend a day venturing in the desert of Anza Borrego, with its golden sand dunes, rugged mountains, and striking rock formations. There is no doubt that San Diego, as a city, has a lot of fun attractions to offer, but to me, there is no better way to experience a place than by knowing its nature.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
When it comes to my art and business, I am thankful to have a supportive husband, who helps me in many ways and believes in my dreams and plans. Without his encouragement, it would be much harder to make art every day among all the other stressful tasks and important commitments of a college student. There is no doubt that without his presence my path would be significantly more challenging than it already is.

Website: https://saramarziart.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saramarziart

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saramarziarte/