By June Mathews
Nature often inspires the work of mixed media artist Sarah Mason.
Known for her quietly colorful Abstract Florals and ethereal Mysterious Forest collections, her art has morphed into a style that’s all her own. Over the years her work has undergone subtle changes in technique and materials, and she’s learned to look to her inner self for creative guidance.
“I paint out of what I feel,” she said. “I’m most influenced by something I’ve seen or listened to. I might see something in a dream or watch something in a show, and I’ll feel art coming out of it.”
Until recently, most of Mason’s work was done in watercolor. Then she branched out into other media, including ink.
“Ink is similar to watercolor in the way it responds to water, and it’s been fun to experiment with it,” she said. “I’ve found the ink is a bit more vibrant and more permanent. Watercolor is more forgiving as far as going back and changing things. But ink, once it’s dried, is there.”
She also recently switched from using wood or canvas for her primary surfaces to paper.
“I’ve been doing a stain on paper that gives it a vintage look and a beautiful backdrop,” she said. “I think that with the economy and the way art has changed, a paper piece is more affordable than a big canvas. I used to do a lot of work on repurposed cabinet wood in watercolor, but those pieces were getting more expensive to create.”
Mason is a classically trained musician with an emphasis on voice who started teaching herself how to paint about 10 years ago. A doodler as a kid, she was never good at drawing. But back then, she considered art the ability to draw perfect representations, so when it came to choosing music or art, she opted for music.
It wasn’t until she was in her 30s that she began teaching herself art and discovered the joy of painting with watercolors.
“There’s something magical about learning the process on your own that makes you more excited to keep doing it,” she said. “I tend to feel that you can’t teach art exactly; it either comes naturally or it doesn’t. And you certainly can’t teach creativity. You can try to help someone along and give them suggestions, but that’s something you’ve either got or you don’t.”
As for future endeavors, Mason’s work seems to be trending toward true abstracts with “lots of different colors.” She’s also interested in trying oil painting and has already experimented with adding oils to some of her current work to see how it turns out.
“I feel something different coming on,” she said. “But I usually work on new concepts in the down season. Right now, I’m concentrating on the spring show season.”
She’ll start with the Magic City Art Connection, a show she’s been participating in for eight or nine years. MCAC, she said, is a fun event with plenty of activities for kids.
“For some, it’s a family tradition,” said Mason. “I consider Birmingham a very supportive art community, and the artists support one another as well. It’s been exciting to me that the arts are so well supported here.”
MCAC’s spring art festival will take place April 26-28, in tandem with Corks & Chefs: A Taste of Birmingham, at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark.
Magic City Art Connection Festival and Corks & Chefs Run Together April 26-28
Two events will combine for a weekend of food and art when Magic City Art Connection’s 41st annual spring art festival and the 27th annual Corks & Chefs: A Taste of Birmingham return to Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark on April 26-28.
The weekend signals a convergence of artists and tastemakers of all kinds and is a much-anticipated springtime tradition for art collectors and culinary enthusiasts.
Joining the festival’s featured artist Bryce Speed will be 150 juried fine artists, along with Imagine Festival art workshops for kids, Collectors Classroom art demos, live music and dance, food trucks and other activities.
The art festival will be open from noon until 6 p.m., Friday; from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., Saturday; and from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., Sunday. Day tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the gate. Visit magiccityart.com for more information.
Corks & Chefs will take place Saturday and Sunday from noon until 3 p.m. both days. Three tasting seminars will be presented each day under the Casting Shed to spotlight local tastemakers presenting culinary delights to pair with select wines, craft beer, spirits, cocktails and coffee.
Tickets, which cover entry to the festival all three days, are $55 in advance and $65 at the gate. Visit corksandchefs.com for more information.
