Market season is upon us, and we are so excited to share some of the debut stallholders joining our creative community this season. One of those stallholders is Brisbane based illustrator and animator Sarah Capon, AKA eyepicturedthis. When she’s not creating art, watering her ferns or hanging out with her pet corgi Peach, Sarah creates special commissions that celebrate the important people and animals in our lives. She will be joining us in Brisbane on May 20-22 for the first time with her paper illustrations all handcrafted with layered paper.
We chatted with Sarah to learn more about her creative journey and to find out what she’s bringing to the markets this May!
Tell us a little bit about what you do and how you got started?
I’m an illustrator who works with paper by cutting and layering shapes of paper together to create my artwork. I’ve been making paper cut commissions celebrating the important loved ones and animals in people’s lives for the past two years.
How did I get started? Well, two years ago I was working as an animator and visual development artist on a museum exhibition, and then the world stopped. Like a lot of people, I was at home in lockdown with no job to go on with and decided to learn a new skill. I had been working digitally for a long time but wanted to make something that I could physically touch and hold in my hands again. So, I started making art with paper. Just small things at first and then I started making art with people as subjects. Things then escalated quickly; I went from just making things for fun to working full time making commissions for people who found my work on Instagram.
What’s something we might not know about you?
I’m not sure if it’s surprising or not, but I’m generally quite an introverted and shy person! I think it’s funny I’ve ended up in a career where I’m posting myself and my creations on Instagram and TikTok for (sometimes) hundreds of thousands, or even millions of people to see. I’m sure anyone who had to witness a high school presentation from me back in the day would be surprised to see me putting myself and my art out there.
We think you’re pretty courageously creative, what keeps you inspired and motivated?
My motivation comes from a few places depending on what I’m doing. When I’m making commissions for people, I find so much inspiration and motivation from their reactions to their custom pieces. It’s a special feeling to have someone tell you your work has made them so happy. When I’m making art for myself my inspiration and motivation come from exploring the art world online, reading art books about animated films, or even just talking about art/films/animation with a friend or fellow artist.
What is your creative guilty pleasure? What do you do for creative play and creative self-care?
My creative guilty pleasure is deep diving into learning a new creative skill. Last year I learnt lead lighting, and hand building ceramics, and this year I have learnt rug making and copper foiling. I find peace in the act of doing something creative that I don’t have to be perfect at or even share online if I don’t feel like it. Applying my skills to something in a completely new context is exciting because I don’t know the rules and am just having fun. Sometimes when your creative hobby turns into your job (during particularly stressful periods) you can forget how much you love it, and so coming back to it after trying a new craft feels quite refreshing.
Where’s your favourite place to get inspired in Brisbane?
This is a tough question for me because I don’t think I have a *favourite* place to get inspired. It depends on what I need at that time. Maybe I’ll get inspired by doing a creative workshop playing with clay, or maybe I’ll be inspired sitting quietly by the river in Bulimba with my corgi by my side. The most consistently inspiring place for me would be my personal studio space where I can explore my ideas and have fun doing what I love. It’s a place that I have curated to be the perfectly inspiring nest with art, plants and everything I need to make things!
What can shoppers expect from your stall at this event? Tell us if you’re bringing anything new!
Dog and cat lovers get excited! I have been working on a whole series of paper cut dog and cat pieces that I’m bringing to the market. While I’ll be bringing multiple of the same breeds of dogs and cats, every piece will be one of a kind. For a long time I’ve only taken custom commissions, so I’m excited to be able to offer some pet pieces that you can take home on the day.
For anyone who is more interested in leafy pets, I’m also bringing a new series of intricate paper cut plant pieces!
Along with these pieces I will be opening my long -awaited commission slots after a hiatus since October last year. Spaces will be limited!
It’s your first FK event, what are you most looking forward to?
I’m hoping to be able to meet some of the people who’ve been supporting my work online! I have been working for myself from home for 2 years and don’t usually get to meet the people I’ve made commissions for, or who interact with my art in general. It’ll be really nice to have that face-to-face contact instead of emails or comments on a screen.
Connect with Sarah Capon:
www.sarahcapon.com.au
instagram.com/eyepicturedthis
The Finders Keepers – Brisbane/Meanjin Markets
20-22 May 2022
Exhibition Building, Brisbane Showgrounds
Buy tickets here!