ARTIST FEATURE: Sara Bryce

Tell us a little about yourself; where are you from and what do you do?

My name is Sara Dimitriadis, and I grew up in Preston, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. I live with my husband who is studying music. During the day I work as a Librarian and Academic Skills Tutor at an Arts College. I spend most of my free time at home painting.

How did you get started in the painting?

I actually always wanted to be an illustrator and was quite determined. I started painting in high school due to my art teacher encouraging me to pursue painting but because I couldn’t paint portraits or landscapes I never thought I was any good at it. I stopped painting for a long time after high school but began drawing and illustrating again when I moved to a small town in Victoria a couple of years ago. I didn’t really get that far with it and stopped. Once I moved back to Melbourne I started messing around with paints again, I’m not really sure why but I loved the direction I was going in and I was so inspired by Melbourne and being back home. I just went with it and it’s turned into something I love!

Tell us a little about your artistic work process.

Generally, I set aside some time in my day or week and pop on my overalls or my painting top and that’s sometimes all I need to get started! I’m not the most organised person so just deciding in my own brain that it’s painting time works for me. If I scheduled it on a calendar or something I probably would never get around to it! But I make little promises with myself and that seems to work! Having a full time job means I can’t paint as much as I wish I could but it’s okay, I have a pretty great job! At this point it’s not something I have to really force myself to do, so I am able to go at my own pace.

How would you describe your artistic aesthetic?

I love symmetry, in all senses of the word. When it comes to decor, art, and even marketing (I bought a new shampoo the other day because the packaging was so symmetrical and lovely) I am all about it being symmetrical! So, I guess I would say that.

What inspires your artwork?

Colour has always been a huge inspiration. As well as architecture and the weather. Lately I have been loving blues, greys, and oranges so much. As we’re going into autumn here the changing colours of the season against the city landscape is my main inspiration. The ocean will often inspire me as well. I also think having a creative husband and working at an Arts College is so inspiring!

Who are some of your favorite artists?

I have always been so in love with Picasso; his paintings and illustrations have always been a favourite of mine. My other favourite is Keith Haring, I remember loving him from a pretty young age too. Probably because of Sesame Street, haha. My city is pretty lucky to have a Keith Haring mural, which is really amazing! I really love a lot of local Melbourne artists as well. Frances Cannon, Minna Gilligan, and Caitlin She are some of my favourites. There are so many amazing creative ladies in Melbourne who I love, I wish I could list them all!

Do you work in any other artistic mediums?

Sort of! I am in the process of getting my paintings turned into fabric. I received some sample fabric the other day in lycra! I am looking into turning a lot of my paintings into swimwear for next summer! It’s very exciting but a little bit scary!

How do you fill your time when you’re not painting or working?

I have a full time job, which is not the easiest thing to juggle when you’re an artist but I somehow manage! I also love going to the cinema and swimming! I live around the corner from my family and my husbands family so we spend a lot of lovely time with them. 🙂

Tell us a few things that fascinate you.

I am so fascinated by natural history, put me in front of The Blue Planet and I won’t move.

And as mentioned, I am inspired by the ocean and I’m also so fascinated by it. There are still undiscovered parts of it, which is crazy and it never stops! It’s constantly moving!