Artist Interview | Sara Conca

We sat down with gallery artist Sara Conca to discuss everything from her art influences to her studio space to an exciting current project!

I make giving pieces – they create a connection between the viewer and the flow of the universe. Nature is a beautiful source for healing. As a plen aire artist, I draw on the organic beauty of my surroundings.

My painting technique pushes these ideas even further. Traditionally, artists paint from back to front – creating their background, then middle ground, then foreground, controlling each step along the way. I paint in reverse on the back of a clear sheet of acrylic, so the first marks I put down are the foreground of the painting. I have a bit less control with this technique. There’s no way to take back any mistakes - so I just accept them. I can have an image in my mind that I want to create (and, being both ambidextrous and dyslexic, it’s easier for me to think in reverse visually), but ultimately, I rely heavily on prayer and intuition so that my idea will come through and the right energies will jump in. By working in reverse, the work becomes pure and primal and has its own signature print.

When I was younger, my main influence was Salvador Dali. Later, I was inspired by de Kooning and Joan Mitchell’s works. Now, I draw most of my inspiration from my natural surroundings and my innate will to create. I live on the banks of a river in a very rural part of Florida, so my home constantly fuels my art.

My materials are so important to my work. I use crystals (they make my paintings change in the light, adding a dynamic feel), mica flakes (to open up the heart chakra), key shavings (to open the doors of the mind), precious metals like silver dust and gold flakes, raw pigments, and more. I want each piece to look like it’s alive, not only with paint and movement but also with natural materials that the living earth provides.

I have two studios – an outdoor one next to the garden and river, and an indoor one. They’re a “lovely mess.” I like to work in my own chaos. Creativity is messy! So while the house is clean, the studio is not.

All of them! I love the wide range of materials I use in my paintings and I love mixing things up and using different tools.

One special tool that I got from my brother is a five-in-one – the kind you’d find on a construction site. I use it all the time to scrape and add paint and create texture. My family came from the construction business, so I use a lot of those materials to make my art.

People tend to react very emotionally to my work. I even saw a woman cry while at one of my shows in Paris. I’ve had similar reactions to my shows in New York. The energy and emotion I put into each piece really does touch people in a special and significant way.

I can’t share all the details yet, but I’m currently working on a permanent solo collection that will span five floors of a special public space. It’s extremely exciting – stay tuned for more info!

I can’t not make art. That’s a little like asking, “Why do you breathe?” I would die if I couldn’t paint – it’s such a huge part of who I am. Don’t talk to me if I haven’t painted in a week!

Ultimately, I create these pieces for myself – each piece is something I’d want for my own home. When one of them finds a new home, I think, “Oh, I’ll create another to replace it for my own home” – but then that piece finds a new home, too! Michael Murphy is the only person who can convince me to part with my favorite pieces. We are great friends and I am glad to have Michael Murphy Gallery as my premier gallery.