Clear with Sarah in 2025 - clear 1 item a day for 1 year.

Hello my friends, if you have seen that I’m doing a ‘get rid of something each day for 1 year’ challenge -then you are in the right place. These are quick notes to help you along.

Artists: I wouldn’t recommend drawing each piece - the 100 day project is hard enough without making that a thing for a whole year - and it will be even harder to get rid of that stuff! Perhaps if you get rid of a family heirloom or fond childhood thing, you could draw it as a lovely memento, or a photo is a good plan too.

The reason I am doing this?

I like to declutter - I made it a thing for the last 7 years at least…if not more. The thing is, I realised long ago, you are never done - not if you keep buying new things or being given stuff, or move house and need other stuff and not the old stuff. I believe in Feng shui - I don’t practice it religiously, but having moved enough furniture around and having gotten of quite a lot of stuff, I can feel the energy moving differently throughout the house or room

.

here are my decluttering rules:

1 thing a day has to go!

1 physical item you no longer want.

I suggest having a box by the front door, or somewhere easy to reach and see on a daily basis. Just a small box which you fill up each week or month, then go to the charity shop, recycling bins, etc.

You can have a box of things to sell if you like - I would suggest making a rule that the box has to be photographed and uploaded weekly or monthly for sale. if it doesn’t sell, or you don’t do the uploading then it goes to the charity shop with the other stuff. I learnt that for myself; holding onto things that I think may bring some money in isn’t worth the space and energy it takes up. Uploading it to eBay, or FB marketplace takes a little time, and I dislike doing that too - so I would rather give it away in most cases - even furniture.

What if I want to throw more than 1 thing away per day?

This is absolutely fine and I encourage it, but - there will be days where it is harder to do this emotionally, and time-wise. I think it is good to have a few things earmarked for the next day or so. Although if you have a few of the same type of thing, it may be silly to stretch it out. ie: 3 matching baubles you no longer like.

Can I change my mind?

Yes - it is why I suggested a box. But f you take something out - you must replace it with something else. And remember it must go at the end of the period - ie 1 month.

Can I throw digital files etc?

Yes - if you really can’t find a physical one. But if it was me, I would delete at least 20-50 per day. That is because digital files (I think) are easier to find, there are lots of them, deleting 50 emails or photos will make a dent, but deleting just one wont.

Be aware of the temptation to fill the space again:

It’s OK to buy a few things if you need them, but watch out for the need to fill the space again - it creeps in and then you’re in the same place. Maybe think to only buy things you really need and like if you can.

If you struggle with getting rid of anything:

Really think about what is stopping you. -what does the item mean to you? Can you get that from another item you are keeping? Try putting it in the box, and you can swap it if you aren’t ready, or try later in the year. Focus on the space it will create.

Can I start at any time?

Yes - in fact don’t the experts say not to do these things in January?! Start any day but try and do it consecutively for a year. - this will really get you think about the things you are keeping in your home and whether you REALLY need it.

What if I go away?

Do the days before you go, or focus on getting rid of digital files while you are away.

Can I share my journey?

Yes, this can help keep you accountable. You could take a photo and add it to your stories on IG, and use the hashtag #clearwithsarah so we can cheer each other along.

OK so that is it I think, feel free to ask questions. I’m not an expert, I just enjoy the process and wonder in an alterntive life I may have been a house clearer!

Be kind to yourself and take the time you need over items that are more difficult.

Sarah x

PAINTINGS: INTERIOR and EXTERIOR

Hello friend,

I’m thrilled to release these two original paintings: ‘INTERIOR’ and ‘EXTERIOR’ as part of the Interior/Exterior collection. The collection will be live on this website from 1-10 December 2023.

“Savouring time I’ve carved out for myself; that is the practise. Being really present with your experience, no matter what it is, instead of trying to have this expectation to fit that mould. Instead we flip it, reverse it and savour the experience of simply showing up and we allow the present moment to be the window into the next. Tis is what mindful practise is all about, working from the inside out. From interior to the exterior, not the other way around.”

— Adrienne Mishler, Yoga With Adrienne.

‘Exterior’. Acrylic and Mixed media on Paper.

Made with Acrylic and Crayon on Paper. Layers of paint building upon the last. Starting with line work and following on with filled shapes, scratching into and textured dashes. A new abstract challenge for me was to stick with a limited palette, allowing me to focus on the form, tones, and values.

‘Exterior’. Acrylic and Mixed Media on Paper.

‘Interior’. Acrylic and Mixed Media on Paper.

‘Interior’ Acrylic and mixed media

Working to find a balance between movement (of the looser brush strokes) and stability (the heavier straighter edges). I often find I need this in my own life, a sort of grounding in a sea of emotions.

The two pieces were finished after my trip to Bude, in Cornwall. We spent a week by the sea, travelling in day trips up and down the coast from North Devon to Tangelli in Cornwall. Sandymouth Bay was a particular favourite with the rocks being so dramatic, and on the rainy day we went, the mood of the beach was extreme (we still went in the sea)!

Close-up of a plein-air sketch made on the beach at Bude

Small sketch made on the beach. Bude, Cornwall

Sandymouth Bay in North Devon on a very rainy day.

At Bude beach, Cornwall

Whenever I spend time in nature, I am hugely inspired. Spending time amongst the rocks and the sea influenced these pieces, I can see the connection in the work, and as I sit here typing , occasionally glancing at the pieces, they have a life and energy of their own - a strange thing to feel something come to life like that, when you perhaps assume it to be without.

Close-up of ‘Exterior’

Close-up of ‘Interior’

I loved getting them framed, it’s a wonderful thing to see them feeling so finished and ready to go (it really does make a huge difference and would encourage you to think about framing your art professionally). They both are works on paper, which have been professionally mounted onto board, then framed in an open wooden tray style frame, (Not under glass). They are both fixed and then waxed to seal and protect the pieces. The wax gives the surface a levelled matte finish.

These two can be a pair, or sold separately. They work together and were made at the same time, but work well alone.

If you are local to me (Honeybourne, Evesham) I can arrange to bring a painting to you so you can see how it would look in your space. If you aren’t local, we can set up a zoom call if you’d like to talk face to face about the work and show me where it may go in your home, or even to discuss a commission for a different sized piece to fit a space better. Or feel free to email me at sarah@sarahpapworth.com.

All paintings will be sent flat with board for protection along with a certificate of authenticity.

Many thanks, Sarah.

The Homeward Collection

Hello and welcome to my first collection of paintings;

THE HOMEWARD COLLECTION

A collection of 6 pieces, Acrylic and mixed media on matt board.

These original works were created throughout 2020. This is the page I created for the launch, and I wanted to make it into a blog post. So here it is!

The paintings started as an exploration of colour and form, and ended in something bigger, a journey into my voice, and a reflection of the journey that my body was taking me on through perimenopause. These were my first group of finished paintings that I made available for sale.

Layers of paint build up on the board, each with energy and feeling. Reconnecting to wild landscape, a return to the soul-home; that peaceful and recognisable place within each of us.

“While you cannot crawl back into the uterus again, you can return to the soul-home. It is not only possible, it is requisite.”

— Clarissa Pinkola Estés. Women Who Run With The Wolves

The paintings are not of specific places, but through spending more time with nature locally in Worcestershire, and by the sea in Cornwall, it has influenced the work. I can see the textures and shape mimicked there.

My hope is that you will receive a sense of the love and energy put into each of these pieces and that the work is healing for you as it has been for me.

‘Solitude’

Acrylic and Mixed Media on Matt Board.

12 x 16 x 0.1 inches

SOLD

‘Surfacing’

Acrylic and Mixed Media on Matt Board. 9 x 12 x 0.1 inches

‘The Growing House’

Acrylic and Mixed Media on Matt Board. 8 x 10 x 0.1 inches

SOLD

‘Ether’

Acrylic and Mixed Media on Matt Board. 9 x 12 x 0.1 inches

‘Homeward’

Acrylic and Mixed Media on Matt Board. 7 x 9 x 0.1 inches

‘Inlet’

Acrylic and Mixed Media on Matt Board.

11 x 14 x 0.1 inches

SOLD

“I enjoy the journey, I feel like a guide, coaxing the painting into form, celebrating colour and shape relationship. Finding freedom in letting go and then, building connections and story.

Nature, particularly wild land, sea and overgrown forgotten areas pull me back to the canvas. Making their way into my work through texture, colour and feeling.

I use old decorating brushes, forks and sticks to achieve the textures I prefer. I also enjoy using graphite pencil and artist crayons alongside the acrylic paint to achieve a softer language.

My wish is to connect with my inner-self, and through that, connect with others, nature and the universe”.

A couple of these are available still, please head over to my SHOP page to take a look. Thanks for reading and spending some time on my website.

Much love, Sarah.

Scholastic Non-Fiction Children's Books

I thought I’d spend a bit of time chatting about these portrait books I have been creating over the past 4 years. Below is one of my favourites, Captain Tom Moore, he became such a super hero for us all in lockdown, and I think he fell into everyones hearts.

Working on these books is really fun. Because I've created so many now, and the format is always the same, I can relax into the work and just enjoy the process. Much of the decision making process is done by the publisher.

I work directly with the Art Director, who gives me the illustration brief of the person I am to draw. I’m also given the quote to add, and what type/style of lettering they would like for the name title.

Even the background colour is given, along with the colours, and outfit the person will be wearing. It may sound less creative working in this way, but actually, when it comes to freelancing, I like to be given a clear brief.

I work in different ways with different clients, and I like a range…. but when most aspects are pre-decided, you know the client is totally focused on what works for them sales wise and they know what they need. Working in this way, I can actually just focus my skill of getting the likeness down, enjoy drawing the details, and making the page look as enticing as possible.

Kamala Harris is another book I worked on this year, and it came out in the last few months. I’m loving how the whole range looks together now.

Something I also love, is the pencil drawings that go inside the book.

All the interiors for these particular books are hand-drawn pencil sketches. I usually draw these when I’m wrapped up cosy on my sofa, then I move to my computer to scan them in and separate out the drawing from the white background, and darken the lines so they show up well in printing.

The ones I’m sharing here, are from the Captain Tom Moore book. And below are from the Kamala Harris book.

When I work on the interior spot sketches, the publisher gives me the brief, but working by hand in a more sketchy way, feels more freeing than the cover art. Each sketch can still take an hour, the portraits can take 2 hours, sometimes more, depending on complexity.

I generally go straight to finals with the sketches, rather than hand in roughs. I believe that working with roughs and finals , much of the sketch charm would be lost.

I’m working on 3 new books currently, so I will look forward to when I can share those with you.

If you’d like to purchase either of these books, they can be found online. Here’s a link to the Captain Tom book. And here for Kamala Harris, both at WHSmiths.