PBºN Episode - 17
Summary
The podcast episode features an interview with Sarah La Pierre, an artist known for her "thick paint" or acrylic impasto style. Sarah discusses her upbringing in an artistic family, her career path, the business aspects of being an artist, and her philanthropic efforts. She highlights the Arty Gras Fine Arts Festival as her sole art show participation and shares a memorable experience from it. The conversation also covers her recent curatorial venture, the "Pink Waves" exhibit, and her future artistic endeavors, including a new mixed media series incorporating found objects. The episode concludes with advice for aspiring artists and information on how to find Sarah La Pierre's work.
Key topics
Arty Gras Fine Arts Festival: Celebration of artistic expression, stunning masterpieces, live performances, family-friendly event with art, music, and food. Highlighted as a professionally operated festival with a high caliber of artists and an appreciative audience.
Jupiter Medical Center: Sponsor of the podcast, rated #1 for quality, safety, and patient experience, offering world-class healthcare, state-of-the-art facilities, and leading-edge technologies. Announcement of the new Johnny and Terry Gray Surgical Institute.
Sarah La Pierre (Artist Profile):
Background: Grew up in an artistic family in South Florida, daughter of painter Joe La Pierre. Homeschooled due to extensive travel for art shows.
Artistic Style: Developed a unique "thick paint" or acrylic impasto style, characterized by textural artwork and large-scale, physical painting.
Subjects: Predominantly landscapes and Florida iconography (birds, animals, natural settings), aiming to capture moments in time and bring peace to viewers' homes/offices.
Career Path & Business: Started with the Arty Gras emerging artist program, transitioned from frequent art shows to focusing on local community, self-represented artist using website and social media.
Challenges for Artists: Discoverability, need for more venues (galleries, local businesses) to showcase local artists, representation.
Philanthropy: Actively supports local non-profits like Quantum House and Place of Hope, often through live painting at events, aiming to give back and inspire.
Memorable Experience: Meeting a mother-daughter duo from Pennsylvania at Arty Gras who followed her online during the pandemic and eventually flew to the festival to purchase art.
"Pink Waves" Exhibit: Curated an exhibit featuring 22 local women artists at The Peach Art Collective in West Palm Beach, in partnership with Gabby Verer. The exhibit, held in October, had a breast cancer awareness tie-in with the Promise Fund of Florida, with attendees wearing pink.
Future Art Evolution: Planning a new mixed media series incorporating found objects (trash, items from Resource Depot) with her impasto painting style.
Advice for Aspiring Artists: Experiment, be part of the community, find a mentor, utilize resources like the Cultural Council, there's no single "right way" to be a successful artist.
Contact Info: Instagram: @thickpaint, Website: sarahlapierre.com, Studio: The Peach Art Collective in West Palm Beach.