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Farmyard fun

Sarah Graham-Watson never thought she could make a living from her artwork, especially when she became a busy mum. But now it seems a real possibility... Her pictures would make a great pressie
for Easter or to bighten up your child's nursery this spring!

 

We have been living in Maidenhead for coming up to three years – we moved here because it was close to where my husband works and not too far from where I would be working at a primary school in Slough.

   I have always loved drawing and painting and it is just something I lose myself in.  My inspiration for the farmyard theme was that when I was getting everything ready for the arrival of my first baby, the study – which was very dull and more of a dumping room – needed to be converted into somewhere the babe and I could enjoy. Somewhere peaceful and special! I thought that if I put some paintings of animals on the walls it would bring some colour and life into the room, and also be a very nice educational opportunity. I googled, but couldn't really find anything I liked, so I decided to do it myself!

   I had been working in Year 6 and started maternity leave a week or so after the children had finished their SATS, so that meant I had a nice window of opportunity to breathe! And enjoy sitting down (what a distant memory) and painting for hours at a time! That really got my appetite back to paint. I never thought I could do art professionally – it was was quite well drummed into me that I needed a ‘safe’ job! I did do Art until A-Level but I knew there wasn’t much financial security in being an artist, so I decided that I would put that dream on hold for a while! But more recently,
I began to think about doing it as a business. I loved/love teaching, but it is very hard work. I have huge respect to anyone currently in the profession.

   You can view my art on Facebook (see link below), but I’m currently in the construction of a website so watch this space! In terms of my art, I really want to help families to enjoy pieces of art in their own homes for so many reasons. It’s great stimulus for a family discussion – no one is right or wrong, so I think it gives children freedom to argue their opinion without the fear they might get it wrong! Secondly, it can brighten up any room! My favourite piece of my own work is

probably the pig – I think they are magnificent animals.

   My idol is Turner – he is in a league of his own in my view. I also like Jenny Saville – her portraits are like Marmite and I love them!

 

View Sarah's work at 
https://www.facebook.com/Sarah-Graham-Watson-966872433388440/?ref=hl

Sarah painting on maternity leave a week the baby arrived

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