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June 2008

AOD:
Tell us a little bit about your background? Where are you from originally?

SARAH SCULLEY:
I am sure I am a great-great-great-great-grandchild of a convict sent to Australia, because I steal everything when I’m drunk. I was originally born in Minnesota and grew up in Australia – I’m Australian with the accent to prove it. I studied a bachelor of design studies majoring in graphic design at Australia’s Queensland College of Art and was given a scholarship to study some of that degree at Scotland’s Edinburgh College of Art. I have spent the last few years living and working in Shanghai, China and just moved to San Diego, California. I also like to travel! I have no reason for bouncing around the world – I’ll retire back to Australia one day.

AOD:
How did you start out as an artist and designer?

SARAH SCULLEY:
I did a year at university when I left school just fluffing and not showing up to classes. I went back to my high school to referee a basketball game and my old art teacher asked why I wasn’t studying design. A little light bulb went on in my head – “oh duh”. So, I did what every other designer does…got through my three year degree, scrambled for freelance/part-time/full-time work, got fired, scrambled some more – until I got a strong enough ‘folio to be able to breathe and step back and do what I love, love, love – paint and travel.

AOD:
Who are your main influences?

SARAH SCULLEY:
Bansky is god! I love his following, the aura around his work, his self expression and the concepts behind his pieces! Brilliant! He’s one brave artist! When I grow up I want to be as brave as him! I also really admire Anthony Lister – his stuff is just genius. I guess also, being an Aussie in America I kind of have a soft spot for his work. Kinsey is wicked also…I could keep going and going…but my biggest influence are the people around me – my friends, family, supporters. When they frustrate me, I paint the coolest pieces! One of my friends in China lost my phone with my sim card in it the other day and I hit the roof and painted this fierce piece. I might call it the lost phone? I’m sure it will win awards!

AOD:
You use many different materials to produce your art works. From acrylics and spray paint to Chinese ink and collages. What is your process? Straight to the computer or sketches first?

SARAH SCULLEY:
Oh I am all over the place. I don’t have a process. I sketch almost everyday but sometimes I just jump straight onto canvas. Sometimes I have a finish product in mind, and sometimes I’m an emotional wreck that needs to get paint onto canvas now! If I had to explain how I put everything together…ummm…Layers. Working with positive and negative space and just layering and layering and layering. Then I add one too many layers and that canvas goes to the back of the pile.

Designs I ALWAYS sketch first. I can’t function without sketching out ideas. I do my little thought tree on paper with words that come to mind, then I do little iconic sketches, then I do some research and pump my brain full of ideas and then I scribble some more…and then sleep…and then scribble some more. And then, at the last second I get on the computer and whip out the design and email it off! Computers make me use myspace, facebook and write useless emails to my girlfriends back home – they don’t help me be creative.

AOD:
Your body of work has a very cohesive look and feel to it – including your print, packaging and identity works. Is this a reflection of your personal style or simply a style you enjoy creating? How did your style develop?

SARAH SCULLEY:
I have no idea when my ‘style’ came about. I still can’t really see a consistent style in my work but everyone else does – so yay! I think my style is evolving. At College I had a very bright, messy, surf-style going on. My work feels like it has become more clean and corporate and more appropriate for my clients needs. I guess I am designing more for my clients than myself now, which is good. The more I see of the world, the more people I meet, the more art I encounter, the more I surf the Web, read interviews, talk to my friends – the more I evolve as a person and my art/design evolves also. Wonder what it’ll look like when I’m 80 years-old?

AOD:
How do you keep yourself motivated and interested in what you do?

SARAH SCULLEY: 
I don’t. I have weeks and months where I cannot be bothered. So I don’t. I am not going to force myself to paint when I got nothing left in me – it turns out yucky. Then, for no reason at all I get a rush of creativity and I’m painting again. I wish I knew how or why because then I would turn my creativity on and off like a tap! But design…what motivates me is my landlord when he wants the rent. No, I’m kidding. When I have a project and I have no creativity I go get a haircut and color and I always seem to be fresh after that. Odd, I know.

AOD:
Is there any advice you’d give to those who are aspiring artists?

SARAH SCULLEY:
Have respect for yourself and for other designers. Don’t undersell yourself or your work. None of this “Logo Sale – only $129” crap. Even if your mum doesn’t like your style I promise you there is a market out there, somewhere in the world, that does! Just market yourself online until they find you!

Oh and…people can be bitches. The more successful you get, the more money you make, the more clients you have the more the haters will hate you – and for some reason haters have a lot of time to hate and send nasty emails. So don’t waste your energy on them – keep on keeping on. If you love what you do then who cares what anyone else says.

And get a tattoo!

AOD: 
Thanks for taking part in this interview. Is there anything else you would like to add that we didn’t discuss?

SARAH SCULLEY: 
Thanks so much for this opportunity. There is one last thing I wanted to add…

As creatives we have amazing talents. I just want to encourage other artists to step back from their own lives and use their talents every now and then to benefit others. Whether it’s donating a piece or educating yourself and your clients about sustainable design. It might only seem small but it’s amazing how many people it will reach. Research and become aware of the issues around you. For those of you that already do pro bono work – good work!

For more information about Sarah Sculley please visit:
sculleydesign.com