Hi Sarah,
Welcome to Humans of Weston. We are delighted to have you here, so let’s get to know you better…
Firstly tell us a bit about yourself in a sentence or two…
Hello!
About The Angry Budda…Well what can I say? I’m not angry, just passionate – Passionate about poverty, about the widening class divide, about injustice and victim shaming culture, about the Freudian slip that’s being sold to us as insecurity, through invasive advertising campaigns that make Men and Women adhere to unrealistic beauty standards.
Yes,
I’m passionate about art, illustration and about creative expression in all its beautiful myriad of colours and forms. You should be too, without it we are just destruction and the state of our planet is plenty proof of that. If we do not create, we will destroy. We must learn to create symbiotically, or face the relentless change our actions as a species have set in motion.
Now a few questions:
How would you describe your art?
I would describe my art as emotive, magical and a little wacky, with a Selenophile/Nordic vibe.
I depict my inner demons as spirit animals, my inspirations as shining goddesses and my fears as light.
All of my art is drawn from my imagination, coming to me in dreams or flashes of colour. I have epilepsy and I really do believe that some of my creations are otherworldly in a way, as I often have no idea what I will paint until it materialises.
Was art a deliberate career choice?
I started sketching and painting after a traumatic incident left me needing spinal surgery. My abuser was 26 and I fell pregnant at 14. Facing shame and ridicule from my community and immobility from my injuries, I chose art as an escape and what an escape it was – the possibility of endless possibilities, the immersion in beautiful potential instead of crippling pain, learning to move past my mistakes and take lessons from them. We are the masters of our own divine consciousness and the mind can be a playground or a prison. I hope that my work shows others that it can be possible to escape internal prisons with presence and fluidity of thought and allowing that to flow into your creation.
What does your art say about you?
I hope that my art speaks of kindness beating pain, of love overcoming adversity and of perception being key to a full and blessed life. I hope that it brings a smile or provokes critical thought, or helps someone see the beauty in themselves when they thought it was lost. I hope to honour my fellow fallen artists Hannah Day and Emily Hemmingway, for though they can create no more, I shall be their vessel and hopefully do them justice.
What brought you to Weston and how has it been a part of your creativity?
Weston super mare has been an inspiration for me, ever since my first visit to do a large piece for a local education centre some time ago. The vibrant seafront and many of the humans the place contains, have been a source of support during dark times. I’ve met some amazing friends, sisters and brothers and Weston super mare will always be close to my heart for this reason.
Where are your favourite places in Weston to seek out inspiration?
My favourite place there has to be the pier. I love the way the light shines through the rafters at first and last light. I love that the sunsets never disappoint even on a drab day. I just love Weston Super Mare!
Has anyone in Weston supported or influenced you?
I’ve found support and guidance in this amazing town also. I’d like to big up my fellow artists Lin Toulcher for being a total ray of kindness support and inspiration in those dark times, the beautiful Bev G Star for her chats, kind words and (always) sound advice and Fay Forever Free for being a Wispy Witchy Pixi of radiant light. I had lost my sisterhood and in Weston I found it again thanks to these beautiful clever inspiring women. It was women that bestowed blame on me and it has been with the help of these women I have been liberated from that shame.
What advice would you give to young artists in the town?
I would advise any young creatives to get in touch with myself or any of the above for support, ideas and guidance. I’d also recommend they get in touch with Culture Weston [It is led by North Somerset arts organisation Theatre Orchard, in collaboration with North Somerset Council, Arts Council England and the local community], or any other local community projects in the area, which you will find here on the Humans of Weston Facebook page.
What are you creating at the moment, or what is next?
I am currently working on a colouring book which will be sold exclusively at the Landed Festival.
I am creating 10 ‘Memento Mori’ pendants which have ashes encased in resin in the shape of the tree of life. There will be no charge for these as I believe that earning revenue from bereavement can interfere with our connection with our ancestors. At this time I have 2 left. If you would like to participate please contact: @marshallsmarkings on Facebook or Instagram
I am also available for commissions, digital and paper.
I am unavailable for large scale painting at the moment due to ill health.
I hope you have enjoyed this bio.
Namasté and blessings be
THE ANGRY BUDDA
