Polymer clay is the medium of choice for Sara, a 21 year old Italian artist. She researches and designs clay charms and scenes that revolve around anything from mythology, cute critters, Amish culture, and of course, one of her favorites, pirates.

Toonari Post (TP): What is it about pirates that has inspired you to include them in your adorable polymer clay creations?

Sara (S): Pirates have probably been my personal style turning point: they were one of my first subjects, but in the beginning I was not so sure about including them in my collection because that theme totally contrasted both the style and the colors from other charms I was modeling. But then I decided trying to create something around that theme to offer people the opportunity to see something different from the classical clay charms of cartoons or popular films and tales’ characters. In particular, I chase pirates because I have always been fascinated by their world, by its flavor, its colors, and their style of life.

TP: You have said that issues in history, mythology, as well as classical literature are also sources of your inspiration. Could you give me a few examples of your favorites from each of these categories and tell me about the aspects of each that have fueled your creativity?

S: Yeah, absolutely! About history, I love the age of the Holy Roman Empire, but also the period of French Revolution. Concerning literature, I like the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer and with regard to mythology, I appreciate a lot of the Greek and Roman ones, but these are just a few examples! Since I attended a high school specializing in classical studies, these themes are a part of my store of knowledge and I never saw jewelry of them, so I decided trying to create charms about literature and myths both to give people interested in classical themes the possibility to wear some related pendants and also to try to make the others understand that these topics can be cool!

TP: What artists would you consider working with to do a piece?

S: I’ve never considered the idea of a partnership with another artist, but it would be really interesting especially if I would have to mix my style with a totally different one. I’ve always been fascinated by weird combinations, they often give the possibility to see aspects of a single component that generally goes unnoticed.

TP: If there was any art medium that you wish you could master, what would it be and why?

S: I wish I could manage the art of sculpture in general. One day I’d love to be able to model both complex miniatures and real sculptures.

TP: What are your goals in life?  Do you plan to continue art as a hobby or make it a career?

S: It started almost as a joke and just for fun, I didn’t ever think I would be able to create something with clay, and sometimes it still seems incredible to me, but in a few months it became my hobby and now, although I don’t have clear goals, I absolutely dream of making it a career. I believe in this! I see every day that it makes me happy, so I hope to be one of the lucky people who can say they do the job they love. It’s kind of like finding the love of a lifetime; really rare.

TP: Do you feel that your culture has influenced you in some way that makes you different than other artists?

S: I’m Italian, I come from a nation with a big historical and cultural heritage, this surely influenced me in my chosen themes, but I’m also really interested in knowing about other cultures and other nations’ traditions and history.

TP: Can you tell me more about your background?  What experiences brought you to be the person you are today?

S: We are made of what we lived, every single aspect of our character is our personal way to react to what has happened to us. This makes every single person unique with her qualities and imperfections, weak points, and skills. So whatever we are is a consequence of what we were and a base of what we’ll be. It’s unthinkable that every single experience of our life has not influenced and has not brought us to who we are today.

Image Courtesy of  Sara

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About the author

Kala Istvanek
Presently, I am attending Carthage College in Kenosha, U.S.A. I will be graduating with a degree in Asian Studies, with a minor in English and Studio Art. I have been a bookworm ever since I could read and I can never turn down a book. Art is also one of my loves and discovering new artists is always a thrill for me.

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