Paintings + Process
My expressive yet structured abstract paintings naturally reflect my background in design and architecture. I aim to create composed, well-balanced fields of color that evoke a sense of spaciousness, light, and movement. My improvisational painting process oscillates between loose mark making and thoughtful care in organizing shape, color, and line. I begin intuitively on the first layer or two, applying the paint with playful energy and freshness. Subsequent layers are a response to what’s there, where the painting starts to lead me along to where it wants to go. Guided by my own preferences, visual vocabulary, and discernment, I work on each piece until it has a presence that feels balanced and satisfied. I like each painting to retain a sense of that initial joyful spontaneity, resolved enough to be left alone, while leaving room for mystery and interpretation.
I am interested in the way my painting process parallels my life of faith. Both involve walking in the dark, finding my way as I go, taking steps without knowing where they will lead, letting things unfold, and having the trust and curiosity of a child. I experience a humility and even wonder in not knowing, being surprised and delighted by unplanned outcomes, knowing I can only really be open, free and available when I'm not following a plan. Things often happen that make more sense in hindsight, and the best work happens when I don’t try to control it, but allow myself to be a vehicle for the expression.
Bio
Sara Fernandez grew up in California, studied architecture and art in San Luis Obispo, California and Copenhagen, Denmark. After graduating, she traveled the world for 3 years with her husband Vince (around South East Asia, India, Nepal, Tibet, the Middle East and Europe), doing lots of sketching of streets, buildings and cities along the way, and working as architects in Singapore and Jerusalem. After returning to the States, they raised their 3 kids in the Pacific Northwest of USA and Canada, where Sara worked as an architectural illustrator in watercolor. This eventually became a stepping stone back to art, and as empty nesters now living in Chicago, Sara paint abstractly in acrylic and oil, always with a loose reference to the natural and urban landscape, an eye for design, and a joy of expression through paint.
CV
Education
1993 College of Architecture & Environmental Design, California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo (B Arch)
1993 Department of Art & Design, College of Liberal Arts (Art Minor)
1993 Department of Music, College of Liberal Arts (Music Minor)
1991 Architecture & Design, Denmark International Studies, Copenhagen, Denmark
Mentorship/Teaching
1993-1994 Studio Teacher/ Mentor at the Architecture Summer Program at Cal Poly SLO
Art Workshops Completed
2016 - 2018 - Watercolour Workshops with Alvaro Castagnet, Thomas Schaller, Herman Pekel, Bjørn Bergstrom, and Jeanne Haines
2021 - Seattle Artist League, Painting courses, most notably with Fran O’Neill
2022 & 2024 Creative Visionary Program (CVP) with Nicholas Wilton of Art2Life
