Sarah Knight
Sarah has exhibited with BEAT since its inception. She is both a painter and a print maker, creating textured oil landscapes and botanical themed linocut prints.
What does being an artist mean to you?
To me, my art is a massive part of my identity. It has been a constant focus of creativity, drive and purpose in my life.
‘Denham Grasses in Hague Blue’
‘Seascape in Harlech Teal’
Can you tell us about your creative process?
I paint semi-abstract land and seascapes, using oils, working generally from memory of places I have travelled to. I firstly use a print roller to build a fine layer of blended colour. Then I work over that using a palette knife and thick oil paint, to create a lovely textured surface. When it’s dry, I sketch over the surface in pencil to add little details of movement and shadow. It’s a fluid, subconscious process to let the picture evolve.
How has being in ‘lockdown’ affected your artwork?
It has actually made me understand better what I need to work well. I have done some new linocut plates while in Lockdown, which is quite relaxing, and takes a kind of focus and concentration, in a methodical way. I haven’t been able to paint. I’ve found that having a busy household, two children to home school and keep happy, the worries from the outside world, my mind isn’t clear enough or calm enough to paint. Fortunately for me I have the printing to let my creativity loose on.
What has been your path to print making?
I studied Illustration at University, and my final year was spent mainly producing Collagraphs. I loved the process, from sketching ideas, to planning the composition, then the hand making/ carving which can lead all sorts of happy accidents (or unhappy!). In the last few years I have transferred this passion to making linocuts. I feel I can express what I most enjoy about sketching, to a plate that I can change with colour over and over. I hand mix my inks so that I can carefully choose the colour balance within a print, and each I hand finish with pencil details. In the same way that I do with my paintings.
You can see more of Sarah’s artwork on the BEAT website, and also at
www.skylarkgalleries.com/artists
Or follow her on social media at:
