Rice’s artistic process
The process of creating one of Sarah Rice’s art pieces begins long before the first stroke of ink hits the paper. It starts with a deep mental focus and a commitment to bringing the vision to life. Each piece is a journey that takes hours of meticulous work, with every step carefully considered to ensure the final result aligns with Sarah’s creative intentions.
The first decision is often the most important: whether the piece will be a standalone work or part of a larger series. Once that’s determined, Sarah begins the process of hand-cutting the paper. Each sheet is meticulously chosen and shaped, setting the stage for the piece’s structure. Using a pencil, Sarah sketches out the initial design, carefully considering the composition and flow of the piece. This phase is essential, as it forms the skeleton of the artwork. Often, it takes several attempts to get the lines just right, but must be redone as many times as necessary until the design feels perfectly aligned with her vision.
Once the sketching phase is complete, Sarah begins the delicate and meditative process of drawing. The oceanic scenes come to life one pen stroke at a time, with each line contributing to the flowing movement of the waves. The process is highly detailed and requires a steady hand and concentration. The first layer of ink is applied in a series of single, deliberate strokes, carefully building up the waves’ texture and flow. After this initial layer is completed, Sarah goes over the entire piece again, adding a second layer of pen strokes to deepen the shadows and bring out the intricacies of the waves. Essentially, she draws each piece twice, ensuring that every detail is precisely rendered and the final composition is full of depth and dimension.
Each artwork can take anywhere from 60 clocked hours to much longer to complete, depending on its complexity and size. Sarah’s dedication to the craft is evident in every line, and each piece is a testament to her passion for creating intricate and meaningful work.
Sarah works exclusively with high-quality Arches drawing paper, chosen for its durability and texture, and uses only black pen ink for the drawing itself. For the unique pieces that feature gold accents, Sarah applies genuine 24K gold leaf to highlight key areas, such as the wave breaks. This adds an element of richness and luminosity to the piece, elevating it to something truly special.
Once the artwork itself is finished, Sarah moves on to the framing process, which is as integral to the work as the art itself. She personally hand-builds each frame from custom wood, which is then covered in black velvet for a luxurious finish. The framing process can take two full days for a single piece, and for multi-part works, several frames are created over the course of several days to ensure consistency and precision.
For commissioned pieces, buyers have the option to select a different framing style if desired. Once the frame is complete, the artwork is carefully mounted and ready to be displayed, bringing its unique beauty and energy into its new space.
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Contact: E. [email protected] P. (208)-449-2661