Tell us about yourself.

My name is Sarah Sczepanski. I am originally from Massachusetts and was born in Salem on Halloween! Having a creative outlet was always important to me, and I started painting and making my own clothes at a young age. I moved to New York City over a decade ago to pursue a career in the fashion industry and work full-time as a product developer of handbags and accessories for a luxury fashion label. I live in Manhattan with my husband Ben and enjoy exploring all of the culinary delights the city has to offer as well as the museums, parks and shops. The energy of the city continues to inspire me every day, but I also seek rejuvenation from nature. Massachusetts is still one of my favorite places to visit, but I also love to explore new countries and have visited 19 countries and counting!

What inspires you?

I was introduced to printmaking in high school and was instantly hooked. Since then I have continued studying, experimenting and perfecting techniques in the monotype process. The abstract nature of my monotypes translates beautifully on textiles and designing fabrics was a natural progression for my art because of my professional expertise in fashion. 

My artistic medium is printmaking, specifically monotypes. My prints are abstract and geometric focused with color combinations inspired by nature. Monotypes are created by painting directly onto an acrylic plate and running the plate through a printing press. I like to utilize the unique and unexpected textures of both natural and man-made objects such as vegetable wrappers, bubble wrap, leaves or dried flowers in my work.  I am drawn to the monotype printing process because it always includes an element of surprise – you never know exactly how your painting will be transformed by the pressure of the press. Monotypes are also one-of-a-kind and cannot be recreated. This makes monotypes different from other printmaking processes like intaglio or lithography where the plate is etched.  

Tell us about your fabric.

Sublime Summer is my first collection with Freespirit fabrics, and I am very excited to introduce it to the quilting community. I grew up near the ocean in Massachusetts and some of my favorite memories are from my days at the beach. The tranquility of the ocean and vibrant colors of the shore have always been a constant source of inspiration for me. With this collection, I set out to capture the feeling of a perfect summer day. The 14 fabric designs are all created using original monotypes and watercolors.

My favorite project that has been made out of my Sublime Summer collection so far were the table runners at my wedding reception this summer. A friend who is a quilter and seamstress made them for us and it was truly a dream come true to see my prints incorporated into our wedding in such a special way.

What advice do you have for the new maker? 

A creative journey, like any journey, is unique and not always a straight path. My advice to someone who has just started out, is to find what brings you joy, be open to new experiences and believe in your work. The act of creating art is very personal and should fulfill you. Putting your work out there and sharing it with others takes courage and conviction, but believe in your unique perspective!

Click here to learn more about Sarah Sczepanski of Artxtiles.