CHINTI & FRIENDS: SARA BERMAN

I typically fall out of bed. To be honest, working in the studio every day is pretty messy, so I tend to wear a rotation of jeans and jumpers. I am lucky enough to have a very good spread of Chinti Essentials which tends to do the trick (that is not a plug, I have been a fan of the brand since they started and I really do buy at least one new ‘Essential’ sweater every season so I don’t have to worry about not having my literal uniform to hand. In the winter I will sometimes wear one on top of another.

After dropping the kids at school, I head straight to Highgate Ladies' Pond. I try not to miss a day. I am slightly one of those mad zealots with full neoprene kit. It is a proper routine involving a flask of sweet tea afterwards.

Then I head to my studio where I stay all day. I would say that my practice is centered around painting but heavily influenced by textiles. This isn’t surprising given I was a fashion designer for 15 years before doing my MA in Fine Art Painting at Slade School of Art in 2016.

It’s difficult to say when I started to define myself as an artist as I have always been a creative. I think I prefer to define myself as a 'maker' as I have always made things. I did an art foundation course and for various reasons went on from there to study fashion at Central Saint Martins in the mid ‘90s. This was an amazingly creative time to work in fashion and the crossover to art wasn’t such a huge divide. Obviously running a fashion business is very different and the ‘art’ side got lost. I maintained my drawing and painting practice in a small way and eventually it grew until it took over my interest in fashion as a business.

I really enjoy the total freedom I have in making my work within the boundaries of my choosing. I set the rules and decide when to break them. I also enjoy the very solitary nature of my days. People always ask if it is lonely, but I really enjoy the space and time to think and make without the distractions of other people around me.

Without wanting to sound smug, I have to say that I love my work. Of course, it is wonderful to be able to make money doing something I love, but to be honest I would do it anyway. I am very, very lucky and I really do try to acknowledge that all the time. Of course, it doesn’t always come easy and there are times of real frustration, insecurity, self-doubt and sometimes even despair, but those negatives are far outweighed by the highs (when they happen) of making good work and having the time and space to keep pushing myself forward.

The work / life balance doesn’t come easily to me. The line is very blurred. I am never not working. My kids are used to me sitting around sketching, weaving, sticking. I always have bits of work at home to fiddle with. Also, my innermost thoughts and feelings end up in my work.

chintiandparker

I don’t tend to realise it during the process, but when I look back on work with some distance,

I can see that I was dealing with life issues at the time. I suppose that is the downside. I find it very hard to cut off on a day to day basis and I don’t really like going on holidays which take me out of the studio for periods of time. That said, I find that the work always benefits from a proper break and I come back to the studio after time away and see fresh solutions to problems I had been getting caught up in.

Switching off after a day at the studio is super hard for me. As a parent to three kids of varying ages, I do need to come home and be present. I have started meditating for 15 minutes before leaving the studio. It doesn’t come very naturally and is a new thing I am trying but it does seem to help me to wind down. The evenings belong to the kids but once the little ones are in bed and no longer need me, I try to chill out with a book (old-school paper ones) or listen to Audible whilst sketching or weaving which I find very relaxing.

My perfect Saturday would start under the premise that my kids are not doing all their various lessons and activities which frees me up from my normal obligations as an Uber driver. I would start with waking up when I want to and after a couple of coffees, toast with the saltiest butter and marmalade, and a quick peruse of the paper, I would head to the ponds for my swim.

chintiandparker

It would be a sunny day and I would relax afterwards in the meadow with my thermos of tea and a book letting the chill leave my bones and the sun warm my skin. Then I would go home to the family and make whatever dish I have memorised recently for lunch which everyone would eat.

This is clearly spiralling into fantasy as I have never made anything that every member of my family is happy with but hey, this is my day. After lunch, I would go to an exhibition with one child. I love being one on one with them. And after we would go get a coffee and snack before heading home for a mellow evening with friends popping in for a super informal (read takeaway) dinner.

Find out more at sarabermanartist.com