Sara Keller

Sara Keller is a mixed media installation artist and one half of the full-service design studio The Keller Creative, based out of Picton. From colourful mural work in the halls at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute to bright, bold storefront displays everywhere from The County to Toronto and beyond, Sara’s passion for design shows through everything she does. In addition to all of this, she also enjoys enriching the lives of others with teaching and sharing her art and design knowledge.

This spring at the County Arts Lab, Sara is teaching not one, but two upcoming courses! First is a fan-favourite, a Cyanotype workshop for ages 15+. Over the course of an afternoon, she will guide participants through this camera-less photography method – a method that she uses in her current body of work to explore our connection to the natural world. 

She is also leading our Kids’ Creation Club classes this month: “SO SATISFYING” Sensory Art! For kids aged 5-8 and 9-12, she will be leading a 4-week workshop to delve into a variety of process-based art techniques to not only stimulate creativity, but to also offer a soothing experience for the mind.

Find out more about about Arts Lab offerings this spring in this edition of Artscene, and continue reading to learn more about Sara’s love of Cyanotype, what advice she would give to artists starting out, and more!

Tell us about any artistic projects you have going on this upcoming month that you’d like people to know about:

Oh man! Well, I’m most excited for our upcoming Cyanotype workshop. Cyanotype is one of my absolute loves to teach because there is such a minimal barrier of entry to fall in love with. Easy and fun to learn the technique, but then so inspiring and exciting for all the ways you can interpret it and create your own! I get particularly excited to see how each participant brings their unique perspective to the process. Cyanotype has a way of sparking imagination and encouraging artistic expression in ways that never cease to amaze me.

Where in the County do you find the most creative inspiration?

Joining the Command Performance Choir in PEC has been such a blast. Reading music and singing with this talented group seems to just scratch a creative itch and fills my soul. There’s nothing like the electricity of voices blending together in harmony!

Which tools and/or resources have helped you the most in your artistic career? 

Having fellow artists around is a game-changer. We bounce ideas off each other, share tips, and give honest feedback. It’s like having a built-in support system for those tough days. Diving into online tutorials and in-person workshops keeps me sharp and inspired. I’m trying to find that sweet spot between learning from others and exploring on my own.

What advice would you give to artists just starting out in their careers?

Don’t be too hard on yourself for making mistakes; they’re inevitable and essential for growth! Embrace the process and trust in your journey towards confidence in your work. But at the same time I always remember the wisdom my mom shared when she taught me to sew: “When you’re feeling frustrated, give it some space.” Sometimes, stepping away for a while (an hour? a day? a year?) allows you to return with fresh perspective and renewed creativity.