“I hope to convey in my paintings the things I do not have the words to say.” Sara Phemister tells us about ‘Make’

Yass artist Sara Phemister pictured in her home studio with her muse (and Tyger’s CEO - Chief Enthusiasm Officer), BeppO.

Sara Phemister is an artist, and Sara Phemister is a storyteller.

Whether in still life, interiors, figurative work, or even landscapes, her oil on board paintings are rich in symbolism, have an abundance of meaning, and tell rich stories of her life, the people and things in her life, and the life around her.

Sara works from a small studio on her house by the river in Yass, often accompanied by her “colleague and muse”, BeppO - a beautiful black labrador.

Her much-loved work is sold through Tyger Gallery in Yass, where she is part of a group show with some close friends in November, Make.

She says that she is inspired by capturing memories and feelings painted onto board - and they’re often feelings beyond words.

“There is a PJ Harvey song called Good Fortune,” she says.

“In it, she sings, ‘I paint pictures to remember - you’re too beautiful to put into words’.”

“I’m always hoping to convey in my paintings the things I do not have the words to say. I am endlessly inspired by my loves, by music, by artists who have gone before me and artists working now.”

She’s also inspired by her beautiful home which she shares with BeppO and her husband Al, a noted sculptor.

“We’ve lived in our house for a long time. It, and the garden surrounding it are a constant in my work. The shifting light and recurring markers of seasons in this place are both inspiring and comforting.”

Well known for her still life and figurative work, Sara has recently branched out into painting the striking landscapes of her local region.

“I’ve become interested in surrounding landscapes,” she says.

“I think it’s because I find landscapes easy to see as shapes and forms - which is not how I approach my other subjects.”

“My other works are laden with symbolism and layers of meaning. The landscapes feel quite quiet to me to paint, and I feel quiet when I look at them - which is how I feel when I’m in nature.”

The works she will be showing in Make are a mix of landscapes, interiors, and still life paintings - some featuring her beloved BeppO.

“I hope when people look at my paintings, they see the life in them.”

“Each painting is telling a story in some way. A painting of a pomegranate cut open on a table in the garden can be just that, but for me it’s an afternoon spent with a beloved friend, the table cloth, flowers and vase, all gifts from people I love.”

“All part of the fabric of my life, laden with meaning to me. Maybe they will recognise something of their own story in it.”

Make has its opening celebrations on 18 November, 2-4pm at Tyger Gallery in Yass. The show runs until 3 December. The gallery is open 10-4pm, Friday to Sunday.

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