Sas Christian paints stunning women with such interesting, emotional expressions. One of them was of this girl. Up close…her mascara is running, the expression on her face is so beautiful, so intriguing.
Here are some great excerpts from her bio online:
The first time I met my future husband Colin he asked me what I wanted to do for a living, I said “to be a painter” ” so you paint?” he asked, “no” I replied, and it remained that way for another ten years.
I worked in a department store, at a commercial art studio and a PIP printing (where I quit on my first day, before lunch)! It was around this time that I first saw an issue of Juxtapoz with a cover by Mark Ryden – and I was struck. The urge to paint was growing, but I lacked the knowledge and confidence to do anything about it. It seemed so complicated. My very early attempts were very graphic, comic book style. Hard colors.
My original inspirations relied heavily on anime, Tamara De Lempicka and Mark Ryden. I loved the creative expression of the Harajuku kids in Tokyo. They filled me with such hope and excitement. Originally the intention of my paintings was just about creating a strong image, purely visual. I wanted to impart a modern tongue-in-cheek humor, incorporating my experiences. Contemporary, ballsy, flirty, weepy girls; punk, catholic, no-nonsense, damaged but not broken girls. Funny, intelligent, unusual, independent, odd ball, outsiders. Lovely.
As time goes on I find myself relying less on the narrative and more on the emotive. I hope that my work can connect with people on different levels. I'm trying to harness a single moment in time, an emotional response, seemingly insignificant gesture that can mean so much.
If you have a creative impulse, whether it be art, music, writing, theater, cooking, whatever — express it. Don't let you own hang-ups, caution, fear of failure or ridicule stop you…
Beautiful work, Sas! And thank you for the truly inspirational story.