How she does it: Sarah Calleja
Over the years the name Sarah Calleja has become more and more established in the local art world. The young mother-of-two, who is an architect by profession, has been building herself up to be a recognised and respected artist while juggling everything else. She talks about what inspires her to keep at it… and how she does it.
Was art always a part of your life?
As a child, my mother sent me to summer art lessons which is where I learnt that drawing/painting came naturally to me. Summer after summer I grew more confident with the guidance of my teacher, Alfred Camilleri. He introduced me to watercolour at an early age.
The process of drawing or painting is one which provides a certain satisfaction-contentment as you are aware that with time and practice you change and improve. This positive sentiment is brought about by the thrill that you can produce a good artwork that is to your liking, and is also appreciated by others, and can convey a message without words.
As I grew older I chose art at school at O-level but when it came to choosing a career path, back then the only available course was History of Art. With the passion to be creative I chose to study architecture.
In the summer before I went to university I had attended a course in London’s Central Saint Martins where I was introduced to figurative life drawing sessions. Most of the works I produced in my university years were, in fact, figurative works which conveyed emotion through the human figure.
Many of us let go of our passions as we grow older and life takes over. How and why do you keep it in your life?
When I then graduated and had my first job, I worked crazy long hours and focused my attention on the new task. Then came doing up my first home, getting married, and I felt that slowly, slowly I had no painting routine.
Although I always kept in touch with the art world and painted, it was often a broken routine with spells of painting and then months of quiet time. Attending different art classes or sessions always helped to get a routine in place.
In 2008 I joined a plein air group where I met some fantastic local artists who met up every Saturday to paint outdoors. These sessions would lead to various discussions: from the chemical composition of paint, to criticism of each other’s work, the composition selected and how it can be improved.
“When I had my daughter in 2015 I came to the realization that unless I fought for it, it would become a retirement plan and I did not like the latter.
So just after three weeks of giving birth, still very hormonal and not yet able to walk properly - as I had symphysis pubis during pregnancy - I left home on very little sleep but a lot of determination.”
I was struggling to get out of bed at 6am on a Saturday and my commitment was not yet routine, so initially I felt a bit out of place. But that gave me a stronger push. When I had my daughter in 2015 I came to the realization that unless I fought for it, it would become a retirement plan and I did not like the latter.
So just after three weeks of giving birth, still very hormonal and not yet able to walk properly - as I had symphysis pubis during pregnancy - I left home on very little sleep but a lot of determination.
Since then I found this time to be the most precious time of personal development, artistically and personally. It helps to clear my headspace from all that is happening at home with a family life, and break that same routine.
The Saturday sessions in a group dwindled but my commitment to go outdoors to paint remained. Primarily the lack of a studio space made this escape the only way to paint. But as of this year I am lucky to have my own studio which gave me the option to paint indoors on the super-hot summer days.
When do you paint? Do you plan the time or “steal” moments?
I was lucky to find the support needed from my husband and Saturdays are now non-negotiable. Irrespective of children’s parties or errands etc, I make myself unavailable. Of course, this means that Sunday is left in the week to catch up with housework, but it is a choice I make willingly, and Friday nights are early nights.
“The reward to me is looking back a few years and seeing improvement in concept, rendition, technique new mediums… small rewards that make me smile.”
So it’s definitely planned time. As with all aspects of life it is about priorities. It means that perhaps I can't go to the market on Saturday to get fresh veg, or wake up late without an alarm, and the list goes on. Stealing moments could come only as an addition to the planned time, but if I were to wait to steal a moment there would be none left.
I guess I am lucky that I paint for myself really and that I paint what I want in the manner I want. The reward to me is looking back a few years and seeing improvement in concept, rendition, technique new mediums… small rewards that make me smile.
Do you ever feel overwhelmed and consider stopping? What keeps you going?
Not really. I really believe that painting is a mind exercise. It is not to me as relaxing as one would imagine. There is concentration, frustration if the work is not to your liking, and unnecessary pressure to make it a successful painting.
It is really just a piece of paper or canvas and they don’t all work as desired. But it is the practice and commitment which I find soothing. It is very much like a yoga practice. I find that with a clear head I can paint better, but of course not all days are like that.
Walk me through what a typical week would be like and how you fit in work, family, art etc.
Well I work freelance as an architect daily, having some full days and some shorter days depending on the help provided mostly by my mother. In the remaining time, I would be with the children driving them around to after-school activities, homework etc.
Often there is an evening with an art-related event such as an exhibition opening. In winter I have a portrait practice session with three other artists on a Thursday evening.
Sometimes I manage to fit in a 5.30am walk/jog and this is something that happens for a month then I fall out of routine. It is a squeeze at that hour and let's just say this is not my passion.
“At the start, it can be overwhelming especially if you compare yourself to people who are already established. You can forget the path and the hours they have put into it.
But you have to keep that in mind. The learning curve is very steep at the start.”
What advice would you give to women trying to pursue their passion?
Just go for it as early as possible. Postponing is only a waste of time as the rewards to yourself are unmeasurable. At the start, it can be overwhelming especially if you compare yourself to people who are already established. You can forget the path and the hours they have put into it. But you have to keep that in mind. The learning curve is very steep at the start.
Choosing to do one thing means giving up doing another and sometimes it is hard to accept the latter. There is an endless list of what involves being the ‘perfect’ adult. But the reality is that we have a set number of hours and we have the liberty to choose what to do with them. Ticking all the boxes is difficult. I can mention a whole list of things I do not manage to do. But I try to focus on what I can do.
I feel a sense of gratitude to the universe that I have found my art. Ultimately it gives us that little bit extra purpose, a whole number of events to follow, people to meet locally and overseas. The possibilities are endless.
Do you plan on taking this further? How? Why?
Here is a tricky question. I think as I grew older I took more of a realistic stance toward what I can do/ achieve and worked as hard as I could to do so. Many people ask if I would just paint but I am scared that it would remove the freedom that comes with it, the fact that it would then become a job instead of simply my me time, my passion.
I have many plans, ideas and projects I want to pursue. But all in good time. So I will carry on slowly, slowly walking towards it.
Follow Sarah Calleja
You can follow Sarah Calleja on her website sarahcalleja.com or by visiting her Facebook page.
How she does it…
We often look on at other people in awe and ask ourselves: How does she do it? How does she find the time? How does she find the willpower?
Women Unclouded believes that, by sharing our stories, women can inspire one another - to take the leap, make that call, book that class. A leap towards doing what you really want to do or being who you really want to be. It does not have to be something extraordinary. It just needs to be special for you.
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