Interview: Artist of the Week: Sarah E. Miller, artist and creator of Show Your Art

Sarah E. Miller is an artist in Seattle and the creator of Show Your Art PNW, a project all about empowering new and emerging artists to showcase their work around Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. She created a guidebook of more than 100 places where new artists can showcase their art called "Show Your Art: 2025 Guide to Seattle Art Spots."

Seattle Refined: How long have you been creating? What mediums do you work with?
Miller: Like many artists, I go through phases. For about 10 years, I was doing a lot of collage and mixed-media, then acrylic (mainly because it's cheap) and dabbled in paper mache with old junk mail for a while. I also have done a fair amount of digital art, but with the progression of AI (don't get me started), I find myself wanting to create with my hands and physical materials again.

Through my artistic practice, I found out, at least temporarily, how to make a living at it. For four years, I was a full-time greeting card artist and got my cards into 80+ locations with representative companies. I think that influenced me greatly on combining phrases/words with art. I was in awe that my art connected with people all over the world enough to buy a card and send it to someone they love.

Tell us about your book and the journey to creating it.
Outside of actively making art, I have lived the modern and exhausting "Artist Life" over and over again. This means a lot of gig work, hustling and self-doubt. I have taught art to children, ESL to adults and creativity classes in a community college. I also have eight years of marketing experience working with nonprofits and small businesses. A true smorgasbord — all so I can have the flexibility needed to do what I do best: CREATE. As many artists know, it just over takes you, and you have no choice but to get it out of your system.

When I think about the plight of an artist, I realize it's not just about creating something meaningful. You also have to be a fantastic networker (eek!), marketer, photographer and apply professionally for calls for art or residencies...the list goes on forever. It dawned on me that one skill I've fostered, and could offer the artist community, is my relentless ability to research and reach out directly to local spaces without fear of rejection. (When you get rejected enough times, it starts to feel meaningless!) I searched to see if this type of resource existed (spoiler: it didn't). That's when I decided to create something that not only helps artists but also supports venues looking for creatives.

Thus, Show Your Art was born: over 100 local spaces in the Seattle area that work directly with new and emerging artists. The guide includes submission details, themes, commission structures, guidelines and waitlist information — all provided directly by the venues I'm building steady relationships with. I'm having an absolute blast with this project, visiting all kinds of venues and meeting new people in the arts community, and I can't wait to see what it might grow into!

How has your own artistic background influenced the book?
I do not come from a traditional artist background. I have a degree in community psychology and wanted to be a therapist in another life! Going to art school for many isn't in the cards, or we come to art at different stages of our lives. My own insatiable curiosity about how things work, paired with my feverish need to over-communicate ideas, is definitely a big reason why this book was created.

My whimsical and approachable art is how I connect with people, and I wanted to create a book that is totally understandable and accessible, especially in this age where it's hard to pay attention. This book would have hugely benefited me when I was actively selling art full-time, and I hope that it nurtures many artists' futures in showing their art.

Do you have one piece of art that is extremely special to you?
Yes! I made this piece of art in 2020 called "The Moon Museum." It's not very big — just 12" x 12" — but I look at it every day, and it's priceless to me.

What experiences in your life have affected your art/your book the most?
I still struggle with this from time to time, but isolation is a huge challenge for creative people. We have these bursts of creative energy, but many of us lack the community and support systems to feel part of something bigger. (Besides my mother, she's my biggest fan. Hi, Mom!) My art, my need for community, and my commitment to continually and, honestly, ridiculously putting myself out there have been huge goals for me this year.