Sara Beveridge
Sara Beveridge Bio
I come from people who always created in some way. Whether music, carpentry, quilting, sewing, writing, growing crops or photography. Sidney Lanier (1842-1881) was a renowned poet and musician. Thomas Lanier Williams III (1911-1983), also know by his pen name Tennessee Williams, was a major American playwright. My grandmother kept personal journals and wrote articles for the local newspaper. My mother is a pattern maker and seamstress who can envision a garment and have it on the body in what seems like no time at all. The talents of my people are many and I like to think they passed some of their talent to me.
My very young years were spent as an Air Force brat, moving from Alabama to Canada, then to Virginia. My grade school years were spent in Northern Virginia and Junior High and High School in Virginia Beach. From the time I first went to the beach and saw the ocean, at about 10 years of age, I realized I must have salt water in my veins. I have lived near the ocean for most of my life and I expect I will continue to do so until the day I leave this earth to go home and be with my Savior Jesus Christ.
I moved to California, by way of marriage at the young age of 19. I lived in Southern California for about 15 years. That is really when my creativity blossomed and photography became a passion for me. I would get up at 5:00 am to go on surf trips with my husband where I was the "official" surf photographer. I remember those days like it was yesterday. Sitting in the fog waiting for the sun and shivering. All for the love of the surf lifestyle and a great surfing photo!
I attended a Junior college for a couple of years where I studied Fashion Merchandising. It was difficult to juggle being married, having a full time job and going to school. Despite not completing my studies, I went on to have a very rewarding career as a Fashion Merchandiser in the garment industry during my years in California. I worked for surf wear and "lifestyle" clothing companies like Ocean Pacific (OP), Lightening Bolt Sportswear and Newport Blue; basically I worked in an industry that was my life-style.
I had the great privilege and advantage of working along-side many outstanding artists, designers and graphics specialists during those years. Jay Young, Rick Rietfeld, Dennis Del Rey, Walter Hoffman of Hoffman California Fabrics to name a few. They inspired me and taught me very much. This experience, combined with an innate sense of style, design concepts, color and composition has helped to influence my artwork. As well as my life-long passion to create, which is the driving force for my creativity.
I have been very blessed to have the opportunity to travel to many places on God's wonderful planet. The photographs from those travels are the canvas with which I create my artwork.
I am now a permanent resident of Virginia Beach, Virginia. My passion to market my artwork has driven me to create this website and I am proud to be able to offer my art to those who appreciate it. I hope you will take the time to look through the site and feel free to contact me if you have a special request. I do matting and framing as well.
Thank you for reading,
Sincerely, Sara Beveridge
My prints are featured locally at the following locations:
Ocean Art
Hilltop North Shopping Cnter
1628 Laskin Rd Ste 716
Virginia Beach, VA
757-425-1670
OceanArt
21st Street Art Gallery
615 N. Birdneck Rd. Ste 105
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
757-491-2943
21stArtGallery
Follow my Journey as a Believer in Jesus Christ at:
Believers Journey Blog
What is Photographic Art?
I believe the question really should be "what is a fine art photographic print"? In the photography world the real difference is in the printing method. The subject matter is of course your personal choice. Hand made prints would probably be at the top of the spectrum with many outstanding fine art photographers producing beautiful hand made prints. But for my contemporary themed work it's my computer and a top notch photo printer that works the best. Besides, I never liked the thought of putting my hands in chemicals and that's just one more reason why I love the digital age!
I consider my enhanced photographs as decorative wall art that falls into the category of "Fine Art Photographic Digital Prints". That is based primarily on my use of pigment inks and archival paper.
“Enhanced photography” is a relatively new artistic expression. The techniques I use are varied and can involve many hours to transform a picture into a look that appeals to me. There are no rules to follow in transforming my photographs and I don't listen to critics who think this is not a true art form. I think that enhanced photography is very much a legitimate art form and I think I am doing something a little different that pushes the language of art. I enjoy it very much and I feel a sense of accomplishment in much the same way that a painter looks at a completed painting.
There are the purist’s 35mm film photographers who are rather elitist about their view of photography. You may have heard the term "camera snob". I have witnessed those that have a rather disgruntled attitude about the digital revolution of photography. In my humble opinion, it’s like asking me to go back to using cassette tapes or not having an Internet. I believe that if I am not constantly progressing then I am always playing catch up. For me, change is integral to my creative growth as an artist and as a person.
For the past 25 years plus I have taken photos of all sorts of subjects with all types of lenses. I have always liked to enlarge my photos and have them matted and framed. I thought they were beautiful wall art!
Basically I am still doing that and I don't feel the need to make a particular statement or tell a particular story with my art. My work is part of who I am; a beach person who loves to take pictures! I like what I do and that’s why I do it! But more importantly, other people like my work and purchase it and that is all the validation I need that my work is "art".
Most of my prints are limited editions of 80, 180 and 300, making them a bit more special to a collector.
The component of my photographic art is based primarily on the themes I am drawn to. I then focus on composition as well as vivid color and texture. I am very blessed to have the opportunity to travel to many places around the world. I use my huge catalog of photographs from those travels.
I have always been a "beach" person who grew up around the beach and surfing. I love to photograph the beach, palm trees, waves, surfing, flowers, nautical scenes and seascapes. I am drawn to the natural beauty of our earth and you will see these themes in my photographic art.
I also love my home town of Virginia Beach, Virginia and I pay tribute with my “Virginia Beach Landmarks” series.
Thank you for reading,
Sara Beveridge
Photographic Artist