A working journal from Driftway Studio in Rhode Island. I write about process, materials, and the slow, often meandering work of making things by hand.

Are Sketchbooks Real Art?
Daily Practice Sarah Short Daily Practice Sarah Short

Are Sketchbooks Real Art?

A post on Instagram about sketchbooks led to a dialogue on whether or not the pieces we create in our sketchbooks are real art. I believe they aren't "real" art, but they are art. As artists, if we don't have a place to play and we're only trying to make finished work, we're never going to grow, change, or experiment, because we're so focused on creating what we're already good at.

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Write Your Way to Better Art Conversations
Writing Sarah Short Writing Sarah Short

Write Your Way to Better Art Conversations

The last time someone asked you what kind of art you make, you probably gave them a rushed, stumbling explanation while watching their eyes glaze over. What if instead you could captivate them with a description that made your process sound as compelling as the art itself?

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The Afterlife of Collage: When Materials Reveal Their Hidden Stories
Sarah Short Sarah Short

The Afterlife of Collage: When Materials Reveal Their Hidden Stories

In my artistic process, stories emerge after creation rather than before. As I examine my completed collages, I discover narratives hiding within text fragments, unexpected connections, and visual details that weren't initially apparent. This moment of close observation is where titles and stories are born—revealing themselves through the artistic archaeology of my own work rather than through deliberate planning.

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