Layers are a theme in my work, which begins with a layer of altered National Geographic pages and builds through coats of ink, charcoal, and acrylic paint. Mixed media allow me to explore the vibrant hues, varying textures, and organic lines found in nature. I am an avid backpacker and spend much of my time foraging the wilderness for the beauty that takes a fair amount of effort to find. I am also a deeply spiritual and colorful soul, which is readily apparent in my paintings–I find it challenging to limit my palette. Bringing back images of nature from my adventures and portraying them in textural vibrancy not only give me a voice and opportunity to communicate, but also a position to influence others in a thought-provoking way. Some pieces are straightforward–a lovely lake or delicate flower can speak for itself. Others are conceptually deeper, becoming vehicles to various thoughts that are important to share. I tend towards illustrating spiritual concepts. One I find myself returning to often is the idea of a peaceful apocalypse, where health is restored to the relationships between man, beast, and the natural world. Nature transports people to places of quiet contemplation, both of the world outside of them and the one deep within. In the end, my paintings beg viewers to remember the beauties of nature, the existence of the spirit, and the importance of the connection between them.
Sabrina Squires grew up in Idaho Falls, ID, with a family who supported her artistic abilities from a young age. She moved to Provo, UT, where she still resides, to earn a BFA in Studio Arts, Emphasis in Painting, from Brigham Young University. She enjoys painting daily in her studio and participates in the local art scene as well as national and international art competitions. She currently has a solo exhibition at the Covey Center for the Arts (Jan-Feb 2023), a piece in the 12th International Art Competition of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints(Mar 2022-Mar 2023), and an upcoming show at the Davis Arts Gallery in the Layton Hospital (Sept 2023). She enjoys the outdoor scene Utah offers to its residents and spends much of her time hiking both the Wasatch and High Uinta ranges, allowing her experiences to inform her artwork. She also teaches art at a charter school in Orem, Noah Webster Academy, where she teaches art to approximately 530 students ages 5-12. Her first art-teaching job was in the Dominican Republic, where she learned Spanish from the children she taught. She still uses that skill in her teaching today, since a large number of her current students are from Central and South America and are in the process of learning English.