Today we’d like to introduce you to Monique Sagarese.
Hi Monique, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I have always had a love for art and trying new mediums. I tried getting into paint pouring, hand lettering, embroidery, graphic design, you name it.
Then around Christmas time a few years ago my friend’s mom asked if I could Woodburn something for her and I said I could give it a try! I instantly fell in love with it and was able to use my graphic skills to make my own templates. The more I began practicing woodburning I also started using my scroll saw.
I wanted to be able to cut out my own wood pieces to burn on. Then the more I started using the scroll saw, the more I fell in love with that. I always knew that I wanted and needed to do something creative and I finally found my niche.
I wanted to do something that I love and be able to be around more for my son. Through my art, I am able to teach him that you can do anything you set your mind to and how important it is to love what you do.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I always struggled with confidence… Am I as good as the rest?
Does my work actually look good? Do people like what I’m doing? Will people actually pay for my work? Also, as wood prices keep rising, getting supplies has been a bit of a struggle. Shipping wood is NOT cheap!
Luckily, I have had such great support from my family and friends along the way who constantly reminds me to keep striving and growing and not to let anything hold me back. If there is a will, there is a way!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in woodburning and woodworking (scroll saw art).
I also do some graphic work which allows me to make my templates and bring other people’s ideas to life. I believe what sets me apart from others is my ability to be very diverse in my art, I am not set to one kind of work, which allows me to create all different kinds of projects.
I am proud of my ability to offer such a variety of work and the growth that I have had in a short period of time.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My advice for finding a mentor is to remember you can have more than one and they don’t need to be alike.
I have found a few great artists that do similar work but also do it in such different ways. Never feel like something can only be done like one other person, you can always add your own flair and personal touch. Networking has also been so beneficial, especially when it comes to finding supplies.
I found a great community of artists that love to share ideas, templates, and resources. Learning from others has only helped me to further my growth and expand my ideas.
Contact Info:
- Email: modesignscrafts@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modesignscrafts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modesignscrafts/
