KIT Blog

Sa-rah is an artist living in eastern Adelaide. She has a passion for making a difference with her art. 100% of her profits are given to The Leprosy Mission Australia. You can see and purchase her products on her Facebook page @SerenityArtwork. Andrew from The Leprosy Mission Australia recently spoke with her about her inspiration, process and art:

Andrew: When did you first start painting?

Sa-rah: My mother was an art teacher so when I was younger I used to do a little bit of drawing and painting. I never had proper lessons but it was always something that I had wanted to do. In the beginning of 2015, I decided to go along to classes. I had just moved back into Adelaide, from the country, and I was thinking about things that I wanted to do. And then I saw an advertisement outside the local supermarket for art classes. The great thing was that the teacher really listened to the ideas that I had and helped me find a way to express them. I had different things that I wanted to present in my painting, and this teacher was really good at helping me with the techniques to do that. From those classes I understood how much you can communicate through painting—it doesn’t matter what language you speak; there is a message in the work. I teach English-as-a-Second-Language, so I’m always using visuals to explain the meaning of words.

Sa-rah Dumuid (2016) “Live Life to the Full”, acrylic on canvas

What are you trying to communicate?

I like the idea that the cards portray a Christian message, but I’m really not trying to be pushy about it. I like the idea of people being drawn into the artwork and if they want they can dig deeper into the story behind it.

“As well as raising money, I’m hoping the cards will be a real encouragement to the people who receive them”

Usually I come up with the idea for the artwork first and then pair it with a title and scripture reference. Sometimes it takes a while before I come up with the right verse to go with the artwork. For example, with the last one that I produced, I had the idea of a girl releasing a dove in a field of sunflowers. I was listening to someone talk about Christ setting you free in Galatians 1. I thought that it was interesting and really ties well into this painting. So I titled it ‘Be Free’. Being an English teacher, I love using a verb—an imperative in the title of each painting. It’s like a command to “be free”. Another card I have is ‘Be Still’. That one is obviously about being still and knowing that God is God.

Sa-rah Dumuid (2016) “Mystery”, acrylic on canvas

As well as raising money, I’m hoping the cards will be a real encouragement to the people who receive them. Art crosses a lot of barriers. It’s exciting to think that it doesn’t matter what language you speak you can still get a message from it.

How many paintings have you completed?

So far I’ve completed eight paintings. It’s been a nice few years to get into the artwork. After I had done a few paintings I considered the idea of selling them as cards, and how that could be a way to raise money for charity… It’s nice that you can use something that you enjoy doing to bless another ministry. One of my paintings is also printed on free Avantcard postcards that can be found in cafés around Australia. They could be anywhere in Australia, so it’s another way to get the message out there.

Why did you want to support people affected by leprosy?

“I’m especially inspired by the fact that Jesus had a real heart for people affected by leprosy.”

Ever since I was a child, I knew about The Leprosy Mission. Back in the days of collecting tins that sat next to the phone. I was in Papua New Guinea for a year when I was in high school. My whole family went across. My parents were short-term assistants to Bible translators—my Dad was helping out with radios. It really helped me see outside my own country and culture, and appreciate the needs in developing countries. But I feel that out of any disadvantaged group, people affected by leprosy are definitely one of the most disadvantaged. I’m especially inspired by the fact that Jesus had a real heart for people affected by leprosy. So I’ve always been keen to do whatever I can to support The Leprosy Mission. It’s just crazy to think that we still have leprosy today, given how easy it is to cure.

You can view and purchase Sa-rah’s cards and paintings on her Facebook page.