Meet Sarah “Rah” Bridges

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah “Rah” Bridges. 

Hi Rah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My journey to art began at the end of my rope. 

In 2016, I went through three months of severe depression from discontinuing various pain and psychiatric medications without medical supervision. 

I considered myself mentally tough and able to handle it on my own, but I wasn’t prepared for the effects of withdrawal. 

The result was a period of psychosis resulting in hallucinations and paranoid delusions. 

As the dust began to settle, my mind and body still fought to return to a feeling of safety. I experienced numerous daily panic attacks. 

In the middle of an episode, I remember dropping a massive sketchbook to the floor along with colored pencils. Without another thought, I started drawing lines and shapes. I filled them in with whatever colors my hands chose. For the first time, my frantic thoughts turned to static, my breathing settled, and my heartbeat slowed to a rhythmic pace. I found peace among hell. 

It has now been six years since I began creating intuitive art to heal my PTSD. 

Although I’ve always used creativity as an outlet to cope with lifelong depression, intuitive art has helped me express myself therapeutically. It’s now my passion to share this with others who could benefit from healing through art. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I believe in myself, and I believe I’ve been gifted with the ability to someday soon earn a living through art, but it’s been a long road requiring unwavering faith. It’s easy to get discouraged. 

Between a full-time job and having chronic illness, it’s even harder building a business from the ground up. 

One of my favorite quotes is “You must enjoy the journey because whether or not you get there, you must have fun on the way.” (Kalpana Chawla) 

Whenever I feel discouraged, I try to find a way to enjoy the process. A lot of times this means balancing business with self-care and re-centering myself around my purpose. I often ask myself, even if it’s not successful, what’s worth doing anyway? To me, it’s this. And I keep coming back to that. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an abstract expressionist painter. I like to use thick textures and bright colors in my work. I often squeeze paint directly from the tube onto my brush or palette knife and slab it onto the canvas in patterns expressing rhythm and movement. 

Intuitive art is free-flowing, which is why many people describe “being in the flow” when they do it. It’s in this flow state that your mind goes quiet like it does during meditation. 

This form of art is about the act of expression rather than the end result. It’s building upon what is in front of you in real-time while having the freedom to play. There’s no stress in how it’s turning out because it takes shape in each moment. With each brush stroke, you adapt, like a conversation happening on the canvas. 

This year, I’m excited to share an intuitive art class that will teach this process to all skill and interest levels. 

Another thing I’m very proud of is launching my brand Eye of Rah. I take digital images of my paintings and use them to design clothing and accessories. I’ve always wanted to be a designer and I’m proud to have my own fashion line on eyeofrah.com. 

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Being involved in any art community is a very rewarding experience, be it a local group or even a Facebook group. I’m personally on a lot of online groups that are helpful for support, feedback, and comradery. I’ve yet to partner with a mentor at this stage of my career but I recognize the benefits of learning from someone who has walked the path I’m looking for. 

The best advice I have for a career-seeking artist is this: 

When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on. -FDR – 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.eyeofrah.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/eyeofrah_official
• Facebook: Facebook.com/eyeofrah
• Other: www.etsy.com/shop/shopeyeofrah