Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophia Gunn.
Hi, Sophia; we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I have loved art ever since I was a kid. The first time I tried ceramics in middle school, I was hooked. I took classes when I could in high school, but I became more focused on science because I thought that was what I needed to do to get into college. I stopped doing art entirely for a few years because I was”too busy” for it. My mental health plummeted, and I ended up needing to take some time away from school to get help. I was introduced to art therapy, and it saved my life. I wasn’t all in right after that, but I started to rebuild my relationship with art. By my senior year of college, I realized I needed more than the few art electives I had made room for in my schedule, which wasn’t scheduled. I didn’t feel done. I declared an art major two semesters before I was supposed to graduate college with my STEM major. In my first semester as an art major, I took a print-making class, which changed my entire art practice. I still do ceramics from time to time just for myself, but I have now started to build a business around my print-making art, and I am excited about what the future holds for me with it.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road for me. I have been the main thing getting in my way. My mom has always wanted me to pursue art and has been thrilled that I am finally embracing that side of myself. Because I also love science and math, I felt obligated to pursue that. I convinced myself that I had more to offer the world if I went into STEM and that choosing art as a career was irresponsible and selfish, which may be, but that isn’t the case. A big part of my practice is bringing my love of science and math into my art. Art and science are two sides of the same coin. I also needed to find my voice in my art. I don’t think that my art is going to find a cure for depression or solve climate change, but it might make people feel seen, and I think that that is also a huge deal.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My current focus in my art is print-making. I have a little character that I came up with a few years ago, and he frequently appears in my pieces. I put a lot of focus into the carving part of my pieces. I only include a few colors when I get around to making the prints. That lack of color makes more room to think about and relate to the pieces.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check?
I started listening to a new podcast a few months ago and am obsessed with it! It’s called World’s Okayest Entrepreneur, and it is done by two local creative entrepreneurs who have built businesses around their crafts. It has been beneficial in actual advice and inspiring me to feel like I can do this.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiagunnstudios?igsh=MTlib2Z0eTkxaHA2dw==
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbutteredandtoasted?_t=8k19nV0DlC2&_r=1
