About Sarika Purchase | Art of Story

(Or, the artist formerly known as “What if I tried this too?”)

 

Hi, I’m Sarika, South African born self-taught artist. Serial creative experimenter. Professional over-thinker. Introvert by default, and extrovert by surprise. I live mostly in my head, where color, rhythm, and philosophical rabbit holes all coexist… but bring me out, and I might surprise you with bubbly banter, random humor, or a conversation about the meaning of life (or fries — I'm fussy about those too).

 

My brain never shuts off, and neither does the creative itch, sleep deprived and deeply attached to cardboard boxes — for reasons even I don’t fully understand.

 

My life’s path was carefully crafted to serve in the mental health care space — filled with thoughts of saving the world, fixing broken systems, and healing people. But in 2020, creativity staged a coup, hijacked the mission, and armed me with an oil pastel and a new ambition to give walls a voice.

 

I’m mostly happily married, but relationships are like my art — a mix of unpredictability and soul. It’s someone’s science experiment where they see if two people can survive the chaos of creating something meaningful. Sometimes, it’s a rough sketch; other times, it’s a canvas full of unexpected magic.

 

Since age four, I’ve gone from performing traditional dance on stage to writing poetry, making music, experimenting with jewelry making, and asking existential questions like: “What if I turned this pile of ice cream sticks into something revolutionary?” (don't ask). I’m also proudly retired from coloring inside the lines of anyone else’s coloring book — turns out, drawing your own pages is way more fun.

 

I'm a jack-of-many-mediums with calloused hands, pastel-streaked tiles, and a lounge that’s been fully sacrificed to art. I don’t follow artistic formulas—I dissect, rebuild, and tinker with technique until it feels like mine. I’m obsessed with process. The method matters just as much as the masterpiece.

 

I’m 1.37m tall, so yes, technically dwarf short—small in size, not in presence. Part dog (loyal), part cat (solitary), mostly lone wolf. Low-frequency bass is my therapy. Tech gadgets are my guilty pleasure. Hyperfocus is my superpower. Bugs terrify me. My browser tabs are a chaos I thrive in.

 

I make art that feels. I write lyrics that sting. I build visuals that speak. I believe in legacy, not trends. And while bios are supposed to define you in a paragraph, I refuse!

So — onto the good stuff (aka the art).

 

Thanks for peeking into my slightly chaotic, very creative and personal world.
I can’t wait to connect with you — unless you’re a spider. Then maybe just send an email.

 

Artsy regards,
Sarika