Stephani Teran
Express staff
If you happen to be scrolling on Instagram and come upon an instantly calming video showing a remarkably steady hand painting perfectly formed letters, flowers, birds, business logos, trees, or even bees and butterflies in the most beautiful, yet uniquely, coordinated colors, then you may have found Pewter and Sage Hand-Painted Signs and Wall Art. It would not be surprising on a local level because so many creations from Pewter and Sage now don businesses and homes on the South Shore and beyond.
Sarah Pasternak, the creative force behind Pewter and Sage, has taken a winding journey to bring her to where she is artistically, professionally, and personally. A Pennsylvania native and art school major from Syracuse University, Pasternack dreamed of illustrating children’s books or becoming a Disney animator. She landed a job postcollege in product design in Massachusetts and gleaned priceless skills from it that largely govern how she runs Pewter and Sage today. “I learned how to research consumers and watch trends in the home décor world. I learned about the need to complete seasonal products six months early to make sure they are in stock when the time comes to order them. I learned how to focus on what sells and not just what is marketed. It was a fun first job, but I learned a lot. It is also how I met my husband.”
After an intense, high-stress second job in Boston as a 3D animator for litigation consultation for a legal firm, Pasternak decided to leave that position to focus on her new adventure -motherhood. “I was a stay-at-home mom for 10 years and I loved it. I really enjoy being with my children.” Still, Pasternak yearned for a creative outlet that she could focus on while her kids were in school. While out with a friend one day at Brimfield Antique and Flea Market, Pasternak happened upon a man making exquisite signs. “There was a gentleman making these fine art signs with golden edging and beautiful wood and I just stood there for a long time watching him. This encounter stuck with her and she started to think about how she could combine this fascinating craft with a more approachable, modern take that would appeal to many.
Pasternak’s artistic drive is rooted in more than just a need to create, it is also fueled by the belief that home is the most important place in the world. “Home is so important,” Pasternak says, “I think that home décor should make you feel safe and reflect your passions and values and collections -it’s an extension of the people who live there.” Pasternak had been painting furniture with a chalk-paint base and decided to start making signs. In addition to being inspired by the artist at Brimfield, Pasternak began watching videos of sign-painting experts. “I got kind of obsessed with how they painted signs -the techniques and how to combine colors and fonts. I also took a class in Boston and learned how to paint various styles of the alphabet, how to create shadows and depth, and how to structure them, so I felt like I had a little bit more of an idea about what I was doing.”
One challenge facing Pasternak with making hand-painted signs and works of art, was how to make them stand out from the many others out there. “I started to experiment with my own styles and techniques -sanding, distressing, and waxing the wood to give it an antique feel without it looking like it’s going to fall apart. I want to create art with character.” Another stamp on style that Pasternak developed was letting nature inspire and guide her in nearly every aspect of the design. “I am hugely inspired by nature. I walk to the beach by my house every day and I am always noticing nature’s variations -the way the colors change and shadows move depending on the time of day and the season. Being out in nature is self-care for me and it gives me a lot of ideas for my art.”
Some of Pasternak’s most popular signs feature beautifully painted birds. When asked if she has always drawn and painted birds she laughs and replies, “I paint birds because painting people is hard! People are really drawn to the ones featuring birds and animals.” Six years into creating art for, and establishing Pewter and Sage, has given Pasternak artistic opportunities and ventures she never anticipated. “Creating this kind of art has taken me into exploring and expressing my passion for, not just nature, but travel. The places I go and things I see influence my art and design and I find that people are also really passionate about where they live and where they have been, so if there is a sign that captures that, they want it in their home.” One place in particular that inspired Pasternak were the deserts of the Southwest. “We went to Zions and the Grand Canyon and it was like a completely different world there. It inspired me to want to do a collection of pieces featuring national parks.”
In addition to unexpected artistic subject matter, Pasternak’s creations took her to the screen on one of the most popular shows on HGTV. The show, Houses with History, featured signs and artwork by Pasternak in the renovated homes and in the shop of the hosts, Mayflower Mercantile. She was even featured on an episode where she was shown painting one of her pieces. “Yes, that was really fun! Seeing my work on TV was quite the experience!” Another passion Pasternak found through her art was supporting and working with local businesses run by women. “There are so many creative women working to establish and run small businesses, and I have absolutely loved creating signs that help them establish a look or feeling for what they do.” Not only does she enjoy designing custom signs, Pasternak hopes to one day launch a home design brand and help others create unique and bespoke spaces in their homes.
Quite the brave creative herself, Pasternak is no stranger to stepping out of her comfort zone to build the business she wants. Not only does she meticulously hand paint every sign and piece of art, she cuts the wood and prepares it to become the canvases for her creations. “I had never done woodworking before,” she says, “but I kind of kicked my husband’s car out of one side of the garage and set up an area for woodworking. My father-in law is a carpenter and gave me some tools and help, and then I just had to figure things out myself in terms of the kind of wood to use, the way to cut it, what sizes work, and what finishes and paints to use as the base.” Once the wood base is ready, Pasternak gets to work designing each piece. She makes a template to trace onto the wood to ensure perfect lettering and spacing. “It is like a coloring page to paint in, but I make the coloring page,” she explains.
Every sign is one-of-a-kind in some way or another as each piece of wood is a bit different, and hand painting and color-blending can vary, but there are certainly collections and repeated pieces that resonate well with her customer base. “The East Coast signs are always popular and I am always researching what sells best with my customers so that I am not just making what I want, but what they want.”
As for what is next for Pewter and Sage, Pasternak has a lot of ideas, but to take shape at the right time. “Right now, this isn’t a hustle, it is a creative process. I am still at home with my kids -creating during school hours, and it is already a lot trying to fit that in without it being stressful,” she says, “Being a mom comes first, so I am not looking to expand into anything too big right now, but I definitely have plans to add collections to my products and possibly bring on some other people to help me create. I would love someone to come on and focus on the preparation and cutting of the wood. But right now, I just enjoy the process.”
In the meantime, Pasternak is learning from her venture every day. “Entrepreneurship is a blessing in personal development,” she muses, “I have changed a lot as a person for the better the last six years. Starting this business and creating has taught me a lot about problem solving, confidence, trusting the process, and it has been really beneficial to my mental health and outlook on the world. I notice more in life and it shows up in my art. I am so grateful for this process and I challenge anyone who may be thinking about doing something like this to take those first steps and do it! You will meet wonderful people along the way, too and learn a lot about yourself.” As we head into the end of the year, wouldn’t a little leap of faith into our creative realms be a cathartic diversion from the chaos of the world? After all, life still offers plenty of beauty to color our souls, and what a gift it would be to have a tangible reminder to keep with us always.
To find the creative works and projects of Pewter and Sage Hand-Painted Signs and Wall Art please visit:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/PewterAndSage
@pewterandsage on Instagram
Mayflower Mercantile
4 Mayflower Rd., Plympton
http://www.mayflowermercantile.com
Locally, Yours
170 Water St., Plymouth
http://www.shoplocallyyours.com