Sara Kay Michael, the creator behind Art by Sara Kay, champions art therapy. Beyond the heart-infused and fun-loving finished products, painting has always provided her the means for reflection and self-discovery.
“My artwork is my happy place,” Michael said. “I paint to feel calm, I paint to feel happy. The process is spiritual for me: I pray, I listen to music and I just let the paint flow without overthinking it.”
Michael enjoyed creating art in high school and college, though she has never pursued formal training. Rather, she turned to art for her own personal fulfillment and the occasional side gig. She loved painting angels to sell around the holidays. After college, marriage and starting a family, she created artwork for her home and for friends. It wasn’t until years later, when Michael was navigating a divorce, that she considered making art a full-time career.
“I just felt like I had lost everything — my confidence, my sense of self — but the one thing I kept feeling was that painting was my true calling,” said Michael, adding that her parents’ support and encouragement played a key role. “I just chased it and trusted God, and he put a lot of really great people in my path.”
Michael’s colorful art first garnered attention from interior designers seeking pieces for clients’ homes. One pivotal moment came when a designer purchased every piece Michael had brought to show her, resulting in a $2,000 check and a boost to Michael’s confidence. Further validation arrived when NBA star Russell Westbrook and his wife Nina discovered Michael’s work in 2018. They purchased several pieces for their home, and then Nina Westbrook showcased Michael’s art in her Nichols Hills children’s boutique.
In addition to selling her art, Michael enjoys sharing her process with others. For the past six years, she has led regular painting classes at Henry Home Interiors in Norman, guiding students through techniques and encouraging them to tap into their own creative spirits. (Her next class is April 30.) Several of her students have continued to paint — and even sell their own works.
“I love watching people’s styles evolve and seeing them find the joy in painting,” she said.
Her accessible, joyful approach to art has also led to partnerships with major retailers like Home Goods and Hobby Lobby, selling select prints and allowing her work to reach an even wider audience.
“I believe the world needs more art, and I want to make it available to everyone, regardless of budget,” she explains. “Filling your home with things that bring you happiness is so important to me.”
As her art career continues to thrive, Michael remains grounded in the personal significance of her creative practice.
“Painting saved me during a really dark time,” she said. “It gave me a means to heal, and it still does. Art will forever be my therapy.”
With her vibrant canvases hanging within homes across the country, Michael’s art is bringing that same sense of peace and joy to others as well.
