Please introduce yourself.
Hi, I’m Sage Sarvie, an architectural designer and digital artist. I studied architectural engineering and am currently a design associate focusing on facades. I started learning and experimenting with Blender 3D in 2020, and have since used it to create digital spaces. My work is predominantly dreamscapes composed of meditative interiors and surreal 3D environments. Each one is inspired by the intersection between our functional living spaces and the natural world, with the intent to bring about a sense of calm using ambient lighting, minimalism, and various architectural elements. Â
How did you get into art and what motivates you to create?
I was drawn to arch viz and this form of digital art because of my interest and passion in design. I grew up watching a lot of home renovation and real estate shows, which is where a lot of my interest in design stemmed from. I remember being captivated by the interior design processes, the reconfiguring of spaces, and of course the before-and-afters.
The motivation behind my creations is primarily to express emotion through a room or space. The process of creating these dreamscapes has become somewhat of a meditative journey in itself – one where I focus on developing a space that embodies whatever emotion I may be feeling in that moment, captures a memory, or invokes thoughts about the future. The ultimate goal is to produce a scene where a viewer can envision themselves immersed in it.
What memory do you recall most vividly from childhood about your creative talent?
I remember sitting at the dining table with my grandpa sitting next to me; I would make various shapes with my hands – a heart, a peace sign, or a fist for example – and he would draw my hands on a scrap piece of lined paper. Despite it only taking a few minutes, his sketches had a surprising amount of detail and my hands were depicted very accurately. Years later when I was a teenager, he gifted me a book of the graphical works of M.C. Escher.
One summer I became so obsessed with drawing and sketching, I would spend hours behind the computer watching tutorials and filling my sketchbook with characters. I had numerous drawing tutorial books as well, ranging from dolphins to still life to human figures. At one point I was hospitalized for several weeks due to a mental illness, and spent a chunk of my time painting watercolor butterflies. Art has always had a special place in my life.
How would you best describe your style and who/what are some of your major influences?
I would describe my style as architectural surrealism. I enjoy breaking the boundaries between architecture & nature, since building out scenes in the digital realm means that the limits of the real world don’t exist. Sometimes the technical side of my brain kicks in and I’ll alter a space to make it seem more “realistic”. Some artists & designers that I’ve gained inspiration from include James Tralie, Camille Boldt, Charlotte Taylor, Six n Five. I get most of my inspiration from surroundings including the natural environment, my travels, mid-century modern design, architectural magazines, and furniture & home goods stores.
What is part of the creative process that you would rather avoid, and part that you can’t get enough of?
I wish I could avoid the process of manually animating a scene, it would be great if the software could automatically generate the animations based on the objects and landscape.
On the other hand, one thing I love about the process is getting the lighting just right, and being able to manipulate that aspect manually. The feeling of having my vision properly executed. And of course, coming back to a render and being very satisfied with it – sometimes I end up just staring at the final result for a few minutes and immersing myself in the space mentally.
How does commercial pressure and the business of art effect, shape, or guide your creative decisions?
Intention should be at the core of any path, and art is no exception. The pressure of business and “usefulness” has definitely made me think about my goals with my work; I want to create something that I’ll be proud of now and in the future. I want to provide something valuable to my viewers and collectors. My intention is to provide them with a space free from worry, a slice of peace in a world of chaos. Since I began selling NFTs, this intention has absolutely helped guide my creative decisions. I hope that my collectors can find a piece of themselves in my spaces.
Your favorite book, song, film.
My favorite book is Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, it’s one that I can revisit at any time and usually lifts my spirits. My favorite song is Born to Die by Lana Del Rey. Despite having listened to it so many times, I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it. It’s hard to pick a favorite film, but I think I’ll go with Legally Blonde. I love that Elle Woods was able to accomplish her ambitious goals but didn’t lose herself in the process.
Send a message to your future self.
You’re doing great sweetie.
