Meet Our Artists

Sarah DeYoung | sarcreate

Hey there! I’m Sarah, the creative visionary behind sarcreate (Sarah + create).

I’ve been a fine artist since the start of my adolescent years, but it wasn’t until the world shut down in April 2020 that I began experimenting with creating digital art, designing and illustrating. Flash forward to today, I am now creating full-time as an artist and freelance designer, residing in Maui, Hawai’i. Aside from creating designs for established + growing businesses, I sell prints and stickers in my online shop.

ARTIST ROOTS
Ever since I could hold a crayon, I’ve been exposed to the arts. I credit my mother for constantly providing art enrichment activities around the house and my grandmother for enrolling me in summer art programs. In college my medium of focus was painting, though I also fostered a love for ceramics. I currently work primarily digitally, but love to get my hands into traditional mediums from time to time.

EDUCATING COMMUNITIES
I studied at Western Michigan University’s Gwen Frostic School of Art, earning by Bachelors of Fine Art in Art Education with a minor in Painting. Being formally trained in teaching K through 12 art, I love sharing art and theory knowledge with youth and adults alike. When I’m not designing for clients, I enjoy teaching art classes to students in the public school system as well as homeschool classes.

EXPLORING WITH ART
I was born and raised in the beautiful Great Lakes state of Michigan. As an adult, I’ve planted roots in Maine, Hawai’i and Alaska. Currently residing in Hawai’i has made me see inspirational elements in every step I take. I am endlessly inspired by the surf lifestyle and beautiful 'āina (land) of Hawai'i. I love mixing elements from feminine figures, surfboards, ocean and plant life. I am partial to working with a limited color palette and warm tones, but love expanding my art practice beyond what’s comfortable.

Some of Sarah's work 🌴

If you’d like to work with Sarah connect with her via IG
@sarcreate

Erin + Porter | PORTS + PAWS

Aloha, I'm Erin, Porter's mom.

BACKGROUND

I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. I graduated from Punahou School in 2010. I got my bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2014. I have been working as an electrical engineer ever since.

INSPIRATION
My real passion throughout my whole life has been dogs. I love how they radiate positivity and have a healing effect on us. In March 2020, the beginning of a pandemic, my fiance and I brought Porter home. He was an eight week old mini aussie puppy full of energy. He gave us so much joy and purpose to our lives during such trying times. He was the total inspiration for PORTS + PAWS. The dog community is a really special one. Everyone is caring, giving and passionate about their pups. I wanted to create high quality products for you and your pup that represent a modern, authentic Hawaii. I love being able to share the aloha spirit around the islands and the world. 

GIVING
A very important part of our business is giving back. I wanted to help the local animal shelters with monetary donations that they could use for pups and other animals in need. Every purchase really means so much to me. You should also know that it means a lot to our local shelters, animals and community too.

If you’d like to work with Erin connect with her via IG
@portsandpaws 

Michael Johnson 

Growing up in the shorebreak of slower lower Delaware, I’ve found a home within the beach culture. But now with one hand firmly on a pencil and the other hitting keyboard shortcuts I'm kitted with everything I need to follow my passion. If your goal is to have cool designs, merch, campaigns, or branding, a little bit of everything? Hit me up, I'd love to connect.

Mike is also doing a mural at our home in Rehoboth and we cannot wait to see how it turns out!! (stay tuned, I'll post pictures when he's done)

If you’d like to work with Mike connect with her via IG
@mikejodesigns

McKenzie Orhelein

an artist based in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Growing up in a small beach town, McKenzie made a strong connection with the ocean as her place of comfort. In school, she would get caught drawing waves and flowers alongher papers. Years later, she still does that. Inspired by the beauty of the sea and nature, McKenzies’s main focus is creating art associated withthe ocean. Many of her popular images are her Lady Sliders but she also enjoys painting oceanscapes and working hands on. She also has created logos, chalkboard art for restaurants, dabbles in looming and many other projects. As long as she’s creating, she is in her element. McKenzie’s art has been featured in places such as PuertoRico, Hawaii and California.

If you’d like to work with McKenzie connect with her via IG
@mkensea

Brooke Kelley

Brooke is a Hawaii based artist. She is constantly inspired
by the beauty that surrounds her and it comes through in her art. From sea
to pavement, she loves surfing and skating. If you’d like to create fun things
with Brooke you can contact her via Instagram @bevyandbrine and go along
for the ride on her art adventures. 

If you’d like to work with Brooke connect with her via IG
@bevyandbrine

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