Artist Statement
Hi I'm Sara McNeil and I love art! I have always loved creating, connecting with others and making people laugh from a young age. I'm a self proclaimed kook machine, puppeteer, artist and creator of nonsense. I make art using painting, sculpture, performance and puppetry. My artistic process starts by gathering found materials such as cardboard, old food boxes and discarded trash to build the skeleton of my puppet. I then cover them in layers of felt and paint for added expression and depth. Building unique art experiences helping people express their creativity and animating unique objects fills my life with fantastical moments. I also believe it is important to have fun in whatever it is you do. I try to capture the essence of joy in the midst of nonsense, which always motivates me to keep creating, being curious, telling stories and keeping the extravaganza going.
Artist Biography
Sara McNeil is an artist, puppeteer and performer from Calgary, Alberta, with a Bachelor's degree in Painting at the Alberta University of Art and Design. Her artistic inspiration is Jim Henson and The Old Trout Puppet Workshop. Jim Henson's creations from his film The Dark Crystal and the Old Trout Puppet Workshop both explore the wonderful, dark and fantastical world of puppetry using storytelling. Jim Henson's creations of otherworldly characters in a fight for their freedom speak to Sara's work where she weaves tales of her own fantastical creations. Bringing empathy and humor to her strange and often misunderstood characters. Her favorite medium is both painting and sculpture which she uses in her puppetry. Sara has worked with WP Puppet Theatre Society designing puppets and workshops for all ages as a Puppet Pop Up Coordinator. She has also partnered with Calgary Animated Objects Society performing puppet jams such as "I'm a Black Cat" 2025. Sara is also part of a collective of artists called The Suitcase Theatre Arcade, where she creates little worlds and stories with her puppets in a suitcase.
Instagram: @saramcneilcreates