Meet Janis Sarrazin | Event Planner & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Janis Sarrazin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Janis, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind my success thus far has been the constant support of the community. Not only has my personal community of family and friends pushed me to where I am today, but also the local community of my hometown has been amazingly supportive. From purchasing my artwork to helping me gather supplies, I have gotten to meet and work with so many lovely people. All of the feathers that I integrate into my artwork come from a loving, local San Tan Valley farm that are all foraged for naturally. Due to this process, my artwork and product have brought people together through the love of art and birds. My brand, Free Range Feathers has been a success thanks to the amazing people who have helped me along the way.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My brand started with an Emu egg. It was such a stunning thing to me. This was the start of so many beautiful things. Feathers have always captivated me with their beauty and this is what my dear friend presented me with following my interest in her Emu egg. I asked if I could spend some time with her and her birds and forage for feathers that had fallen to the ground and use them for my art. The rest is history. Feathers have always been a strong symbol of divinity and travel. Many cultures have used them for expression and creativity. For me, my art represents my relationship with this history and nature. I love to capture the natural beauty that the feathers have to offer and their rich, cultural history. Making these connections have made me proud of my artwork and I am thrilled to be able to share it with others.
It was a difficult decision for me to decide if I wanted to sell my artwork or not. I wanted to expand my craft and offer my wearable art to the community. However, I knew it would not be easy and that selling my art was just as much, if not more work than creating the pieces in the first place. Through the decision to become the artist and the entrepreneur I have learned and gained business skills that I will use for the rest of my life. When you buy art from me, you invest in myself and the community that I represent.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting I would not let them leave without visiting these places first:

Ziggy’s Magic Pizza Shop of Phoenix – For lunch, drinks, and games

Phon D. Sutton Park of Fort McDowell- For a quiet hike along the salt river
(don’t forget your Tonto pass and some water)

Jarrod’s Coffee, Tea and Gallery of Mesa – For some smooth Jazz and beautiful art

Downtown Scottsdale – For nightlife fun!

Papago Park of Phoenix – Easy hike with phenomenal views.

Desert botanical gardens of Phoenix – Beautiful and Educational.
(purchase tickets ahead of time!)

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to thank the women of the Free Range farm who are truly passionate and loving in all aspects. They do an amazing job caring for the birds and have been so much fun to work with. Foraging with friends is one of my favorite activities!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freerangefeathers/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/freerangefeathers

Other: Etsy coming soon @freerangefeathersco

Image Credits
All photos by Janis Sarrazin