Saraya Bauer

You mentioned that you’ve been drawing since childhood. Can you tell us about one of your earliest memories connected with art?

One of my earliest memories is sitting in my elementary school classroom and having teachers pause just to compliment my drawings. Their encouragement lit something inside me—it made me want to keep growing and see how far this gift could go. By middle school, I started drawing portraits, and my art teachers continued to speak life into my talent. Looking back now, I truly believe God placed this gift in me from the very beginning. All of that early encouragement helped me recognize it as something more than a childhood hobby. Today, my heart is to use the talent He gave me to glorify Him and to create art that points people back to His love.

What led you to focus specifically on realism, and what does “realism” mean to you personally?

I’ve always been drawn to the tiny details most people pass by—the soft shifts in light, the subtle shadows, the little textures that make something feel alive. Realism felt like a natural fit for me because it lets me honor those details and challenge myself to make a drawing look as true-to-life as possible. Over time, realism has become even more personal. It’s not just about accuracy—it’s about connection. My heart now is to bring moments and stories from the Bible to life on paper. I want people to look at my work and not just see it, but feel it… to connect with Scripture in a deeper, more intimate way. If my drawings can help someone experience God’s love or see a familiar story with fresh eyes, then I’m doing exactly what I feel called to do.

Charcoal is a demanding medium — what draws you to it, and how do you handle its challenges?

What draws me to charcoal is the incredible depth and emotion it allows. The moment I first experimented with it, I knew it was something I wanted to master. There’s something powerful about how charcoal can move from the softest, most delicate tones to deep, dramatic shadows—it lets me create a kind of intensity that really resonates with the stories I’m trying to tell. Charcoal definitely has its challenges, but I’ve learned to love them. It forces you to be patient and intentional. I’m always experimenting with new ways to shade, blend, and build texture. For me, those challenges aren’t frustrating—they’re the part that keeps me growing, pushing, and discovering more of what this medium can do.

Your works carry deep emotional and spiritual resonance. How does your faith influence your creative process?

My faith naturally shapes the way I create. Before I start a piece, I usually take a moment to pray and ask God to guide me, especially when I’m working on something inspired by Scripture. I believe He’s the one who gave me this talent, so I want my work to reflect Him in an honest, heartfelt way. When I draw biblical scenes, I spend time thinking about the emotion behind them and what the moment might have actually felt like. That helps me bring the story to life on paper. My hope is that people can look at my work and feel something meaningful – whether it reminds them of God’s love, encourages them, or simply makes them pause and reflect.

There’s a recurring motif of the eye and reflection in your pieces. What does this symbolize for you?

I’ve always been drawn to eyes—ever since I first started sketching. There’s just something powerful about them. People say the eyes are the gateway to the soul, and for me, they’re always the first thing I notice about someone in real life and in art. The reflections I add inside the eyes actually started as a personal challenge, just to see how far I could push myself with detail. But over time, it’s become a meaningful way for me to tell a story within the story. Especially in my faith-based pieces, those reflections are another chance to point back to Jesus, add symbolism, or capture a deeper emotion. It’s a small detail, but it’s where so much of the connection happens.

How has motherhood transformed your way of seeing and depicting the world?

Motherhood has changed the way I see absolutely everything. It’s transformed me in every way—my heart, my priorities, even the way I look at the world around me. Children are such a blessing from God, and becoming a mom showed me a kind of love I didn’t even know existed. In my art, I find myself paying more attention to tenderness, emotion, and those little moments that feel sacred. Motherhood has softened me, strengthened me, and given me a deeper understanding of the kind of love I want to capture on paper.

What message or feeling do you hope viewers take away from your works?

My biggest hope is that people feel something the moment they see my work—a real, meaningful rush of emotion. I want my drawings to help viewers connect with God in a personal way, whether that’s through feeling His love, His closeness, or the weight of His sacrifice. If someone can look at one of my pieces and walk away moved, comforted, or reminded of who He is, then I feel like I’ve done what I’m meant to do.