Maui Shop Local Showcase: Oceans of Inspiration with Sarcreate

I spot her illustrations at a Maui gift shop, on a piece of apparel or simply scrolling online. “It’s Sarcreate for sure” I say to Adam, and he agrees. “It’s a Sarcreate!!” is like a hidden catchphrase because if you know, you know. The playful lines and seemingly effortless flow of her illustrations is unmistakeable. There’s an inherent refreshing quality to the ebb and flow of the art she creates. It’s a fun, lively nod to the ocean and surf lifestyle that has woven its way into her everyday life. Her illustrations blend harmoniously into the work she creates as a full-time, freelance illustrator on Maui’s North Shore.

How Sarcreate Began

Sarah has been an artist her entire life. This passion prompted her to earn Bachelors of Fine Art in Art Education from Western Michigan University. She began her business, Sarcreate, after teaching art and offering private education. In her pursuit of furthering her aspirations and growing as a fine artist, she decided to strike out on her own. At first, her primary focus was on selling her creations online; however, when demand for custom work surged in 2021, she made a strategic pivot and immersed herself in the world of custom design. As a result, she has since been creating artwork for clients who are drawn to her unique outdoor aesthetic. Her business has grown organically, a testament to her hard work and authentic determination. Every solopreneur drives forward on a foundation of inspiration—so where does Sarah find hers?

The water truly inspires her. “Water’s flow inspires my life and art. Like water, I go with the flow, letting life’s path take me wherever it leads.”

“This openness spills into my creativity, making my work fluid and adaptable. Water’s cleansing and healing vibes keep me refreshed and inspired, helping my art stay fresh and full of life. As a surfer and lover of water sports and the outdoors, it only makes sense.”

I Didn’t Realize We Were Neighbors…

I first discovered Sarah’s work on Pinterest, seeking a refresh for our online storefront, The Land & Sea Store. Love and Water Photography is a brand we’ve built over several years. The Land & Sea Store, on the other hand, required something a bit more playful and surf-inspired. My pin board was flush with similar designs, and I realized 99% of them came from Sarcreate.

Navigating to her website, I discovered, to my surprise, she was based on Maui as well. From the moment we lined up a call to chat, I knew she was the right fit for the custom designs we envisioned. I could hear the passion in her voice. Her laid-back vibe was just what we imagined working with another creative on Maui and the flow was effortless.

The Designs Sarcreate Crafted for Our Brand

The Land & Sea Store Branding

The Land & Sea Store – I saw this pre-designed brand available on Sarah’s Instagram feed. As soon as the post appeared, I knew it was the perfect fit for revamping The Land & Sea Store. I’d literally woken up that morning thinking about how much I wanted to breathe new life into the business we’d pivoted with in 2020. When she posted the brand, I knew I had to grab it! She customized the wording in the pre-made design to make it our own, and we love the direction it’s taken us.

Love the Land & Sea Slogan and Design

Love the Land & Sea – The ocean inspires our photography business on Maui. At the root of it, we love the ocean and do our part to advocate for the environment. We brainstormed our idea for a t-shirt design centered around the theme “Love the Land & Sea.” We’ve printed this design on t-shirts, which are now available in our online shop and sold directly to our clients.

Creative When Caffeinated Logo Design

Creative When Caffeinated – I began a blog called Creative When Caffeinated several years ago and haven’t touched it since. The name, however, has tons of meaning for us, especially in the early days creating our photography business. Adam and I used to sit at our favorite cafe, enjoy a cup of strong coffee and brainstorm ideas that came from the heart. Caffeine is a source of inspired anxiety…we thrive off it to bring life to new concepts! As a side note, coffee is made with love and water… it all ties together perfectly. I love the plants emerging from the coffee cup – as a certified plant lady, a Sarcreate design centered around coffee and greenery brings me life.

Nice Tritons Shell Design

Nice Tritons – I found a lump in my right breast in the latter half of 2023. My mom and maternal grandmother both had breast cancer. In addition, my heritage carries a higher risk of developing breast cancer due to BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations. The fear was immediate. While an ultrasound and mammogram found the lump to be benign, it inspired me to bring awareness to other women to check their TrITonS! The cheeky phrase, Nice Tritons, plays on our love for shells and the ocean. It’s a fun design that has been one of the more popular shirts in our store.

Authentic Creative Drive Sets Another Maui Small Business in Motion

Sarcreate custom designs include logos, apparel, patterns, fine art, and more. Inspired by surf culture, tropical living, outdoor adventures, and board sports, her art is characterized by a unique hand-drawn style, setting me apart as a digital artist and graphic designer. She lives and breathes the subject matter she creates art about. Thanks to her authentic connection to her ‘why’ and deep immersion in what she’s creating, it’s no surprise that her work has gained traction so quickly — both on Maui, across the mainland, and beyond.

About Love & Water Photography

We’re Shawn and Adam of Love and Water Photography, a Maui-based husband and wife photography team who have called the island home for over 10 years. We aim to shine light on Maui’s new and existing small businesses to support the island community, showcasing the local businesses we know and love and hoping their products and services make their way into your own heart as they have ours.