How the power of art has shaped artist Sarah Aspler

By Olivia Integlia 

When Sarah Aspler was just eight, she turned to art as a source of expression.  

Having been born with a non-verbal learning disability, Aspler recalled that art became a way to communicate her thoughts and feelings. “When I was hungry, I would draw something like food,” she said.  

Her parents wasted no time enrolling her in art school. It was really at La Palette Art School and Gallery where Aspler was able to experiment with different art mediums, she explained. She dabbled in drawing, painting, ceramic art and jewelry making – never restricting herself to just one.  

For Aspler, art was not only a tool, but it also became an integral part of her livelihood. “I started painting or drawing what I [saw] around me, whether it was nature or people,” she said.  

As she refined her skills, she recognized a lot of its benefits. For one, Aspler says that art allowed her to develop an understanding of spatial visualization. She previously struggled with drawing in a straight direction, as part of a developmental delay. “If I was looking at a painting, it would look two-dimensional,” she explained. “I couldn’t really see the way the lines were going.” Art has trained her brain to see perspective, she said.  

Aspler, who also suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, said that art can be good for the mind as well. “It really makes you zone in on what you’re doing.”  

She often turns to art when she is feeling overstimulated. “I’ll just go and do some art because it brings [me] back to the present, and it helps [me] calm down.”  

Today, Aspler is pursuing a career in art. She’s currently a student at Concordia University specializing in art history. She also hopes to inspire others to explore various art mediums for their benefit.