Cover artist for “An Honest Lie, Volume 1: Encouraging the Delinquency of Your Inner Child,” Sarah Freeman, is here to talk about her art.

Sarah, you know the saying, “Art is a metaphor for life.” Indeed, your still life and interior paintings are so realistic they are almost indistinguishable from real life. How do you feel this adage applies to your own work?

You have to be in the right frame of mind if you want it to turn out.

Definitely true in life as well as in art. You began showing professionally at the stunning age of 18- how did you begin as an artist?

I used to make birthday cards for family members and knick knacks out of pipe cleaners.

It sounds like you were resourceful in procuring materials. Assuming you graduated from pipe cleaners, do you have a preferred medium now, and what do you like about it?

Oil paint, because it has depth.

That makes sense, since you studied with realist Jeremy Lipking. In addition to creating beautiful visual art, Sarah, what other areas of the arts do you explore?

I like to read and write, and I enjoy foreign languages.

Some of the stories in “An Honest Lie, Volume 1: Encouraging the Delinquency of Your Inner Child,” have a magical or mystical aspect. Do you believe in magic?

No.

That’s terrible. You must be so sad. Have you ever considered suicide as an alternative to procrastination?

Only when I’m on a deadline!

Well, that’s when magic would come in handy. On a somewhat related note, what do you feel about quantum mechanical theories involving cats in boxes or rather sharp razors?

I think they teach us not to take life too seriously, because the very particles our world is made of act according to chance.

Someone’s been reading up on vacuum fluctuation.

Let’s talk some more about you, Sarah. What projects are you currently working on?

I’m working on a series of monochromatic oil paintings that are portraits of imaginary people. You can see them on my website at www.sarahfreemanart.com.

Imaginary people! That’s brilliant. Who or what would you say has inspired you as an artist?

Light, space, and life.

Those are sources of inspiration that will never run dry. And what individual would you consider your personal artistic hero or heroine, and what is it about them that you admire?

Daumier, for his ability to capture people’s expressions.

Good choice. And finally, how do you encourage the delinquency of your inner child?

By eating dessert first.

You can see Sarah Freeman’s art at her website: http://www.sarahfreemanart.com/