Meet Sarah of Broadway & Park

What if you just started?

Not because you had a five-year plan. Not because you knew exactly where it would lead. Just because you loved doing something and wanted to see what happened next.

That's the story behind Broadway & Park, the colorful watercolor business created by Oxford, Pennsylvania artist Sarah Alexander.

Sarah's love of creating goes all the way back to childhood. “My mom was very crafty when I was young, and I would cut, color, draw, all the things.” It stuck with her. “I always loved crafting. I always loved art.”

Even the name Broadway & Park is a nod to where that creative spirit began: “Broadway Park is the street I grew up on, the corner I grew up on.” Sarah is originally from Rome, New York, before her family made the move to Oxford, Pennsylvania.

Today, Sarah is a self-taught watercolor artist, but painting wasn't always the plan.

Follow What You Love

Sarah originally started her Etsy shop selling pins. Then, someone online mentioned watercolor paints.

That small suggestion turned into something much bigger.

“So I ended up doodling flowers for hours on end,” Sarah says. And somewhere in those hours of painting, she realized something simple: “I really like doing this”.

That realization became the beginning of Broadway & Park as we know it today.

Sarah taught herself to paint and began turning her artwork into products people could take home with them. It started as greeting cards, but she has since expanded to mini cards, notepads, sticker sheets, and more. What started as a creative outlet morphed into a successful business.

And then there were the chickens.

How the Chickens Happened

If you've visited Rooted, there's a good chance you've seen Sarah's watercolor hens. They're sweet, whimsical and instantly recognizable and they have become one of her signature designs.

But Sarah's origin story for them is wonderfully simple.

She found a tutorial about chickens and decided to try it. “They ended up coming out so cute!” She brought them to one of her first art shows, where people immediately fell in love with them.

“I didn’t really expect them to be such a hit.”

But we're glad they were. There's something particularly charming about Sarah's chickens here in Pennsylvania, where farm country is part of the landscape and even those of us who didn't grow up on a farm probably grew up with plenty of them around.

Inspired by the Things That Bring You Peace

Sarah's art is full of the things she has always loved, especially flowers.

“I’ve always loved florals. They just bring me so much peace.”

That love goes back years. Sarah collected vintage sheets and tablecloths covered in floral patterns, even having large stencils made from the flowers on one of her favorite tablecloths because, as she puts it, “I wanted to paint them all over my kitchen!”

It's easy to see that same joy in her work today. Her paintings feel like little pieces of the things that make everyday life beautiful, flowers, farmyard chickens, playful sayings and colorful details that make you smile.

Maybe This Is Your Sign

Sarah didn't wait until she had everything figured out.

She started with something she loved. She tried watercolor. She doodled flowers for hours. She painted chickens because she found a tutorial and thought, why not? And eventually, those small creative decisions paired with her determined drive became a business.

You don't always know what your next idea will become. You don't have to.

Sometimes you just have to start with the thing that makes you think, I really like doing this.

Meet Broadway & Park at Rooted

Sarah will also be popping up at several Rooted events in the coming months, so keep an eye on our events page for upcoming dates. Come meet her, see her work in person and maybe find a little inspiration to start something of your own.