Christmas is coming up, and to help you not only find something awesome but support an artist I've done a new interview with an Alabama artist. Meet Sierra Seay, a painter who has talent and personality (she also does commissions).
What kind of artist do you consider yourself?
I feel like there are so many labels I could adhere to myself, but I definitely identify as a green artist. I'm very new to the industry and only recently introduced myself into the public art world. I'm a moderately committed artist. I've not completely sold my soul to my craft… yet! I'd say I'm a compulsive artist, which means I don't tend to do too much planning or preparation, like some artists do with all of their thumb nail sketches and paint samples. When the idea is there, it's there, and if I don't capture it, it's gone.
What is your favorite type of art?
I love surrealism. I think of all art types, surrealism is likely to invoke the most curiosity and abstract thought, even in people who only see the ordinary.
What is your favorite media to work with?
Oil paint, hands down. It is a beast. Every time I start an oil painting, I feel like I'm preparing for battle. There's this sort of dread, because I know just how much work is in front of me. It's daunting, but who doesn't love a good challenge. Oils don't come easy to me, so it's a fight to achieve what I'm looking for. I haven't had much instruction, so I feel I lack a lot of the technical ability for oil paint.
What started you in art?
I really couldn't say. I remember being drawn to a character in an anime who painted and lived on her own in a cabin. She seemed very strong and sure of herself, and I liked that. But that's really the only heavy influence I can really attribute my start to. I was always encouraged by my family to draw, also to keep practicing. I kept the front of our fridge very full.
Do you have a favorite artist (Past)? Why?
Hieronymus Bosch. He was my first favorite. He's also how I discovered surrealism. His paintings are beyond his time in my opinion, and full of curiosities and creatures he conjured up. Today we have so many preconceived notions of certain animals and monsters. We have CGI and technologies to really bring these things to life, but he didn't really have any of this, only his imagination. His paintings remind me of Where’s Waldo, so cluttered, but with purpose. You could look at one of his paintings every day for a year and find something new each day.
What inspires you?
This is a hard question because I'm not sure I can narrow it to a thing, or even an emotion. If I need to paint something, say a commission or something with a due date, and I'm not feeling in the mood, I'll listen to electronic music to get it flowing… but honestly that's the only thing I can think of.
What do you feel is an overused media?
Digital painting. Don't get me wrong, people make some stunning and beautiful works of art digitally, but I'm afraid of seeing less and less traditional artists as the years go on… I suppose I'm biased since I'm a traditional painter.
Do you find a judgement for the type of art you do? If yes what kind and how do you feel about it? If no do you find that people are accepting about the art you do?
Not entirely, with some of my anatomical heart paintings people have made comments that they're morbid, but that's not the popular opinion. And honestly if someone forms an opinion about my art, whether I think it's good or bad, my work has done its job.
Does art energize or exhaust you?
Sometimes, both. Oil paintings definitely stress me out at times, but the smell and the feeling of brush on canvas, are soothing to me. The process in general gets my endorphins going.
What is your favorite thing about being an artist?
It's the skeleton of who I am. You think it only applies when I'm painting, and I used to think that too, but I've found that it's actually wired into every part of who I am. For me it's less of a talent and more of a lifestyle.
How do you feel people look at artists? Are they respected or not? Why or why don’t you think so?
I think artists have always been and continue to be respected. People respect things that they cannot do themselves. I say that meaning that's the opinion of the majority. There are plenty of folks who find a lot of art weird, or they don't get it, or think we should get real jobs, but those people will always exist.
Is there a kind of art that you wish you had the ability to do but can’t?
I would love to be able to sculpt things out of salvaged items, but I have a hard time thinking in 3D. How people create dragons out of tin cans and windmills out of bottle caps and rubber bands is so far over my head.
Anything you want to add for people who might be too shy, or scared, or uncertain about their artistic abilities?
Everyone has an outlet for creation, everyone. And I think we've narrowed art to this small niche and category some people feel like they can't belong in. Just because some people submerge themselves, doesn't mean you can't just dip your feet in. I try to encourage everyone to paint, create, build, sculpt, sketch, doodle, fold, burn, bend, and whatever else they can do to bring a little part of themselves to life.
Sierra doesn’t have an official website for her work but you can find her online store at:
Sierraseay.storenvy.com
She not only creates and sells original art but is up for commissioned art, so get your requests in before the holidays get too busy for her!
Sierra is also available on Instagram at: @sierraseay
Last words: There are a lot of ways I am creative, and there are a few which I am not lol.
What kind of artist do you consider yourself?
I feel like there are so many labels I could adhere to myself, but I definitely identify as a green artist. I'm very new to the industry and only recently introduced myself into the public art world. I'm a moderately committed artist. I've not completely sold my soul to my craft… yet! I'd say I'm a compulsive artist, which means I don't tend to do too much planning or preparation, like some artists do with all of their thumb nail sketches and paint samples. When the idea is there, it's there, and if I don't capture it, it's gone.
What is your favorite type of art?
I love surrealism. I think of all art types, surrealism is likely to invoke the most curiosity and abstract thought, even in people who only see the ordinary.
What is your favorite media to work with?
Oil paint, hands down. It is a beast. Every time I start an oil painting, I feel like I'm preparing for battle. There's this sort of dread, because I know just how much work is in front of me. It's daunting, but who doesn't love a good challenge. Oils don't come easy to me, so it's a fight to achieve what I'm looking for. I haven't had much instruction, so I feel I lack a lot of the technical ability for oil paint.
What started you in art?
I really couldn't say. I remember being drawn to a character in an anime who painted and lived on her own in a cabin. She seemed very strong and sure of herself, and I liked that. But that's really the only heavy influence I can really attribute my start to. I was always encouraged by my family to draw, also to keep practicing. I kept the front of our fridge very full.
Do you have a favorite artist (Past)? Why?
Hieronymus Bosch. He was my first favorite. He's also how I discovered surrealism. His paintings are beyond his time in my opinion, and full of curiosities and creatures he conjured up. Today we have so many preconceived notions of certain animals and monsters. We have CGI and technologies to really bring these things to life, but he didn't really have any of this, only his imagination. His paintings remind me of Where’s Waldo, so cluttered, but with purpose. You could look at one of his paintings every day for a year and find something new each day.
What inspires you?
This is a hard question because I'm not sure I can narrow it to a thing, or even an emotion. If I need to paint something, say a commission or something with a due date, and I'm not feeling in the mood, I'll listen to electronic music to get it flowing… but honestly that's the only thing I can think of.
What do you feel is an overused media?
Digital painting. Don't get me wrong, people make some stunning and beautiful works of art digitally, but I'm afraid of seeing less and less traditional artists as the years go on… I suppose I'm biased since I'm a traditional painter.
Do you find a judgement for the type of art you do? If yes what kind and how do you feel about it? If no do you find that people are accepting about the art you do?
Not entirely, with some of my anatomical heart paintings people have made comments that they're morbid, but that's not the popular opinion. And honestly if someone forms an opinion about my art, whether I think it's good or bad, my work has done its job.
Does art energize or exhaust you?
Sometimes, both. Oil paintings definitely stress me out at times, but the smell and the feeling of brush on canvas, are soothing to me. The process in general gets my endorphins going.
What is your favorite thing about being an artist?
It's the skeleton of who I am. You think it only applies when I'm painting, and I used to think that too, but I've found that it's actually wired into every part of who I am. For me it's less of a talent and more of a lifestyle.
How do you feel people look at artists? Are they respected or not? Why or why don’t you think so?
I think artists have always been and continue to be respected. People respect things that they cannot do themselves. I say that meaning that's the opinion of the majority. There are plenty of folks who find a lot of art weird, or they don't get it, or think we should get real jobs, but those people will always exist.
Is there a kind of art that you wish you had the ability to do but can’t?
I would love to be able to sculpt things out of salvaged items, but I have a hard time thinking in 3D. How people create dragons out of tin cans and windmills out of bottle caps and rubber bands is so far over my head.
Anything you want to add for people who might be too shy, or scared, or uncertain about their artistic abilities?
Everyone has an outlet for creation, everyone. And I think we've narrowed art to this small niche and category some people feel like they can't belong in. Just because some people submerge themselves, doesn't mean you can't just dip your feet in. I try to encourage everyone to paint, create, build, sculpt, sketch, doodle, fold, burn, bend, and whatever else they can do to bring a little part of themselves to life.
Sierra doesn’t have an official website for her work but you can find her online store at:
Sierraseay.storenvy.com
She not only creates and sells original art but is up for commissioned art, so get your requests in before the holidays get too busy for her!
Sierra is also available on Instagram at: @sierraseay
Last words: There are a lot of ways I am creative, and there are a few which I am not lol.
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