Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sonia Sleeger. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sonia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

My artistic path began while my sister and I became caregivers for our last living aunt who was 72. She had been diagnosed with Dementia and later Alzheimer’s disease. This was a long, hard journey that lasted 11 years. It was by far, the most stressful thing I had ever been through. My aunt was a vibrant spitfire of a personality and when she got sick, It increased her behavior 10 fold. The last five years of her life she was verbally and physically abusive. But, in some people that is the way this disease works. My sister and I were so lucky to have each other through my aunts health journey. When one of us was down, the other worked to keep the spirits up and vice versa. I needed an outlet. Somewhere I could find some peace. That is when I began to paint. I can’t tell you what a blessing it was to create on canvas. It was like a pandora’s box but in a really good way. It lit a fire in me and to this day, I thank God I was able to be a caregiver for her. I poured out bright colors on canvas that were hiding inside me and painting has brought me immense joy during a time when things had gotten dark.

Sonia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Sonia Sleeger and I am a self-taught multidisciplinary artist from Southern California who enjoys working with acrylics, alcohol inks and oils to create a unique style of contemporary art on canvas and paper.  I get my inspiration from many artists such as Lee Krasner, Helen Frankenthaler and Frida Kahlo to name a few. One of my favorite things to do is to be able to share her artwork at local art festivals and art walks in and around the City of Claremont, Ca. Sonia states, “The moment a person makes a connections with her artwork and purchases it, it’s the best feeling. I enjoys meeting people and answering questions that pertain to her pieces. I would like to continue to evolve and express myself through my art for many years to come.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson I had to unlearn was, I create and paint for myself and no one else. In the beginning, I was creating artwork that I loved. Using vibrant colors. However, when I began to show my artwork at festival’s or art exhibits, it did not attract a large audience. I kept hearing “Oh you should do it this way,” or “Try not to use such bold colors,” etc. So, I changed up my color palette, began to paint landscapes and stayed away from large artworks because I was told they will not sell. I had forgotten the main reason why I turned to creating with bold colors, because it made me happy. I was no longer painting for myself but instead to please others. So after a few months, I quickly reverted back to my beginnings. Remembering the journey with my aunt and got back to what I loved doing most. The bright colors returned to my palette and the canvases got a bit larger.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

An Artists journey, I feel is never ending. Other artist friends I know constantly fuel my art journey. Their talent and drive is endless. Some have been creating for over 20 years and some are new and have only been painting for a few years. Whatever the time spent they will support you through anything and everything. We are all connected whether we were self-taught or taught at a university level. I have been truly blessed with such a diverse creative family.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: sleegeracrylic
• Facebook: sleeger acrylic abstract designs
• Other: [email protected]