We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Susy Siddens. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Susy below.

Susy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

My greatest obstacle was lack of confidence, I completed a foundation course at art college and felt sure I wasn’t good enough to make it as an artist, so I switched to history of art, design and film at university and worked as an exhibitions officer and gallery director. I’m now managing director of a graphic design agency as well as an artist, and this creative path has worked well for me. Now in my ’50’s I finally have the confidence to believe in myself and the financial freedom to explore my creativity.

My first lesson was to use tools that make me happy. I started with squared paper and very fine black ink pens that gave me satisfaction when drawing repetitive geometric shapes. It was that simple.

In my opinion, getting to know yourself is the most essential skill you can learn. Studying yourself, your likes and dislikes and moods and needs. When you know what you want and appreciate what you have, it makes your whole life easier. It’s like a company establishing their mission and values so that business decisions can easily be made in support of them. I started to understand my own purpose and values and I learned to be at ease with myself, to push fear aside and to make whatever I darn well wanted to make.

Online classes taken nights and weekends have introduced me to artists from all over the world in a collaborative, supportive and really fun environment. Labelled as art classes, they did introduce me to new tools and techniques, but the focus was on self-awareness, personal growth and inspiration, and they fed my creativity.

I think the biggest obstacle has been avoiding getting caught up in making things that other people like. That’s how we end up in a world where everything looks the same and we lack satisfaction in our work. My goal is to stay true to my own vision even if it’s weird.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I create my art under the name Fat Pencils which I founded in 2019. I was living with a partner 10 years my senior and I knew that when he retired, I would still want to work but also travel with him. This was pre-COVID (before remote work was a thing) so I thought being an artist could provide me that freedom but, I didn’t know what kind of artist I wanted to be.

I’ve worked for an artist (Nathan Oliveira), I’ve been a curator in public museums and private galleries, and as managing director of a graphic design agency I frequently buy illustration and photography, so I have an unusually strong background to draw from. I love to make repetitive monochromatic patterns so I assumed I would design tiles or wallpaper but, I knew nothing about the industry and wasn’t at all sure what I would find.

My intention was to begin a 10 year journey to find my creative voice. Each year I set myself goals, some of which I complete, while others morph into something entirely unexpected. Giving myself this timetable has allowed me to thoroughly explore each step with patience and joy, and allows me the flexibility to completely change direction! I’m now much clearer on what I do– and don’t want to do in my artistic career.

Instagram has been a huge and positive part of my journey. I committed to posting my art almost every day which worked as a motivator to keep me disciplined. And through Instagram I’ve met–and now have flourishing relationships with–artists from all over, some of whom we’ve now met in person.

I’m currently make papier-mâché vases, and clay and wood wall hangings, often with found materials. Almost all my work incorporates geometric patterns with the occasional floral. I’ve also made papier-mâché sculptures that I’ve decorated with my patterns. And more recently I have a series where I paint tea and coffee cups on rocks, which have led to some fun collaborations with local cafes and which allow me to practice my recognizable illustrative style. All my work is available on my website fatpencils.com and can be viewed on Instagram @fatpencils

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I’d like to see more art everywhere! When I see a closed business with an empty window, I find out who the space is leased by to see if I can get my work in the windows. I’d like to see more handmade signs and community murals.

I’m on the exhibitions committee of a local nonprofit “Arts of Point Richmond” and they do such an amazing job of supporting local arts in the town. I just participated in a program called Taking It Outdoors where banners with local artists’ work are hung throughout downtown. And the school has similar banners celebrating the work of the students. The town has murals and artwork in the post office window. It’s a thriving creative environment to visit and a small but mightily impressive organization that I’m proud to be a part of.

I’d also like to see private art galleries make prints and inexpensive items available that are made by the artists they represent. Art galleries can be intimidating spaces to walk into if you can’t afford to buy anything. I’d like to see that experience change.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In the past, whatever art I’ve made, has always sold quickly. That has changed this year when I started making wall hangings; I haven’t sold one wall hanging!

Admittedly it does look like I’ve sold some on my website, but that’s because when a piece is no longer available, I have to mark it as sold in order to keep it up on the site, which is templated. I’ve given away a few and I’ve taken several apart to make new pieces or improve them as I have learned new techniques.

At one point I was only making pieces that shops asked me to make, or that I had a good response to on Instagram. But then I wasn’t enjoying myself anymore and the work wasn’t as good. I came to a grounding halt on making and watched TV a lot. Now, I’m back to making purely what I want to make, and I have a grand idea in mind for a dream gallery show one day.

Every time I see a sweeping staircase or a high-ceilinged space, I imagine what a huge wall hanging I could make! I’ve found my joy again and I have a bottle of champaign chilling in the fridge for the day I sell my first wall hanging!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fatpencils.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatpencils/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susysiddens/
• Other: https://www.artsofpointrichmond.com/