Today we’d like to introduce you to Susy Siddens.
Hi Susy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have always made art, but at the age of 19, after just one year at art college, I decided I wasn’t good enough to be a successful artist and I turned to my next favorite thing, art history.
After graduating, I interned as exhibitions officer at Nottingham Art Museum, UK (my big achievement was the Dame Laura Knight traveling exhibition), Leicester City Gallery, UK (where I taught a dry-point print workshop) and San José Museum of Art, USA (where I was introduced to the work of Frida Kahlo for the first time).
I was director of Robert Aichele Fine Arts in Atherton, California, and I was the west coast representative for the London art dealer James Faber for old master drawings. After also volunteering at Stanford Art Museum (now the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University) I had the pleasure of working for the artist and Stanford University professor emeritus, Nathan Oliveira. I worked alongside him for two years in order to archive his personal collections in preparation for writers of the Berkeley Press book that would accompany the major traveling exhibition of his work in 2002.
I loved all this work, but it wasn’t enough to pay my bills, so in 1996 I secured a receptionist position at a graphic design firm in Palo Alto. I enjoyed the fast pace of agency work and as a creative that is unusually organized, I was able to learn a great deal about every aspect of running the business.
Today, I am managing director of a graphic design agency, and in my work I frequently buy illustration and photography. I’m also a recurring guest speaker at San Francisco State University where I talk with graphic design students about the business side of their work; how to bill and what to charge. So, I have an unusually strong background to draw from in order to now, in my 50’s, turn my attention full circle, back to making art. Now, I finally feel I’m good enough.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The obstacles have been massive. Acute illness, divorce, unemployment, family drama, natural disasters, fear. These things happen to all of us in some form or another. The very best thing you can do for yourself is to take time to get to know yourself, which means knowing and recognizing your likes and dislikes, your moods and your needs. When you know what you want, and you appreciate what you have, it makes your whole life easier and you can manage obstacles with grace.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I create art under the name Fat Pencils which I founded in 2019. My intention was to begin a 10 year journey to find my creative voice. Each year I set myself goals that I share on Instagram. I’m now 5 years into my 10-year plan and my big goal this year was to start showing my work in my community. Next year’s big goal is to show my work in galleries.
I’m currently making papier-mâché vases, and clay and wood wall hangings, often with found materials. Almost all my work incorporates repetitive 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.
I’m really proud of my work because it makes me happy and I can witness the quality of the work improving as I commit more and more joyful hours to it.
My work is available on my website fatpencils.com <https: www.fatpencils.com=””>and can be viewed on Instagram @fatpencils <https: www.instagram.com=”” fatpencils=””>
</https:></https:>
How do you define success?
I think external success will be when people know my name and want to see and buy my art, when I’m featured in glossy publications like Architectural Digest and Vogue, and when I’m invited to mentor and teach others. Internal success is when I’m doing great at my job and in my relationships, I’m being kind to others and true to myself, and I have enough money to pay my bills and I feel safe.
Pricing:
- Your work will always be worth more than people are willing to pay.
- I want my work to be accessible to people like me, so I price it low.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fatpencils.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatpencils/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susysiddens/
