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

Alright, Sydney thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I have always been a messy handful of a child. Constantly drawing or painting on anything I could reach, it didn’t even need to be a flat surface. My work could be found on walls, boxes, dishwasher doors, bathtubs, sandboxes, and windows. Instead of reprimanding me, my parents embraced it. They found ways to help my creative nature grow from a very young age. For example, my mom would lay out rolls of white paper all over the kitchen floor, hand me paint, and just see what I could create. Soon, before they knew it, I went from painting in my highchair to painting on canvas. My parents are some of the hardest working people I know, and they taught me how to work hard and keep going when I feel discouraged. They did not always rescue me, they let me find my way. They have created spaces, and opportunities to help my career, and I couldn’t have done it without their motivation and support.

Sydney , 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?

I was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri – a city full of art, but not a place where people encourage a high school student to become a painter as a living. I found more people like me when studying painting at Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia, where I recently graduated with a BFA in Painting and a minor in Drawing.

Since a young age, I have been captivated by the world of creativity. I was constantly trying to explore my imagination and find new ways to construct something beautiful. Creating allows my loud imagination to problem solve, and experiment with the world around me. After graduating I decided to move to Atlanta, Georgia, to work at an art gallery and fully immerse myself in the vibrant art scene to help peruse my ambition of being a full-time painter.

In my work I aim to replicate the feeling of innocence and freedom we feel in our youth and childhood. I am intrigued by the innocence, imaginations, bravery, and curiosity that a child possesses. I strive to trigger those same emotions through bold color, texture, and mark making. I use a multitude of mediums such as Bondo, discarded objects, fabric, flashe, acrylics, spray paint, anything to make my ideas come alive and mimic a childlike mindset.

A child’s mind has no knowledge of the complexity of this world or experiences that are unpleasant and unkind. Their minds are one of the purist forms of creativity. A child’s mind is free. I strive for this same freedom within my paintings. Through my work I try to reach for the unthinkable. No task is too big and no idea to difficult. I want to make the world around me come alive and radiate feelings of raw joy.

In my recent personal projects I have explored childlike thinking and process by painting on different kinds of found or constructed substrates. Using my hands and gallons of wood glue, I molded uneven canvases out of burlap sacks. I explored junk yards and found vintage car hoods and doors, followed by scavenger hunts discovering window frames, fire hose, and discarded metal. While searching for these unique “canvases” I let my imagination speak and not feel contained.

With recent commissions I helped my clients capture and create special moments of joy for their families. I created a nursey mural where the child feels like she is playing with her family dogs on the streets of France. For another client I created childhood portraits of their grown children. Through my bold colors, texture and movement, I captured the sparkle of their young eyes, their inquisitive minds, their little hopes and dreams. These are paintings that invite the viewer into the canvas to become part of the fun, the laughter, the happiness.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

For me, painting isn’t a choice, it is a fundamental part of who I am. Throughout my life I have needed a creative outlet and always sought out ways to get my hands dirty and invent something new. The ability to create something out of nothing, and bring imagination to life, it is an experience like no other. When I am not creating, I am not being my best self. Painting provides me with a means of self-expression and a way to explore the unthinkable.

My goal with my work is to reach as many kinds of people as possible and be able to fill their hearts and minds with wonder, possibility, thrill, and freedom. I aspire to represent the importance of cherishing the innocence of a child, and nurturing their imagination and creativity. My hope is to create pieces that evoke nostalgia, warmth, and a sense of wonder, reminding viewers of the beauty and simplicity often lost in the chaos of adulthood.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

In a world that often undervalues and overlooks the importance of imagination, being an artist allows me to embrace it. I am constantly learning new things about my work and myself each time I pick up a paint brush. The process of translating my imagination onto the canvas allows me to dance in the realms where anything is possible. Imagination gives new perspectives that sparks curiosity, allowing a sense of wonder and possibility. As an artist I have the privilege of inspiring others to reconnect with their own imagination and creativity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sydneyhaistings.com
• Instagram: @sydneyannahaistings
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sydney.haistings

Image Credits
Julio Castillo Lopez