Meet Sydnee Robertson: Artist & Teacher
We had the good fortune of connecting with Sydnee Robertson and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Sydnee, can you tell us about a book that has had a meaningful impact on you?
I flung myself into reading a ton of books around the sixth grade. If books could be devoured, then I was the cookie monster taking in every middle-grade, young adult, and the odd adult book I could get my hands on. Shoutout to Accelerated Reader (AR). Now, I wasn’t reading just because. There was a challenge that whoever had the most AR points by a certain date they would win a brand-new Dell 17-inch desktop monitor and tower. I mention this because I was making sure I only read the books that would give me the highest points possible. This type of strategy led me to one of my all-time favorite books and author. Every idea I have now received some type of influence from this book, Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. Reading this book helped me foster an appreciation and love of written words. I’ve probably bought this book at least four times. She’s a figure I wish I could have met and picked her mind. This was one of the first big books that I read where the author looked like me. There were some things about the book that was questionable, but I read that book in a day. I really fell into the character and every turn of the page, every word, I felt the possibility Lauren looked to and it inspired and shaped much of the way that I approach my daily life and my work. Octavia Butler’s writing helped me visualize her world and what storytelling can be, on the page or on a canvas. In the book the main character Lauren Olamina is always looking towards the future, everything around her continues to change but she keeps looking towards the stars, space, possibility. The words that stick with me are change and possibility. There is a verse that says all that you touch, you Change. All that you change, changes you. The only lasting truth is change. Clearly, I’ve had time to learn that change is inevitable especially as I get older, but change offers the possibility for growth. I approach every painting I make as a possibility for growth. Doing my work like this has paid off. I’ve seen improvement in my own techniques and skills. I also approach the use of color in my work this way. I like to use a variety of colors, different shades, and tints. I just love to mix colors, there’s the freedom to it.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
A lot of my artwork is very colorful. I do a lot of large faces on solid backgrounds but I don’t always paint on canvas. I started by finding whatever I could, whether it be sheetrock, wood, or panel, whatever leftover home improvement things I could find in the house. I would paint on my room wall if I didn’t have so many posters up. I’m super excited about building my online presence and just being able to interact with other people and have them see my art. I’m still learning and growing and I have a lot of art goals that I want to achieve. One is to have an art exhibit with a specific theme. I can say this is in its early stages of work. I have an exhibit title, some thumbnail sketches, and working titles as well as a written explanation for the said exhibit. I’ve painted a few test images but I haven’t committed it to canvas yet. It’s a bit to be working towards but I’m up for the challenge. I’ve gotten to where I am today by trial and error in reference to my painting skill. I’ve also taken risks that were not the norm for me. I was scared to share my work because I’ve felt it was never good enough. This leads me to say, my biggest obstacle of course has been and will always be imposter syndrome and the procrastination that accompanies this feeling of not being good enough. It has been hard to stay confident in my ability and want to create art. I’ve often second-guessed things I’ve wanted to do and have missed out on opportunities because of this. I’ve changed a little in this aspect. I’m a few years older, a little more confident but I still struggle from time to time. It’s a learning experience but that’s life. I’m learning to keep my energy positive and my bus moving. I will say when the negativity would be clawing at my mind, I did go to my support system. It is an invaluable source to getting back on track. The people on my team, my supports were never negative, they were always encouraging and they never said I couldn’t do anything. They only told me I had to try. If you can find people like this to be in your corner then I think anything is possible. They are there for me and I’m there for them whenever they need it. When all is said and done I hope that someone can look at my art and feel something or be inspired. I would hope they would say its beautiful or they would think about it from time to time. I want people to see and feel the vibrancy in my paintings. I use a wide array of colors because I love color, and life should be as vibrant as you make it.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Macon, GA, the “Cherry Blossom Capital of the World,” so I would definitely visit the city during Cherry Blossom time. It is my favorite time of the year outside of anything in winter. The whole city is painted pink. I would spend a lot of time downtown visiting some of the restaurants and just walking around. There are a lot of things to see downtown. There are art galleries, daiquiri bars, I’m always game for a good burger from Ocmulgee Brew Pub, a birria taco from Ricky’s Taco Shop or some good wings from Francar’s, A walk at Central City or Amerson River Park would also do the body good. There’s no way to not have a good time in downtown Macon. When I’m in Atlanta, I have to visit the High Museum. There are also a lot of art galleries that you can’t go wrong with going to. There are so many places to eat and grab drinks from in Atlanta but I always make sure to get a bowl of ramen from E Ramen. I love their signature e-ramen. Slutty Vegan though I miss out nine times out of ten. I sometimes just go to Atlanta to get a steak from Houston’s. The Hawaiin 100%. Zunzi’s is also a favorite of mine. The Fisherman’s Deck, Shit YEah! I also love to stop at the Botanical Garden or the Aquarium. Nature is so fascinating and there’s a lot to see and get lost in at both. I always have a good time in Atlanta and the people you can meet, it’s always an experience.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have so many wonderful people who have continually supported me through their words and actions. I would not be where I am without my past art teachers. My family from aunts, uncles, cousins, etc., have always supported my endeavors no matter what. Shoutout to my friends and co-workers who have always told me my work was dope. It’s been a community of support much like the community Lauren seeks to build in Parable of the Sower.
Website: https://www.artbysydnee.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art_by_sydnee_/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydnee-robertson-46a57687
Image Credits
Michael Woody Curtis Hertwig
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlana is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
