San Fran Voice

“Through Her Face” by Sytiva Sheehan

Sytiva Sheehan is a San Francisco Bay Area painter who is currently expanding into working in three-dimensional art. She is motivated by the desire to use art to bring awareness of important issues to others and to hopefully make some change in the world doing what she loves. In this interview with San Fran Voice, we learn about her work and her experiences in the city as well as what advice she has for other emerging artists.

What can you tell us about the basics of your artwork?

I work in acrylic, oil, pen, and 2D. I am currently enjoying learning 3D so that I can add that to the selection of what I do. Most of my work starts from a painting or storyboard. The paintings are based on characters to reflect life as it is (or life as you see it). For example, I personally love the elderly so I have taken one character and put her in many situations, even some that are troublesome to look at. This allows me to explore many different facets of life through one character. At the same time, it lets me send certain messages. For example, there is a MUNI (San Francisco bus) painting that reveals young people sitting in the seats reserved for seniors. In this particular painting, the elderly woman is hanging on to a pole. The idea behind this painting is that people who see this painting would not want to behave in this manner, making elderly people stand up while they are seated. Hopefully the image will stick in their minds and they’ll remember to stand the next time that they are on MUNI.

That sounds like a neat project. What projects are you working on now?

I am currently working on several projects. There are six new paintings which will probably be done in the middle of 2008. Also, I am currently a team member on another project for an animated short in 3D studio max. In the near future, I will be collaborating with San Francisco writer Tony Dushane on another animated short. Before Christmas, I will hang two 5-foot paintings at the Nervous Dog Coffee shop in San Francisco’s Mission neighborhood. This is a special project for me because each painting took more than two years to complete.

What longer-term art goals do you have for yourself?

It would be my dream come true to find work as a full time storyboard artist. I’d continue painting for the rest of my life and hope that it would make a difference in the lives of others.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I am inspired by artists, writers and musicians who all work together to create something larger than themselves. I enjoy attending art events with these people, particular those events which are culturally guided and politically aware. I’m also affected by tragedy in various forms, such as the problems of the elderly and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. In a way, these things inspire me also. I like activist art which works to change the world.

On working, creating and living in San Francisco …

San Francisco is choreographed by art, music and design. Art is absolutely everywhere. Portraits, Statements, and Stories. Things left out on the street too long will be dragged home by some artist who will use it to create something beautiful out of it. Recycled creativity, just like Stacy Alexander (previously interviewed by San Fran Voice), is prevalent. Each artist here has a focus but in the end they all work together to create something larger than just their own body of work.

As far as going to see art … I guess you can say my favorite galleries are the homes of other artists in the process. I love the mess, the tools, and the smell of wet paint. I love the art of planning, brainstorming, storyboarding seeing things in the raw, for a writer, I love the back-story, character development and commentaries. I do like to go to the art events in the mission because they are culturally guided and politically aware. I like art, which keeps the history of a culture, and I also like activist art, which changes the world.

What advice do you have for emerging artists?

I believe that people should paint what they love or paint what moves them, good or bad. If you like abstract - Paint it! If you like realism - Paint it! Don’t paint what is in style just because it is in style. Too much of the same is almost invisible. Keep art true to yourself. I have gotten rejected for a show because I paint what I like. This is when someone said “That’s Okay! Start a rejection folder; it’s healthy!”