Sydney Whittum

Prior to studying at UNH, I believed that art was about making something “pretty” and my pieces were always very focused on the visual aesthetic of the final product. Perhaps the most important lesson I have learned in my art education is that art is a process, and a slow one at that. My studies have forced me to slow down and look at my work, understand the materials and create with purpose. I enjoy using bold color and line to create works that meld my practices in drawing, painting, design and more. I strive to have my pieces tell a deeper story and evoke emotion. While my earlier works usually pulled on positive feelings like whimsy, nostalgia or joy, I have recently found an interest in portraying deeper emotions. In my piece “A Silenced Anger,” I allowed myself to get vulnerable and raw with my story, thinking only of the process and purpose, rather than getting stuck behind what looks “pretty” or what would sell. A similar method went into the piece “Messy Mind.” Neither of these works were supposed to produce the kind of “light-hearted” and “happy” look I was comfortable with, and I think they are the pieces that show how much I have grown as an artist. Not only does it tell a very personal story, but it proves how valuable education is in changing your outlook on beauty in art.