Artist in conversation: Sampy Sicada

“I want to keep advocating for realism in an age of chaos and confusion where artists are no longer seen as essential workers”

Sampy Sicada is a British fine artist and visual developer whose creative journey has found a home in the charming city of Savannah, Georgia. With a deep passion for traditional artistic mediums, Sampy primarily employs graphite, colour pencils, and oil paints to craft his works of art. His art reflects a deep connection between the tangible and the surreal, inviting viewers to explore the depths of human emotion and imagination. His dedication to the craft and commitment to pushing the boundaries of traditional mediums is impressive and makes one incredibly excited to see what his mind comes up with next.

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What initially inspired you to become an artist, and how did you develop your unique style?

I knew I wanted to draw for a living from the moment I first read Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants. That instilled in me the belief that anyone could do it if they found a method that resonated with people. Mine happened to be realism and making unbelievable and dark images look real.

In terms of subject matter, what themes or motifs do you frequently explore in your work, and what draws you to these topics?

I tend to focus on themes of psychology and mental health. I like exploring truisms in life that we can all relate to in the crazy and hectic modern world we live in. Dreams, the subconscious and people like Jung are a huge resource for my work.

Your photorealistic portraits are incredibly lifelike and detailed, almost as if they could step out of the canvas. Could you tell us more about your process of creating such realistic and mesmerizing portraits?

Thank you very much! Being ruthless about realism means crafting reference images precisely. I'm blessed to have been taught Photoshop at an early age in England so that's a tool I use to composite references together so I more or less know exactly what I'm drawing. Some consider that cheating, especially the older heads, but I don't care. It's still me that came up with the images and my job is to wow people with the work, not religiously abide by some wholistic practice of only drawing with archaic methods. This ain't just about me. Once you have the right images, the drawing itself is fairly easy with the right tools and enough practice.

What inspired you to specialize in surreal portraits, and how do you come up with the unique and often mind-bending ideas for your works?

I think making sure I have as many interesting life experiences to pull from as my gamut. Widening the gamut. Boring people may at times make interesting work but one can narrow the safety margins ironically by living life to its fullest and meeting as many different characters as possible. That's how I find what persists cross-culturally and such. I'm quite an emotional person though so I don't really have to consciously go to a dark place to get the ideas out.

Can you discuss a specific piece or project that challenged you as an artist, and how you overcome those challenges?

The art world is chaotic and hard to maintain consistent employment or income streams. The most difficult thing to deal with is when people you work with disappear overnight, such as the nature of the digital workspace and such allowances as deleting your persona and hyper-adjusting how one comes across. I'm still overcoming the unexplained disappearance of a long-time business partner but I'm in the process of learning to become more self-reliant.

How do you stay connected with other artists and keep up with new developments and trends in the art world?

Just barely. The more I use my devices the less I'm working on my art so I'm fairly reliant on people around me to inform me of things. If I feel particularly behind I'd spend a few hours catching up. It is always a balancing act.

How do you incorporate feedback from critics and audiences into your artistic practice, and how do you balance this feedback with your own artistic intuition?

I try to make sure people who put me in this privileged position are happy with the work, including the ones showing up to galleries. I enjoy pleasing people so there never usually is much negotiation needed. I like what I do and I'm lucky that way.

How do you stay motivated and inspired despite any setbacks or creative blocks you may encounter?

I think the work motivates itself. A successful piece beats any high from drugs. I also surround myself with high-performing artists and they lift me upwards.

How do you feel about exhibiting your artworks with The Holy Art Gallery?

Absolutely stoked! I'm very honoured and excited. The shows look amazing as is the turnout. I can't wait for new people to see my work :)

Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals and aspirations as an artist, and how do you plan to achieve them?

I want to keep doing what I'm doing and improving as an artist. I want to keep advocating for realism in an age of chaos and confusion where artists are no longer seen as essential workers. We can only achieve that by giving back to the audience and pleasing them with our work.