Interview

Written By Editorial Team

Jarissa Sisk

Jarissa (Hellevan) is a self-taught traditional fine artist and Native American descendant whom hails from the Midwest. They specialize in acrylic and watercolor painting, sketches and inks. Hellevan's emotional perception guides their depictions of surreal and often disquieting themes outlined in uncanny human forms. As a child, Hellevan began using art as a therapeutic release for the hardships they faced, particularly that of being raised in a highly sheltered religious environment which discouraged freedom of expression and academic pursuits. As a result, Hellevan developed their unique style throughout two decades of habitual practice and love for their craft.

 

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“I grew up deep in the country in the Midwest. Because of my religious upbringing, I grew up sheltered from the world. We had one tv in my parent's room and one computer with no internet. I come from a family of 14 kids all from the same parents, so even though we didn’t go to school or have a lot of friends we were never without a playmate. I was basically a feral child, lost in the woods most of the time when I wasn't up all night drawing pictures as I hid in a hole in the wall. I started drawing creatively around 8 years old. I drew things from my nightmares that I didn’t understand and eventually grew to utilize my talents for the consistent processing of past traumas and memories my mind had blocked out. Art gave me a place for my pain to exist and somewhere for it to live other than within me. I continue to use art for therapeutic purposes today. For many years I was afraid to show my work to anyone due to a negative experience I had as a kid. My artwork became the only safe haven I had in the world and I was very protective of that. It's hard to say exactly where my journey in the art world began because there were so many pivotal moments that opened doors for me. One of those moments is when I met Don Davis, an accomplished abstract painter whose influence continues to inspire me. Another pivotal moment is the day I shared my work with the r/exjw community on Reddit. The art I'd created to process the abuse that I'd suffered from other members of the Jehovah’s Witness congregation resonated with that subreddit and the support I received there changed my life.”

What inspires you?

“My easel is my altar for shadow work, so 99% of my art up to this point is relatively dark. I like to say that I use art to give my demons a face so I can look them in the eye when I invite them to tea, which is my way of saying I create art to reach an understanding of the parts of myself that would otherwise be considered negative or dark. Learning how to accept my entire self has proven healing in many ways. I'm currently working towards becoming a certified Art Therapy Practitioner. Another source of inspiration for me are the stories of transgender fathers such as Thomas Beatty and Danny Wakefield. Pregnant men (and FtM trans men in general) are egregiously underrepresented in the art world and I aim to change that. I have a deep affinity for videogame art. The Castlevania and Final Fantasy series were highly influential to me growing up. Pokemon was another favorite and the cartoon served as my first art references. The same goes for the Silent Hill series.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“A consistent underlying theme in my work is the overcoming of cognitive dissonance. My body of work is prolific and I have pieces that touch on themes like religious abuse, duality, spirituality, gender identity, the impacts of sexual trauma, abuse and neglect, inner child work, body positivity/horror, Native American history and lore, mental health, emotional wellness, the metaphysical and the human condition. Through art I came to an understanding of my own sexual orientation, body dysmorphia, gender dysphoria, my Native American heritage, my own experience living with C-PTSD and ADHD, my penchant for round bellies and my own level of emotional intelligence. Depending on what I'm going through, the theme of my work changes. For example, the theme of my current collection in progress highlights the link between emotions, gut health and the enteric nervous system. That link is depicted as a large mouth on the belly. This collection is wholly inspired by my personal journey through the 5 stages of grief and is my current focus after losing my partner of 10 years in October of 2023, followed by the death of my sister in November 2023. One underlying message I hope to convey with my work, is that of compassion, support and emotional liberation of men in society today. Another is to spread awareness of the internal struggles faced by those who live with C-PTSD and other mental injuries resulting from trauma and abuse.”

How would you describe your work?

“A stranger once called my work esoteric, which I believe is accurate. It's certainly not for everyone. In the past I've described my work as emotional depictions in human form, and I often describe it as macabre, surreal and delightfully gay. I primarily paint nude androgynous figures that lean towards masculine, creature-like and demonic, often without model references. With the way I interpret emotional states with morphing flesh, things can get pretty weird sometimes. Even though, the subject matter of my work tends to be dark and heavy, I don’t take myself too seriously and love to crack jokes about it.”

Which artists influence you most?

“I have so many heroes. Ayami Kojima, Yoshitaka Amano, Memling, Brom, Masahiro Ito, Beksinski, Luis Royo, Bosch, Da Vinci, H.R. Giger, Ble, Brad Bruders, Don Davis, Guillermo Del Toro, Brent Woodside, Tim Burton, Amy Brown, Filip Acovic, David Galas, Michael Alan and Alex Gray just to name a few!”

 What is your creative process like?

“My unique style and technique developed organically through decades of just doing it and letting it happen without thinking too hard. It’s a flow state of willful intent that I call my "direct line to God." I have evolved a lot particularly in the last five years when I started actually paying attention to the “How” rather than just the “Why” while I'm in that flow state. My preferred medium is acrylics and watercolors on vellum bristol. I'll usually start with a rough pencil sketch (I swear by the black Ticonderogas), then brush acrylic paints over the sketch and make nothing but mistakes until the end result becomes anything but a mistake. Results vary and every last painting I’ve made is unfinished but don’t tell that to the people who have already bought them.”

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“Just as scientists and historians keep record of events and the corporeal states of society, Artists document the spiritual, mental and emotional states of society. The Covid Pandemic is a prime example of that. As time goes on and our world continues to grow and change, artists will be right there; ever ready to make it weird.”

Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?

“I've done two bigger art shows in Kansas City in the past. I've been featured in the odd online gallery, and featured in an article that supports ex-members of the Jehovah's Witnesses. Other than that, I stick to local showings and festivals.”

 
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