Interview
Sunny Altman
Sunny Altman is a Contemporary American mixed media artist from Huntington Beach, California. She is inspired by nature, her travels, and the unseen human experiences that shape our lives. With an intuitive approach to painting, using layers of pigment, and deliberate expressive marks, she seeks to visually express the feelings of a time and place, offering viewers a unique and inspiring perspective.
Sunny refers to her artwork as a "visual pep talk," aiming to inspire viewers to contemplate the essence of beauty and the underlying connections between art and life. From a young age, Sunny displayed a strong creative drive and dedicated herself to refining her skills in drawing and painting. While she did receive some formal art training in High School, her passion for artistic expression led her to pursue further education. She earned an Associate Degree in Fine Art and later a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts from Chapman University. Although she has a formal education in art, Sunny considers herself primarily self-taught, having spent numerous years independently exploring and refining her craft. Her artistic journey has been characterized by continuous learning, experimentation, and the development of her unique artistic voice. Sunny has actively participated in various art exhibitions, including group and juried exhibitions, both locally and internationally. Additionally, she has held solo shows at local venues, showcasing her distinctive and captivating artwork. As a testament to her talent and creativity, her pieces have been acquired by private collectors in the United States and Europe.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“Ever since I was young, my creativity has been a driving force in my life. I excelled in multiple artistic disciplines, winning numerous awards for my art and poetry throughout childhood and adolescence. As a college student, I eagerly seized every opportunity to learn and grow my artistic skills. I spent a semester studying abroad in Florence, Italy, to expand my knowledge of art history. After completing my degree in Liberal Arts, I began my career as an art educator, creating imaginative and engaging art curriculum for elementary school students. Even as my life evolved and I became a mother, my art practice remained a source of strength and self-care. Through years of consistent practice, I have honed my craft in intuitive non-figurative painting, developing my unique artistic voice and style that I am proud to share with the world.”
What inspires you?
“My artwork is founded on the profound and enriching beauty of the natural world. I draw inspiration from nature, travel, and the moments of joy in life. I am fortunate to live near the beach in southern California, where the ocean and surf culture inspire me. My home studio overlooks my garden, where hummingbirds, butterflies, and songbirds flutter, offering unlimited inspiration. I love to travel and always make it a point to visit an art museum or botanical garden, as experiencing different cultures is very inspiring. I often draw inspiration from the connection with my family, particularly the deep bond and unconditional love as a mother to my children.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I aim to visually express the essence of a place and time as well as the spiritual connection between nature and human experience through my art. My work comes from my subconscious and intuition, and is an expression of the feelings I have for a particular time and place. Through my gestural abstraction, I try to capture the intensity and push and pull of emotions that we all experience, without a fixed narrative. By leaving my paintings open for personal interpretation, I hope to evoke a personal and vivid emotional response in the viewer. My use of color and expressive marks is subjective, and meant to explore my own authenticity and freedom of expression.”
“My artwork is founded on the profound and enriching beauty of the natural world. I draw inspiration from nature, travel, and the moments of joy in life.”
How would you describe your work?
“My artwork is non-representational and is inspired by spirituality. I like to think of my art as a “visual pep talk”. I would describe my work as colorful, rhythmic, and textural. I use a range of mediums, including watercolor paint, acrylic paint, oil sticks, ink, gold leaf, and collage to create layers that convey the interplay of color, texture, form, and rhythm. By doing so, I explore the depth and intensity of emotions while maintaining a harmonious composition.”
Which artists influence you most?
“The pioneering works of women artists like Sonia Delaney, Helen Frankenthaler, Joan Mitchell, Lee Krasner, Hilma af Klint, and visionary art collector Peggy Guggenheim have been a major influence on my art. I am particularly drawn to the abstract expressionism movement and it has had a significant impact on my personal style.”
What is your creative process like?
“I spend a lot of time walking on the beach near my home because it is essential for me to be in a flow state of mind. This state allows me to be completely open and in tune with my subconscious, which is important for my work. My art is focused on color, and I enjoy exploring various color combinations. My primary interest lies in color contrast and the relationship between color and emotion. To create my pieces, I often work on multiple paintings simultaneously, moving from one canvas to the next. I use expressive, loose marks, and build up layers to create texture and rhythm in my work.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“As an artist, my goal is to create artwork that reflects my spiritual self, while ensuring it's relatable to the audience. My intention is to produce pieces that provoke thought and elicit raw human emotions that are unique to each viewer. In an increasingly automated world, art provides a human connection between people. It brings beauty, joy, and commentary to our everyday lives, linking all individuals regardless of gender, age, ideology, or time period. Through art, we can take a glimpse into the human experience throughout history.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I have had my work exhibited in numerous group exhibitions at galleries across the United States. I have also participated in virtual shows in Milan, Italy, and Berlin, Germany. I am featured on several artist directories, including Visionary Art Collective and Art Queens, and have been showcased on the Create Magazine Blog, AQ Artist Directory, and CAP Magazine. I teach art for healing and self-care workshops for adults and youth art classes locally.”
Website: www.sunnyaltman.com
Instagram: @sunnyaltmanartstudio_
