The Magical-Realism that is Sydney Pons

She sat across from me with her legs crossed in a stylish skirt and her long brown hair draped over her shoulders. Cheeks blushing pink with anticipation, but her big hearty laugh indicated that she was prepared for the incessant questions that were about to follow. Sydney Pons possesses a rare type of feminine beauty; one that is both captivating and alluring. With her witty humor, and keen observations she holds the devilish charisma of a preacher of a death cult. I would follow her into a bunker and you would probably join.

Sydney’s art deviates heavily from her traditional LDS upbringing. Where she was encouraged to pursue her passion for drawing, but was barred from studying anything remotely sexual. Her personal beauty and complexities are very much echoed throughout her artwork. Possessing a technical art education mixed with a wild sense of creativity her art expresses influence from a variety of ideologies. By observing the way her careful pencil strokes hug the figures in a way that creates shape and life, it is evident that there is a hint of naturalism. Her use of realistic proportions are juxtaposed with fantastical elements and themes. The academic aspects of the art compliment the bits of surrealism in a way that leaves the viewer wondering ‘should this be real?’ The result can be best defined as being reminiscent of magical realism. However, these -isms can only begin to describe the creative power in her artwork. In which, the viewer has the privilege to encounter our world through a wondrous lens. A lens that could only belong to someone as distinctive as Sydney Pons.

Q: What was the pivotal moment you decided to be an artist?

A: I don’t know, I would say when I was five. Before I was five, I would draw a lot and my parents kind of noticed that I had a talent for it and then signed me up for art classes. Ever since that’s what I had the biggest passion in.

Q: What inspires you the most?

A: Probably my father, honestly because he does a lot in architecture. He’s a general realtor contractor so all the houses we lived in—after two years he would tear them down and rebuild them. Just watching him draw up plans for them, creating something, and making them, it inspired me the most to do art.

Q: What is your creative process like?

A: I would say before it was just books, actually reading. When I was reading I would have more vivid, wild, and more unnatural thoughts. I would come up with ideas for art that were just unusual and that’s usually what I try and draw. I would say now it’s kind of died out because I don’t read as many books. When I do read it’s stuff I don’t want to read, so I would now say it's probably drugs. The drawings I’m most proud of are the ones I drew when I was on them.

Q: Do you have a favorite piece of artwork that you’ve created?

It’s a series. It’s like four girls and they are half dead, half alive and they are dancing. I think those are my favorite because I drew them back when I was struggling with my sexuality and my parents. They mean the most to me because they depict the hardest time of my life and I think I captured it really well.