Today it’s about one of my Super-Startists.

Her name is Susy Siddens.

Susy created her own card deck in my course Art Card Deck Extravaganza. I decided to ask her some questions and here are her amazing answers.

Susy opened the Instagram account @fatpencils to encourage herself to create a daily drawing habit. When she started this, she had a 10-year plan to retire from the agency just before she turned 60 and then sell her artwork. So she’s just over two years into this 10-year plan to find her artistic voice! And it turns out that the practice of drawing every day has been incredibly good for her soul :)

So Susy, tell us a bit more about yourself. Who are you, where are you from, what do you love and why do you do what you do?

I am from Cheltenham in England, I moved to Meribel in France in 1994 and then I moved to Northern California in 1995. I love beautiful things, being out in nature—especially forests and seaside—warm sunshine and my little dog Mavis. I have an intense love affair with India—the culture, the people, the textiles, the jewelry, the art, the music, the heat, the food, the spirituality…. I’m at my happiest at Sri Ramana Ashram Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. I live in Mill Valley among the soaring redwoods between the ocean and San Francisco. I manage a graphic design agency full time (I am not a designer, I run the business side) and I draw for fun.

You created a card deck. What is it about? Could you tell us more?

I made my card deck for me. I am an 8 on the Enneagram and I have a problem with being anxious all the time. Learning about the Enneagram has helped me understand myself better and to provide myself with what I need to be less anxious. The back of each card is a pattern with an 8. The front of each card has a positive statement to remind me to be grounded each day. There’s one card for every day of the week plus the title card, fortuitously making a total of 8 cards!

Why did you want to create this card deck?

Because it’s fun, and I learn a lot from you and the encouraging and supportive artists taking the course in the community that you have built. I love that you don’t just teach art—you provide teachings in self-awareness and how to be happy with who we are. I consider you my life coach as much as my art teacher and mentor. And the community of mostly women on Instagram has been a surprise and is of great value to me. There’s a surprising amount of kindness and love online!

What would be your biggest dream for this deck? Dream BIG please :)

That the Enneagram Institute think it’s a great idea and they commission me to make full decks to be published for all the Enneagram types. In fact I did reach out to them and was heartily disappointed by their stuffy response: I’m not even allowed to tag the enneagram or the institute in my posts or they said I would be breaking copyright law (even though I wrote everything on the cards). Oh well—they are missing out!

(I agree Susy, they ARE missing out!)

You created this card deck while being a Super-Startist in the Art Card Deck Course. Did the course help you well? Did it meet your expectations? Did you learn new things? Tell us more!

Yes, yes and yes! Right now I’m only interested in the hand-drawing part of the course and the community. I don’t paint—I want to simplify my life, not purchase a ton of art supplies—and I have no wish to use Photoshop—I’m surrounded by designers and on a computer all day at work! I did start using Procreate last year but wasn’t enjoying it as much as the tactile touch of pen on paper. I’m very impressed that you took on teaching these digital skills—that seems above and beyond expectations—like that’s a whole other program in itself! You are too kind!

What was your biggest learning during the creation process?

Great question because I did have a breakthrough! I have always drawn intuitively. As soon as I plan out a piece of art it becomes crappy and no longer enjoyable—like it’s forced. However, this time I knew I wanted an ‘8’ pattern so I just drew tons of 8s in my art journal, and I didn’t care. Having the outline of the shape to play in opened up space for me to safely play. And then I found a pattern I felt I could draw 8 times without losing my mind. That was a breakthrough for me! I just did the same thing with a new shape to find a pattern for a paper mâché piece, and I’m about to embark on a giant cupcake paper mâché piece! I’m really enjoying myself! Oh and—I practiced hand-lettering on the cards from your other course and I’m getting SO much better at that and finding my own personality through it.

Did you struggle during the creation process? If that’s a yes, what were the struggles about? And were you able to overcome them? How?

The only time I struggled was afterwards. I don’t look at what other people are doing because then I worry I’m not good enough. I just start right in and do what I want. Once I was done I started looking at what other people had created and was awe-struck! They are all so good, so I was surprised when you reached out to me ;)

What did you like MOST about the course? Why?

Drawing with you—your videos are SO restful and enjoyable. The community. And all the information you share.

Was there something you would have liked to have seen on the course?

Nope! It’s just the right level of engagement for me.

Was the Super-Startist Community on FB helpful? The Zoom sessions? Why or why not?

Facebook at first... but I really dislike being on Facebook and I don’t spend a lot of time on social media. For me Instagram is where I chat with others in the community and share my work the most. Zoom is wonderful when the time differences work out. The breakout rooms can be pretty intimidating—I like it better when we’re all working together with you leading.

Now that you’ve accomplished this wonderful product, what would you like to say to other artists?

Imagine whatever or whoever it is that you fear is wearing silly trousers, have a giggle, and get on with drawing whatever you like. It doesn’t matter what other people think!

How do you feel right now about your deck? ONE word please:)

Happy

Are you happy being a SUPER-STARTIST?

Very. I’m not able to do all the classes you offer because it gets too much with my day job, but I know they’re there and I know the community is there too.

How does it make you feel?

Loved and appreciated, like I matter.

What’s your biggest learning so far in the Membership?

The 21-day manifestation course changed my life—in a good way! And so did Big Magic and Elizabeth Gilbert’s podcast [note: the podcast was in the 21-day course]. Together these changed everything for me, not just in art but in life. I’ve already been learning all this stuff for years, but somehow hearing it the way you presented it made it all sink in!

Well Susy, thank you so much for your kind and inspiring words and your awesome art!

More info: @fatpencils

Work, created by Susy in the Super-Startist Membership: