Today we’d like to introduce you to Sydney Hill.
Hi Sydney, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born and raised in St. Louis, surrounded by love, laughter, and the warmth of my big Italian family. Growing up, I was always eager to try new things, even if they were risky. I was the stereotypical “wild child,” but at the core, I had a soft heart, just ask my mom. Sports were a huge part of my childhood. I tried just about every sport I could and loved the thrill of competition. Looking back, I see how much that willingness to take risks, embrace challenges, and step into the unknown has shaped me as an artist today.
I always loved art, creativity, fashion, and self-expression, but it wasn’t until I attended Mehlville High School that I truly began to discover my identity as an artist. I had the privilege of learning under Cleavanne Kauffman, a wonderful artist and teacher, who helped me uncover that part of me. I learned about light, shadows, color theory, proportions, and countless mediums. One of the most important lessons she taught me, one I still hold on to today, is: “Draw what you see, not what you think you see.” It sounds simple, but it became the foundation for the realism in my drawings and paintings. Because of Cleavanne’s teaching, I fell in love with art, not just one medium, but several. Even now, I work with acrylics, watercolor, graphite, and colored pencils. It’s hard for me to choose just one, because each is unique in its own way.
After graduating high school, I studied International Business at Southeast Missouri State University, with minors in Marketing Communications and Spanish. During those years, my art took a back seat as I leaned into academics and, later, the corporate world. But over time, I realized how deeply I missed creating. I began to squeeze art into evenings and weekends, making gifts for family and friends. I felt a constant pull to take my art seriously but never gave it a real chance. In 2023, I finally made the decision to leave corporate life and pursue art fully, not realizing at the time just how much I would need it.
That same season, I was also in a really dark place. My mind was a constant battlefield. Though I grew up with a foundation of Christian faith, I had drifted through college and my early twenties. After leaving my job, I faced another unexpected life change and hit rock bottom mentally. It was there that I found Jesus Christ. I surrendered my life to Him and, through prayer, He gave me the resources, community, and healing I desperately needed. One of the biggest ways I healed was through art. Creating forces you to step outside of your own mind and be present. I don’t believe in coincidence, so I know it wasn’t random that I left my job right before this life shift. God led me out at just the right time, and He used art as a way to bring me back to Him and to myself.
Over the past two years, I’ve completed 46 custom pieces, three original paintings, one live painting, one mural, and I’ve been featured in one national art exhibition. with many more in the works. I’ve experienced a joy and peace only God can give, and I’ve never felt more like myself. Because of the healing work Jesus did in my life, I now create art that reflects His love, light, and the redemption found in the gospel. My hope is that others can find the same hope and healing through the art God has led me to create. At the end of the day, it’s not my name I want remembered, it’s His.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road hasn’t been smooth. One of my biggest challenges has been going against the traditional 8–5 lifestyle. For an artist, being in a role without creativity feels like forcing a square peg into a round hole. I realized staying in that situation did more harm than good, and much of it was rooted in fear and comparison. Fear of failure, fear of judgment, and comparing myself to others who seemed to succeed in ways I couldn’t.
Most of the challenges I’ve faced have been in my own mind. I’ve learned that the only way to overcome this is by staying rooted in God’s truth about who I am. Scripture says His children are chosen, loved, and fearfully and wonderfully made. I trust that God will provide for me as an artist, and that trust gives me the boldness to face my fears and the confidence to keep moving forward each day.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My business is called Art by Sydney Rose, and I specialize in acrylic paintings. I am known for my faith-based approach to contemporary art, using modern societal themes to express the love, light, and redemption that Jesus offers. While rooted in my faith, my art is not meant to preach but to invite: to stir questions, to awaken longing, to remind the viewer that no one is too far gone to find hope and light.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is living rooted in God’s truth and using my art to share His love. I want others, especially those struggling with mental health, to know there is hope, healing, and peace found in Jesus. So much of my journey has been about overcoming fear, comparison, and doubt, and I’ve learned that when I stay grounded in who God says I am, I can step boldly into the life He’s calling me to. That truth guides everything I do, from the art I create to the way I show up for others, and it gives my life meaning far beyond recognition or achievement.
Pricing:
- $500
- $500
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @artbysydneyrose
