Art is a way of expressing yourself, but sometimes it can also help other people see parts of themselves in what you create. For Sean Patrick, digital art is a space to explore ideas, experiment with different influences, and turn the things that catch his attention into something visual. What started with drawing his favourite cartoon characters as a child has grown into a creative journey shaped by music, fashion, history, and everyday experiences. From finding inspiration in the little things to bringing his work into physical spaces where people can experience it for themselves, Sean is constantly exploring what art can be and what it can mean to different people.
We spoke with him about his creative journey, the stories and emotions behind some of his work, and what he hopes to explore next.
What first drew you to digital art, and when did you know you wanted to pursue it seriously?
I have always been drawn to art, from as early as ages 5-6, when I would draw my favourite cartoon characters in my notes. I got into digital art in 2018 after researching how some of my favourite cartoons, like Regular Show and Adventure Time, were made using digital tools. I have been at it since then, and it’s mostly all I spend my time doing.
What experiences or influences have played the biggest role in shaping the way you approach your work?
Human beings have been around for a really long time, and the progression of their storytelling mediums fascinates me. I was born into the era of computers, and just early enough to appreciate how time, effort and dedication can bring out a lot of you. The joy of sharing parts of yourself with others through art inspires me daily. My approach is shaped by this appreciation, and by the limitless expressiveness the medium allows. From gorgeous stills to animated work, it’s all a wonderful display of self-expression and human creativity.
What usually inspires an idea for a new project, and how do you take it from an initial thought to a finished piece?
I get inspired a lot by my likes: things that interest me, such as music, art, fashion, etc. I see something, I like it, I save it. I have a folder for my inspirations, and those ideas loosely compile into a pool I can nip a few from to engage with an idea. Sometimes I want to challenge myself to take on an interesting pose; other times I am just in awe of how colours are arranged together, or something I am listening to makes me feel a certain way and it finds its way into my work. I am simply doing me, mostly, but I originally started honing my skills for storytelling purposes, and soon enough I will venture into using them for that. For now, I am still carried away by doing cool stuff with the things that inspire me.
You recently hosted a pop-up, taking your work into a physical space where people could experience it up close. What was it like seeing people engage with your art in person?
It is honestly so fulfilling! I spoke this into existence, because the last interview I did was about how much I want to see my work interact with the world. Being a digital artist means I have no limits in colourful, expressive pieces, but having that physical element lets them live in the real world, with real people, real stories and tangible interactivity: a form of non-fleeting permanence that the medium can sometimes lack. It makes the work less ephemeral and brings the conversation into the tangible. The people I get to meet and speak with are what make me know that, even as I imagine I am simply expressing myself, it can resonate with people. The digital lets that sound ring far and wide, but interacting in person grounds that reality for me, and they get to leave with a piece of it.
Is there a piece you’ve created that you’re especially proud of? What’s the story behind it?
It is a recent one, actually. ‘Finding the Time to Smile’. The title is a bit fuzzy, but it is strangely inspired by how some of the sorrow I experience today is an echo of those who came before me. A photograph of one of Fela Kuti’s Kalakuta Queens popped up on my feed. I loved the expressive make-up and quickly saved it in my inspo folder. Later, while painting, I remembered it and set it aside, but before using it as inspiration for its visual elements, I read up on the context behind it all. I grew up hearing about Fela, but I only vaguely grasped why his work was so important. The more I read, the more I was filled with pain. Listening to some of his songs echoed the pain I feel today about the traumatic EndSARS massacre of 20 October 2020. This man was singing about how his own people fell victim to the control of their oppressors, then used force and violence against their own people. ‘Zombie, Zombie,’ he cried; on other tracks he talked about the ridiculous world order, while on others he criticised those responsible.
Since the massacre, I have had a lot of questions, and many of them have been revealing themselves this year especially, through reading further into our Nigerian history and why things are the way they are. So to think that the same confusion, pain and betrayal I feel today is what inspired the expressive display which inspired me: chills. The title points to how people still find time to smile, despite everything. The muse, Jola, is an accomplished make-up artist, and one of the most expressive people I know, using her medium in bold ways. I felt the echoing themes made her the right choice for the piece. To her right is a bunch of maths I tried solving back when the massacre happened. I am proud of the way time and emotion echo in this piece for me, and of how colourful it came out, especially the green background.
Looking ahead, what do you want people to understand about your art, and what kinds of projects or creative directions are you hoping to explore next?
I am entering a period in my life where I am battling the absurdity of what life really means for me. I have stripped myself of most, if not all, inherited thoughts, and am trying to fashion my own. I want people to have themselves reflected back when they see my work. It is my work, and I express myself through it, but it then becomes a vehicle for them to explore what it means to them. I have framed it, and propped it up to be seen, investigated and explored. The viewer is in charge of its meaning, despite my personal expression. I remain in awe of the semiotic diversity my work has the potential to produce; I just hope I get the chance to keep doing it. For the future, I am still really interested in working with some of my favourite musicians. The sonic bridge between their work and my visual expression of it is a very coveted process to me. Personally, I want to keep pushing myself and my work into more expressive and almost absurdist ways, as a reflection of the way I keep coming to perceive life. I look forward to hosting exhibitions, doing more with fashion, collaborating A LOT, and finding peace in all of this. I also hope another soul looks at my work and it strikes them in the way others have done to me, and that it inspires them.
