Siennas instagram: @ratrally2 

How would you describe your art style?

I try and have fun with it, pretty experimental and also maybe a bit dreamy.

You love art history, how does the past inform your art as a contemporary artist? Are there any particular movements or artists that have influenced you?

I like really like Jerome Rochette, I think his work has influenced me a lot. Lynn Whipple’s mixed media has too, and her use of text. I think neo-expressionism is my favourite movement due to the rejection of minimalism and the political commentary that involved.

One of my favourite features of your art is your use of text, how do you decide what to write and what suits each piece?

Usually just anything that pops into my head while I’m doing the painting or drawing. Doesn’t need to be profound or funny, I just kinda do whatever I’m feeling that day.

I’ve seen you in the throes of NCEA painting and many late nights trying to finish art boards, what are your thoughts on teaching and grading art?

For me, NCEA definitely encourages a more-skill based practice, which I think is kind of a shame, as it leads most people into thinking that’s what university art school is like too. Uni art still covers techniques, but most of the time we’re not actually getting marked on it – we mostly get marked on how well we communicate our ideas through the art. I think a better way to describe uni fine arts would be art philosophy through creative practice. I personally feel that it’s a better approach as it means that more people can be great artists without necessarily needing technical skill. I think that it would be a lot nicer if university was free and everyone took fine arts.

I have always loved that your art seems to exist in its own world. It’s so whimsical and to me it seems to be right between a utopia and a dystopia, is that world building a consideration when you’re creating?

Mostly it’s just a reflection of whatever’s going on in my head at that time – i’m usually day dreaming, and I try to capture the feeling of ‘being a bit out of it’ in my work. Like yes, I would rather be a dancing rat in a painting than sitting in a lecture right now. 

Finally, what does it take to join the Little Rats Club?

You have to be a little bit feral, a little bit grotty, eat lots of cheese, and (preferably) also be lactose intolerant.