This week’s Sartorial Geek of the Week is Colorado-based freelance illustrator and activist Sydney Dean! Sydney shares her magical creations online under the name Syd Sketch.
Sydney brings her big heart, creativity, and colorful view of the world to all of her Potterish art. Most recently Sydney brought a new element to her whimsical, and witchy illustrations: activism and a call to action.
In the light of recent racial turmoil in the United States, Sydney took to her online canvas and began to create something entirely new. Using the power of her pen, Sydney created 250 Hermione Granger prints, featuring the brightest witch of her age holding her wand aloft while wearing a Black Lives Matter tee.
The artist encouraged her followers to donate to anti-racist organizations or bail funds with the promise that anyone who donated $10 or more would receive their own Hermione print.
Sydney says that inspiration for the print came to her one morning in June. “Once the concept was in my head I knew I needed to make it.”
Sydney continues, “When the global reckoning about racial inequality started really gaining momentum, I felt a constant thrumming that I just wasn’t doing enough.”
“So when the Hermione print came to mind, it just felt like the right answer,” Sydney says. She used the print to “serve as an incentive for folks to donate.”
It worked. In just two days all of Sydney’s Hermione BLM prints were snapped up by socially-conscious Potterheads. “My audience had donated $10,326 to bail funds and anti-racist organizations. It was one of the most inspiring weeks of my career so far. I definitely never expected a response of that size.”
She reflects, “Honestly you would think by this point I would’ve learned to never underestimate the Harry Potter community. It’s just overwhelming love, every single time!”
That said, we’re so proud to introduce you to the incredible artist and our Sartorial Geek of the Week, SydSketch!
Name: Sydney Dean.
Alter Ego: SydSketch!
Top Fandom: Top three would probably be Harry Potter, The Adventure Zone, and Lord of The Rings!
Hogwarts House: Gryffindor, ride or die!
Fictional Style Icon: Honestly any Hobbit that appeared on screen in the Shire scenes. Give me everything cream-colored, all the soft green aprons, and some flowers in my hair—I’d be very content!
Last Read: The last book I read was Red, White, and Royal Blue! I was super late to read it, but so glad I finally did, it was the perfect pandemic pick me up.
Favorite Comfort Film: Mamma Mia! Hands down! Or Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. Both are just SO FUN and sweet and colorful. My mom and I would watch one of them every time I would come home to visit when I was living in LA, usually with a bit of wine involved. I adore those movies.
First Fictional Crush: I dunno if I would have clocked this as a crush at the time, but I was so glued to the tv anytime Shego was on screen. The first fictional character I remember like, imagining scenarios where we would ride off into the sunset together, was probably Peeta Mellark. Soft boy that bakes bread! Can’t be beat!
Describe your art style in a few words: Witchy, plant-filled, lots of soft pinks and saturated blues, and typically lineless with a more painterly texture!
You can keep up with all of Sydney’s art on Instagram @sydsketched and on Twitter @sydsketch. You find all of her Potterish merch for sale in her Etsy shop, and support her on Patreon where monthly donors receive exclusive art prints and a behind the scenes look at Sydney’s art-making process!
Comments are closed.