Creating What You Crave: A Conversation with Seven, the Artist That Thinks in Colour
To understand Seven, you need to understand why and how she picked the name that she did.
Choosing an artist's name can be easy for some and hard for others; it should reflect who you are, your art, all the core things. Claiming seven as her number, simply describing it as 'wavy and lit'. Like Carmen from Spy Kids, she says. She recounts the story of when her younger brother was learning his words; he would call her 'seven' instead of Yasmin. Feeling like her name didn't reflect her art, she went with what she already had, "Seven has always been my favourite number. So I'm just gonna grab that and run and go for it."
What I love about Sevens art are the bright colours, the strong shapes and bold lines. Stating that she "paints what she craves." Seven is always looking for colour and things in concentration, in everything! Her favourite films, the music she listens to, and the type of interior she loves, she wants it concentrated and just a lot of it. "More is more, Always, I love more." Not more in a greedy sense, but to Seven, these things should be appreciated and abundant.
"Maximised and Magnified", and as a fellow maximalist, I agree. She likes things that are chaotic and feeds the eyes, something that is reflected in her work so effortlessly.
"I think of the whole world; our little window that we see can be very limited in colour, especially in the Western world. And then you look at all these pictures of different places and these forests and all sorts of art pieces around the world, and you're, like, mad we don't have that here. We don't have that kind of colour or experimentation."
A while ago, I watched a TikTok about how rich people thought that those whose homes were heavily decorated and had lots of trinkets, knick-knacks and very colourful were distasteful and wanted to distinguish themselves from that, thus giving minimalism.
We went on to rant about our shared dislike for grey decor, how homes and buildings are losing personality or what I like to call 'pizazz'.
Seven also has synesthesia, which is described as a 'neurological condition in which information meant to stimulate one of your senses stimulates several of your senses'. Seven recalls the time she had a stitch but, as a child, could only describe it as her tummy being 'red and with a black hole in it'. Synesthesia influences Seven's work in many different ways. Sometimes, someone will say a word and fall in love with it because of the colour her brain associates with it or how it looks in her head, so she'll paint it.
While her synesthesia is key to her inspiration, Seven is also inspired by films (especially psychological thrillers like Mulholland Drive or Donnie Darko), music, words and her dreams. A girl like me, Seven loves listening to heavy atmospheric music. The kind of music that would play in a film when the villain shows up.
But what about her process? How does she create these one-of-a-kind masterpieces? First, Seven describes her set-up – her easel, table, coffee, and painting playlist. Then, she gracefully mentions praying to God and asking for him to work through her and guide her hands. Now, Seven doesn't have a set plan, but she'll have an image in her head or a word and go from there. Painting and painting until she likes it.
I think creatives have a weird connection to their work – Me included; when it comes to knowing whether or not your work is finished or not. It can 'look' finished, but you can feel in your spirit that it isn't. Trying to explain that to someone who doesn't get it is like explaining quantum physics to a secondary school kid.
Seven says it's like when a chef cooks a dish, someone tastes it and loves it, but the chef still thinks something is missing till they add a random ingredient, and only then is it perfect.
This brought us to the film,' The Menu' and how we related to Chef Slowik, not in a murderous way, of course, but rather knowing what it's like to have capitalism twist and pervert something that used to bring you joy and was done with genuine passion but is now only seen as a commodity and now feels like a job.
Seven agrees, "You start to resent it, and it becomes a chore." Which is how no creative should feel.
"It is so important for balance. You need a safe space where you're not under pressure to make money, doing it for attention, or clout or break records or whatever. You're literally doing it in your room. No cameras. No motive. You're just doing it because you're having fun. Like a childlike approach."
Going on, she talks about being able to tell when an artist is being honest and not trying to be anything else. "Painting from the heart, and it looks nicer. It feels like you trust it more."
There's something admirable about seeing someone's personality through their art; you're able to connect with them through the work and get a sense of who they are and what they're feeling. And Seven does this so well, and there's nothing I don't love about it.
When it comes to finding your lane as an artist and defining your style, there can be an expectation of yourself to get it right the first time or thinking that your work should look a particular way. But sometimes, it just takes a trip to the Tate Modern with your dad and seeing work by artists that were really messy but sick simultaneously to really 'loosen up' as Seven explains it. Even preferring the works that wouldn't be typically labelled as "perfect", the more weird and unconventional ones. She credits this experience with helping her become more lenient with herself.
"If it looks a little weird, then fine. It's not a bad thing at all. If anything, it's better because it's just more you."
For many artists, the desire to create always starts from somewhere, and it isn't unheard of for this to begin as a kid. The same applies to Seven, who loved painting and doing anything hands-on. While I ditched art before I got the chance to try, Seven, at least, went ahead and took the subject for GCSE. Understandably, she found it boring and hated it (because what's the education system without sucking the life out of everything?) And to no fault of her own, she failed, which led her to stop painting for a while.
But good news, guys, she resumed her craft in 2017! Messing around with pastels and whatnot, she then took up painting.
"I began to enjoy it [art] again, so I started practising more during lockdown. I got comfortable with my style just drawing and with more practice."
To her, failing art school meant she wasn't good enough but mentions that art isn't about being good or not, but expressing herself.
Paintings are like children, and like children, you gotta name them. So how does Seven name her paintings?
"I usually name them before I think of what they gonna look like."
She'll get them from hearing a word and like that. Or someone will say something, paint that. Even drawing inspiration from what her pastor has said while preaching, taking notes, and then referring to them when she's painting away.
Being open with her spirituality and religion, Seven shared with me the influence of her faith on her work.
"Often, until a few months ago, it didn't influence it too much. I painted some pieces that were literally about how God saved me and things like that. Aside from those pieces, it didn't necessarily influence them. But that's because I wasn't as committed as I am. Now, I'd say, in the last three months, God's really changed my life, which is why I haven't posted any art recently because I'm rejigging what I want to do. And I have no idea what my next painting will look like. Because of that, I'd say from now, everything I do, is inspired by my relationship with God. So I'm excited to see how that comes out on canvas."
I know I said paintings are like children, so you can't (or shouldn't) have a favourite child, but I was curious to know her favourite piece. To which the answer is 'Wife material/ Stepford'.
As for the meaning, it's based on her feelings about the term 'wifey material.'
"Someone said it to me the weekend I started it [the painting], And I was like, yeah, yeah, here we go again. So I painted the faces I make in my head when people say that. Like it's a "compliment", but I really don't care. Because I think 'wifey material' – for everyone, that's different. So it's quite an ambiguous side, you know?"
And I get it! Because for me, it's not a compliment because being a wife and the tender age of 23 isn't on my agenda, ya'know?
But moving on...
When it comes to art block, no one is immune to it; it's inescapable, and Seven is right when she says it's horrible. But how does she deal with it? How about dealing with art block but actually dealing with it? While I know that sounds counterproductive but I'll let her explain.
"I used to do everything. I would try to watch films, read, or force myself to paint. I would do whatever I could to unblock it. I would even Google 'how to unblock my artist's block'. Some of the advice would help, but I think what helped me the most is when you stop and stop trying. And just now, I just wait until I have the urge to start painting again."
Because are you going to be happy with the final thing when you're forcing it? Spoiler alert, no, not really – speaking from experience.
Seven would instead replace it with something that she'd rather do. If she doesn't feel like painting or doesn't have any ideas, She'll ask herself, "What do I do? What is going to excite me? Or what's going to help me express myself instead in the meantime?" And yeah! She's got the right idea. Sometimes it's best to step back and take a brief break (after a mini meltdown) and do something different, and then when you least expect it, voila! Your brain is working again, you're on a roll, and you actually like the final product.
Quick fire round!
Denim or leather?
Leather
If you could only listen to three albums for the rest of your life, what would they be?
'The Difference' by Samuel Lane, 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' by Arctic Monkeys and any Madonna album from the 80s
Which fictional character(s) are you most like?
A mix of Issa from 'Insecure' and Sansa Stark
Last film you watched?
Thelma and Louise