Today we’d like to introduce you to Sahily Anais Perez McMillan.
Hi Sahily Anais, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Sahily Perez McMillan is a first-generation Cuban-American from South Florida. She has spent her life wielding a brush to explore various mediums, including acrylic paint, body paint, and makeup. Her journey led her to minor in Fine Art at Florida International University, where she studied painting and photography. Her passion for capturing images, color, and fashion drove her to spend a decade focused on content creation for her blog and lifestyle brand, formerly known as Pretty in Pigment.
In 2016, Sahily embarked on a new chapter by relocating to the Pacific Northwest. Inspired by the unique flora and fauna of her new home, she began to integrate the region’s natural beauty with her artistic vision and vibrant sense of style. Her online presence grew, allowing her to share her evolving art with a broader audience. Currently, Sahily is a printmaker. She combines her diverse artistic background with her passion for color theory to create prints inspired by nature, pop culture, and retro style. As the curator of the Burien Little Art Museum, a micro-gallery, she strives to make art accessible to all by displaying the work of artists from across the country.
Additionally, Sahily plays an active role in her local art scene in Seattle, Washington. She is a member of the board for Burien Arts and is the co-chair and co-curator of the Burien Arts wall at the Burien Community Center.
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?
I have faced adversity in becoming an artist, mostly from myself. I have feared that I was not good enough or “artist enough to describe myself in this manner. This has mostly been because I did not earn a BFA in art, something that I felt I needed for a very long time. After spending more time with other artists and learning about how other great artists have arrived at this path, I have learned that what really matters is how you show up in the world and that you do so consistently, always striving to refine your craft.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am primarily a printmaker, while occasionally dabbling in other art forms–I can’t help myself!
In my work as a printmaker, I focus on relief printing on linoleum blocks. I typically start my process by taking photos of subjects and/or illustrating my creations digitally in Procreate. I then transfer my ideas to my linoleum block then use small knives to carve all of the details. While this is a tedious process, I find the repetitive nature very therapeutic and meditative. Finally, I ink my blocks. This is where I get to apply my skills in color theory and my love for bold colors. I then print my blocks using an etching press or hand press. On average, creating one design from start to finish can take me upwards of 40 hours to complete.
My prints are often described as “playful, whimsical, and always colorful”. I enjoy bringing not only a sense of joy to my work, but also of nostalgia. I focus on motifs such as mid-century era items, birds, and pop culture. My print “Bloomin’ Disco” is a good representation of this and is the print I am most proud of. It has become a favorite among my collectors, and I have created 3 different versions of this dream disco ball!
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I have learned is to be uncomfortable. In order to continue to grow as an artist, I have to do things that scare me and that I don’t think I am ready for. Each time I have challenged myself to do so, I find that I am rewarded with creative growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pigmentedpress.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/pigmentedpress
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@PigmentedPress
