Check Out Clarissa Sendor’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Clarissa Sendor.

Hi Clarissa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Southern California, raised by two parents who immigrated to the United States at the age of thirteen. Both were business owners and instilled in me a strong work ethic from an early age, encouraging me to work multiple jobs while attending college. Hard work and discipline are all I’ve ever known. I pursued a demanding degree, and the pressure that came with it led me toward the arts as a way to decompress. Naturally introspective and living with anxiety, I use art to tune out the noise of daily life. A space where I can process, release, and express what words often cannot.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has not been easy. Inspiration doesn’t always arrive on demand, and energy isn’t guaranteed when I sit in front of a canvas. I often compare my practice to exercise. Sometimes you don’t feel ready, but you put the shoes on and show up anyway. More often than not, the days I want to paint the least are the days I squeeze oil paint onto the palette and end up having my strongest sessions.

Imposter syndrome is a constant presence. I’m self-taught, and there’s an ongoing fear of not being talented enough. My work is deeply personal, often reflecting the stressors I carry from daily life, and I sometimes wonder who would want something so intimate hanging in their home. That doubt is something I continue to push past by reminding myself why I create in the first place. I make art for me. If it resonates with someone else, that connection is simply a bonus, and there is beauty in that.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work across many mediums, but I’ve fallen in love with oil paint on wood panels, which has become my specialty. Much of my work is high contrast, layered with deep shadows and moody atmospheres. I’m drawn to spookier subject matter and tend to produce the most work during the fall season. My style leans slightly surreal, a direction I naturally gravitate toward because it allows more freedom. The looser I can be on the canvas, the better, working without strict rules or limitations gives the work room to breathe. I play a game of jenga in my mind. I pull out random words and throw them on the board to make an image and evoke whatever I’m feeling.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c.sendor.art/