045: Katlyn Dennis-Sutherland

Katlyn Dennis-Sutherland is a Guam-based artist and high school teacher whose work spans painting, drawing, and printmaking.

Dennis-Sutherland discovered her passion for art at a young age, drawn to the process of creation and the emotional depth it allows her to express. Her work is heavily inspired by the human figure, particularly the female body, which she portrays with pride and admiration. Flowers also play a significant role in her art, serving as organic symbols of both fragility and resilience. Through these motifs, she explores the human experience in all its complexity, using her art to process memories and emotions. In addition to her personal work, she finds joy in sharing her passion with others, teaching high school art in the hopes of inspiring the next generation of creators.

When asked how she defines art, Dennis-Sutherland emphasizes that it’s a deeply personal and subjective experience. For her, art is a form of expression that can reflect emotions, memories, hopes, fears, or even imitations of life. The beauty of art lies not just in the finished piece but also in the act of creation itself. She finds freedom in using different mediums, from painting to printmaking, each offering its own unique challenges and rewards. Whenever she feels stuck in one medium, she switches to another, sometimes combining them in a single piece. This fluid approach keeps her creative process fresh and continually evolving.

Dennis-Sutherland's background, especially her experiences growing up and frequently moving on and off the island, has profoundly influenced her work. As a child, she struggled with communication and often felt isolated, using art as a way to express her emotions. As she continued her journey to the University of Guam and beyond, it became her means of processing both the joyful and difficult moments in life. Her work today continues to reflect this, as she communicates thoughts and feelings through her art, whether they are conventionally beautiful or not. Each piece is a personal reflection of her life journey, and she values art as a way to celebrate all aspects of her experiences.

Her artistic process is deliberate yet flexible. Dennis-Sutherland begins with research and sketches, finding inspiration in everyday experiences, nature, and the human form, especially the strength and beauty of women. She embraces breaks when necessary, understanding that creativity cannot always be forced. Over time, she has learned to view pauses in her work as part of the process rather than a setback. When she encounters creative blocks, she shifts her focus to new projects or mediums, allowing the inspiration to return naturally. Despite ongoing struggles with self-doubt and procrastination, she finds that once she starts a project, her love for the process takes over.

For aspiring artists, Dennis-Sutherland offers valuable advice: be patient with yourself and keep pushing forward, even when progress feels slow or uncertain. She believes in the importance of personal growth and warns against comparing oneself to others. Each artist’s journey is unique, and mistakes should be embraced as opportunities for learning. Her message is one of persistence and passion—she encourages young artists to stay connected to the joy that first drew them to art.

“Personal growth, no matter how small, is still growth.”

— Katlyn Dennis-Sutherland

To read Katlyn Dennis-Sutherland’s full interview, continue reading below. Also, follow her artistic journey on her Instagram (@katlynsutherlandart). Thank you!

Please introduce yourself and describe what you do. (Short bio please!)

Katlyn Dennis-Sutherland is an artist on Guam whose main focus is in painting, drawing and printmaking. Katlyn’s fascination for the arts began at a very young age. She has always been drawn to the process of creating. She draws inspiration from her environment and strong senses of emotion through memories. Her works display a fascination for the human figure that encompass a sense of pride and admiration especially for the female body. Dennis-Sutherland also has a growing admiration for flowers, which for her, are organic representations for both the fragility and the resilience of nature. Her growing admiration and fascination with the strength of the female form coupled with her passion for flowers go hand in hand in symbolizing human nature. The infinite combinations of flowers and colors can be used to exhibit limitless expressions of the human experience. Lately, her recent inspirations are also being drawn from past experiences and memories. She has been meditating on both the “good” and the “bad” memories, in hopes to accept all that has led her to this very moment. She toys with the idea of further expressing these emotions through her work as a means of coping with all that she has gained and all that she has lost over the years, hoping to make connections. Dennis-Sutherland finds joy in sharing her love for the arts through teaching high school art. She hopes to inspire students to create and to have a deep appreciation for the arts.

How would you define art?

Defining art is quite difficult and is different for every individual. Art is so subjective. I find that it is mainly a form of personal expression. This personal expression could be of emotion, memories, imitations, hopes or even fears. But it is solely unique to the individual and that's the beauty of it! I believe the beauty behind art falls not just onto the creation but also falls on the process of creating it.

Why did you choose your art form?

As an undergrad at the University of Guam, I had the opportunity to try so many different mediums. I have always loved drawing and painting as a child but I had no idea what relief print was until I took a printmaking class at UOG. I instantly connected with the process of carving and printing. I could never choose just one medium. When I feel stuck on one medium, I switch to the other. Sometimes even combining the various mediums in one work.

How does your background (education, culture, etc.) affect the artwork you make today?

My memories and learning how to cope with emotions has had a great impact on my work. As a kid, I struggled with communication and did not have many friends as my family moved on and off the island quite often. Art helped me cope with both feelings of loneliness and happiness. Art was a form of expression and communication for myself. It helped me to celebrate the good and the not so good feelings. I also loved to observe my surroundings and try to capture key moments. Although I’m an adult, I still find myself trying to communicate and express my thoughts and ideas through art. Sometimes it's “ugly” and sometimes it can be deemed as “pretty”, but what's important to me is that it is a part of me and it has deeply shaped who I am.

Who do you idolize?

I wouldn't say I idolize anyone but I have always loved the artist Norman Rockwell. My mom introduced his work to me at a very young age and I had always hoped to become a great artist as he was. I still remember flipping through her coffee table book of his most famous paintings. I still look at his work in awe today.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Everyday experiences, observations of my surroundings, emotions through memories and even other artists inspire me. I am also inspired by nature and the human form, especially women. I believe the woman's body has such beauty and strength. This with the beauty and resilience of nature has inspired much of my work in the past.

What do you do when you're stuck on an artwork or lacking motivation or inspiration?

When I'm lacking motivation, I step away and take a break. I used to feel so guilty for taking long periods of breaks, but everyone needs a break once in a while. Sometimes I will switch to a new project in a different medium or just sketch mundane objects in my sketchbook. If I am still not feeling it, I know I need to take a longer break and to just let it come back naturally. Over the years, I have learned that it's okay and not to panic! No one should force themselves to do something they love, the passion should come naturally and willingly.

What do you like incorporating most into your art?
What is something that you add to your art as your signature?

I love to incorporate nature into my work. The symbolism and beauty in nature makes me feel at peace. Painting portraits and the human form has also become almost like a signature of my work. I love trying to capture emotion in the eyes of a portrait.

Take us through your process for making art.

My process has varied throughout the years but it has always consisted of research for references and materials, sketches and drafts, and lots of caffeine!

What do you struggle with the most when making art?

I struggle so much with concentration and procrastination. Starting on a project can seem impossible sometimes but once I start, I find it difficult to stop. I also get this fear of not being good enough or skilled enough. That fear eats away at my motivation and prevents me from starting (and sometimes finishing) a piece. The fear of not being good enough has been a struggle my entire life and I am just now learning how to deal with these little inner demons.

They still speak volumes in my mind but when I get past them, the process of creating reminds me of how much I love art.

What role do artists have in society?

Artists have various roles in society. Without art, we would literally have nothing. Art is all around us and there are so many different avenues for different types of arts. Art also helps us to connect and communicate with one another. It's honestly such an amazing experience.

What characteristics do you think all artists share?

Artists share the characteristics of passion but also the immense patience and the willpower to even create. They share a sense of persistence to keep moving forward, even during their failures. Artists also share the characteristics of seeing the world in a different light.

What’s your favorite place in Guam?

My favorite places on Guam are definitely the beaches and hiking trails. But also at home, spending time with my family and husband.

How has your artwork evolved over time?

Over the years, I have tried various materials and techniques, especially during my undergrad. I am far less scared of making a mistake or making “ugly” art. Making mistakes but also embracing the mistakes has truly helped my artwork to evolve!

Why did you choose to become an artist?

Ever since I was a child, I always had an interest in making art. I had always known that I wanted to be an artist, no matter what my day-time job ended up being. Art brought me joy and helped me to find my voice. It has always been a part of me.

Is your art geared towards a specific audience?

My art isn’t geared towards any specific audience. I create what I feel like creating and if anyone else can enjoy it or connect with it, then that's great!

Do you have any tips for aspiring artists?

Have patience with yourself and keep moving forward. Never forget the reason you wanted to create in the first place. Always strive to do better than you did previously but never compare your progress to others. Mistakes happen, and they teach us lessons if we let them. Each artist is different, and we all learn and progress differently and that is one of the most beautiful things in life! Personal growth, no matter how small, is still growth.

045: Katlyn Dennis-Sutherland

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