Meet Sienne Josselin | Storyboard Artist & Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sienne Josselin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sienne Josselin, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I can’t not art. It’s sort of like the benefit of exercise, it feels really good physically, mentally, and emotionally, and the more it’s done, the more everything comes back into balance. When I’m not doing art, I don’t feel good and I get very anxious! It’s naturally a part of my rhythm, whether I’m doing it professionally or on my own. I think a career in the arts was going to happen some way, somehow. If I’m not storyboarding, I’m in the ceramics studio, or keeping up with voice lessons, or drawing in my sketchbook. I’m addicted to creativity!

As for becoming a Storyboard Artist, I never expected to love it. I had avoided Hollywood and the entertainment industry after some bad experiences I had when I first moved to LA. When I was approached to do storyboarding work, it happened to be an ancillary project for the feature film, It. That first gig was so incredibly fun and frightening! And that’s when I found my true calling.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I can’t say I had a clear path to get here – it was quite the opposite, actually! I barely graduated high school and had no clear aspirations or direction. While in school, I had opted to attend a 2-year Cosmetology program, which helped keep me on track. I became licensed by the time I was 18. After graduation, I was on my own, working full time as a hair stylist. I was inspired by community college Illustration classes. After a few years (and with a little bold naivety), I had saved enough money to venture to the West Coast and realize my dream of attending art school.

Shortly after I arrived in Los Angeles, I found I didn’t get into school (a few of my credits hadn’t actually counted!). I ran out of money, and I got the runaround from some of the shadiest characters and job prospects that Los Angeles had to offer. All of sudden, I was living in my car and picking up odd jobs. But I was still determined to get into school. After re-taking some courses at a local community college, I finally landed at CSULB. I eventually came away with a BFA in Illustration, a BA in Art Education, and an art teaching credential… and it only took 10 years!

After graduating, I followed some of the questionable advice I had gotten about ‘getting a real job and pursuing my art as a hobby.’ I focused on a career in Art Education, aspects of which I do truly love, while doing my art on my own time. After a serious surgery in 2013, I re-evaluated my life and how I wanted to spend it. There was no doubt that my health and lifestyle needed to change. I decided to shift gears and bring my art to the forefront by beginning my own illustration business and building community by founding a group called Ladies Adventure Club.

These days, my artwork is mainly focused on storyboards and concept art for film and television. Most recently, I worked on a feature project for Universal, and Ryan Murphy’s Netflix’s limited series, “Monster.” It’s long days of drawing and I absolutely love it!

I look back at the story behind me and think sometimes how crazy all of it was. Even when things were tough, I never thought of quitting. It’s always been my passion and the end goal was always art.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
COVID has taken away a lot of fun options. But I I know there are better times ahead, so I’ll answer as though things have opened back up. The best adventures involve getting dirty, eating good food, and exploring off the beaten path!

Day 1 – Start things off with a burger and fries at the nearest In-n-Out Burger, and then cruise up Highway 1 to Malibu. Find some tasty seafood along the highway (Neptune’s Net!) and picnic at any one of the beaches along that route. Take a cruise through the canyons for some of the best views of the ocean before finishing the day with a hike and camping around Point Mugu.

Day 2 – Grab a coffee and pastry at Trails Cafe and horse back ride through Griffith Park. Visit the Observatory, then grab lunch in Los Feliz. Catch a movie at the Vista Theatre (a beautiful old theater, built in 1923!) and finish the night with a cocktail in Silver Lake.

Day 3 – Take public trans or drive down to Long Beach. Rent a bike and cruise along 4th Street. Drinks at the pirate-themed bar called The Pike, and continue cruising south to Huntington Beach.

Day 4 – Explore Downtown LA, with a stop for coffee and a meal at Grand Central Market. Then a walk over to The Last Bookstore to get lost in a labyrinth of books. Splashing through the fountains in Grand Park near The Music Center before ending the day at a rooftop bar watching the sun set over the city.

Day 5 – We can’t miss a men’s or women’s professional sporting event like football, soccer, basketball, or baseball! Grab a Dodger Dog during the game, and then a bacon-wrapped hotdog from a sidewalk vendor afterwards!

Day 6 – We’ll check out one of LA’s finest Farmer’s Markets for a quick bite, and to prep our grab-n-go picnic to bring to the Hollywood Bowl for a concert or the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for a summer movie night!

Day 7 – Detox after a great week with one of the many cold pressed juice shops or vegan restaurants. Sweat it out at a hot yoga class, luxuriate at a Korean spa in Koreatown, or find a wellness event hosted by Eat Move Meditate or Ladies Adventure Club. And then close out the week with some sushi in Little Tokyo!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Thanks to Heather Mingo for sharing this opportunity with me! She’s such a resourceful, logistically-minded creative and talent with a big heart.

Website: Www.SienneJosselin.com

Instagram: @siennejosselin @ladiesadventureclub

Facebook: Www.facebook.com/siennejosselin

Image Credits
Sabrina Hill, Alyson Granaderos