Hi, I’m Syd (also Sydney).

Hand-drawn illustration of artist Syd Stroud working at a drawing table in her California studio
Studio sketch, 2025.

I’m a California-based artist working primarily in hand-drawn figurative drawing and illustrated storytelling. You can see recent pieces in the art portfolio.

I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. As a teenager, I was always sketching, experimenting, and trying to understand the kind of artist I was becoming. Like many artists, I explored more practical paths along the way, including graphic design and digital illustration.

Some of that work found success, but it never felt complete.

Over time, I realized my strongest work happens on paper. Most of what I create now is drawn by hand, often centered on the figure, mood, and small, everyday moments. Working this way feels more honest, and more connected to why I started making art in the first place.

Finished drawings are scanned and shared digitally, but the originals remain one-of-a-kind, created for collectors who value living with the work itself.

SydCity

SydCity grew out of that same instinct to draw freely. It’s a hand-drawn adult cartoon series inspired by everyday life, small observations, and moments that are funny, intimate, or a little awkward.

More narrative and playful than my standalone drawings, SydCity allows ideas to unfold over time through recurring characters and ongoing stories, with humor and honesty leading the way.