@rebeccasampson_design
We are honored to have, Rebecca Sampson, as our Featured Artist, she is an amazing artist that creates some really amazing portraits of some characters we’re sure you’ll recognize. Make sure to head over to her wall to see all of her work, and while your there make sure to hit that follow button to support a fellow artist!
How long have you been an artist? What is your specialty? Where do u find inspiration?
I’ve been drawing since I was able to hold a pencil I think! I was obsessed with art as a child and my parents soon realised that colouring books alone weren’t going to keep me occupied so they bought me how-to-draw books, paints, charcoals and a sketchbook and the rest is history! I got my first Wacom when I was fourteen and went on to study Fine Art at degree level where I specialised in digital painting. I get a lot of inspiration from films, literature and fashion. I love concept art for films and one of my prize possessions as a child was a canvas bound hardback book about the great Disney concept artists. I think my use of bright colours comes from there.
Do you have a job in the art industry? If So, what’s one thing you don’t like about it? If no, where would your dream job be?
My day job is as a freelance branding/packaging designer which I really enjoy but the one thing I struggle the most with is being creative under intense time pressure – it doesn’t tend to bring out my best ideas!
Do you have a favorite Artist?
I have so many! I like @sollysmook and @silvioporzionato for their amazing portraiture. I love @pascalcampionart – I think he’s a genius when it comes to light and I also really love Janice Sung’s work for her graphic elements – @janicesung. One of my all time favourite artists is Paula Rego for the way she subverts traditional fairy tales and gender narratives.
What is one accomplishment you’ve had in your life? Does not need to be art related.
I always say that, no matter what else I’ve done, my biggest accomplishment was finishing my degree. My dad died suddenly six weeks into my second year of university and I really struggled without him. He had always been my biggest champion and my art took quite a dark turn for a while. I wanted to drop out every day for the next 18 months but staying made me a much stronger, more resilient person and taught me that showing up is the most important thing.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 20 years?
I’d like to also be able to work commercially as an illustrator in the future alongside my branding work. If I could become involved in some way in film or character design, that would also be a dream come true. I’d like to see more of the world and have a studio in my home so I only have to travel between my kettle and my desk!
If you could meet and talk to any person in the world, dead or alive, who would it be?
JK Rowling. I think I’d be too star-struck to speak though!
How is one way you make money with your art?
I’ve just started selling work on Society6 and Redbubble and I did a work Christmas fair last year where I sold prints. I plan to keep growing them for the time being.
If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be and why?
I would go to the South of France to a small village called Les Salins D’Hyères. I spent every summer holiday there as a child and I haven’t been back for nearly ten years.
What is your favorite brand of art supply? Whether it’s a brand of pencils or brand of camera or software
I’m obsessed with my new iPad Pro. It’s the best thing I’ve ever purchased and I use Procreate app to paint which I also think is amazing. When I paint on the mac I have a Wacom Intuos which has served me very well.
Any advice for young artists?
Life is 80% hard work. Few people are born geniuses. When you see someone who is ‘talented’, they will almost certainly have honed that skill over thousands of hours because they love what they do. Apply for opportunities, keep applying when you are rejected, keep improving and back yourself because no one will believe in you until you believe in yourself. Everyone is faking it until they make it. The other 20% is being a nice person. Do your time, have humility, help others and they will help you in turn. You’ll surprise yourself.
