Check Out Sucely Duran Samaniego’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sucely Duran Samaniego.

Hi Sucely, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve been passionate about art for as long as I can remember, inspired by watching my dad draw when I was a kid. Over the years, I explored different creative paths—from freelance graphic design and vintage retail to experimenting with artisanal home goods—but my heart always returned to art. I picked it up again during COVID in 2020 and found comfort in creating after one of my pets suddenly passed away in 2021.

In early 2023, I decided to make my husband a Valentine’s Day card by drawing a portrait of our dog in colored pencils. I never ended up giving him the card because I realized just how rough my colored pencil technique was. In fact, I had never looked into techniques for it. I was embarrassed but also amused by the difference between this drawing and my usual graphite work, which had always been my go-to medium. That moment pushed me to step up my skills. I began practicing, researching techniques, and refining my style. I started drawing more portraits of our dogs, and it quickly became a passion project. I began creating portraits for friends and family, and the process motivated me to get better and better at using colored pencils.

By October 2024, I had gained enough confidence in my work to publicize my art and try to sell it to others. I decided to apply as a vendor for the 3rd Annual Long Beach Pet Fair. It was a weekend fair, and while the vendor fee was steep for me, I decided to bet on myself, setting a goal to at least try to break even. To my surprise, I broke even within the first few hours of day one. The overwhelming and positive response to my work was humbling—people were drawn to my unique style, fell in love with my pet portraits, and placed orders on the spot.

One thing I’ve noticed is that people are craving hand-drawn original art. We’re living in a world where art is becoming more digital, especially with the rise of AI, but I’ve had clients tell me they’re not fond of digital art and miss the old-school originality of a pencil on paper. This is especially true when it comes to pet portraits, as people are naturally drawn to something that feels both emotionally and visually authentic. This trend has been encouraging and reaffirming for me, reinforcing the value of my approach and allowing me to connect with clients on a deeper level. It’s rewarding to know that my hand-drawn pieces resonate with people and bring them joy, highlighting the timeless appeal of traditional art in a modern world.

While I’m still in the early stages of building my business and I’m not a full time artist at this time, I’ve been gaining an audience slowly, and word of mouth has spread. Now, I have people reaching out to me for custom commissions, which is incredibly motivating. Living near the ocean and sharing my space with two playful Maltipoos fuels my creativity daily. I also love pairing my artwork with vintage frames, blending my love for nostalgia with a timeless aesthetic. Today, I’m building a small business that combines my lifelong passion for art with the entrepreneurial spirit that has guided me throughout my journey.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s definitely an ongoing learning process. Right now, I’m working on how I can start making my own prints at home. Navigating the different types of papers and settings can be overwhelming, and it’s been a real learning curve as I figure out the best approach to diversify my art and scale my business.

One of my biggest challenges has been staying consistent with content creation. While TikTok’s algorithm offers more opportunities than Instagram, I’ve always struggled to find the time to create and edit content or try to “beat the algorithm.” I want to focus on creating art without constantly worrying about marketing, but in today’s world, staying visible and relevant is essential.

At the moment, I’m not paying myself and am re-investing 100% of my proceeds back into scaling my art. When I look at this venture compared to past ones, it has been smoother overall because I’m applying the lessons I’ve learned from previous experiences.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in creating original, hand-drawn art, with a focus on colored pencil pet portraits. My portfolio also includes landscapes and still-life pieces using other mediums like acrylic, oil pastels, and graphite, but pet portraits are the heart of my work. Clients often tell me they’re drawn to the originality and intricate detail of my pencil work, especially in a world that’s shifting toward digital and AI-generated art.

What sets me apart is my focus on traditional, hand-drawn art that stands alone with its timeless appeal, sometimes enhanced by vintage frames that add a touch of character and nostalgia.

I’m most proud of how my art has grown from a personal passion into a way to connect with others. Knowing that my portraits bring people joy and preserve memories is incredibly fulfilling. Even though I’m still in the early stages of building my business, the positive feedback and growing interest I’ve received have been humbling and motivating.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
The one thing most people don’t know about me is that in high school, I helped my dad’s non-profit, the Chamber of Commerce El Salvador-California, apply to the Guinness World Records for the world’s largest pupusa. As a first-generation Latina, many can relate to being asked by their parents to handle something in English—so I created the account, filled out the form, and sent it off. This was back in 2007, during our annual event called ‘The Pupusa Power,’ which had started in 2006. That year, we decided to make the world record attempt the main attraction, paying homage to the pupusa and its cultural impact. Our pupusa measured 10 feet 2 inches, and at the time, we were the first ones attempting such a record. Since then, the record has more than doubled to over 20 feet in nearly two decades by others, but it’s amazing to know we played a part in starting a tradition that celebrates the heart of Salvadoran cuisine and brings people together over a shared love for pupusas. It’s crazy to think I was part of history, and the certificate is framed in my parents’ living room. It’s definitely something I forget I had an impact on.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sucelydsam.art/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sucelydsamart?_t=8s2e2Szbw2U&_r=1