Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Borchard.
Hi Samantha , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started out drawing at around 5 years old. I cultivated that skill through many art classes in high school and community college. I eventually went to USC for art while simultaneously working at the Disneyland Resort teaching drawing classes at Animation Academy. Three months after graduating from USC, I have a three month old son and am starting a new job at Walt Disney Animation Studios where I worked on Moana 2 in production with the visual development team and learned so much. Throughout all this I was juggling my small business of selling my art at conventions. After my contract ended with the studio, I put more focus into my business and began doing big shows like Wondercon, Monsterpalooza and Midsummer Scream. Currently that’s where I’m at.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been smooth by any stretch of the imagination. I’d say one of the biggest challenges is that I fall under the generation where we didn’t benefit from social media. Some people in my generation figured it out but most don’t know what the hell to do with Instagram or TikTok. Building a following has been such a tough process. Aside from that, the artist industry is incredibly competitive.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I love creating work that speaks to my heart. I’m very much into the magical, whimsical, spooky, creepy and cute. My artwork expresses that. Not specifically in that order. I’m most proud of my mixed media portraits of bats dressed in regency era clothing. Wow! That was a mouthful. I call them my love bats because you can mix and match them any way you want. Two male bats, two female bats just one of each, etc.
I would say what sets me apart from the others is my ability to translate “creepy cute” in an illustrative way and tell a story with my characters. When you look at them, you can imagine the life they live. They all have personalities.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I loved getting to tour the Indiana Jones attraction at Disneyland before it opened because my dad worked construction on it.
Pricing:
- Prints range from $10-$20
- Commissions start at $50 and go up based on requests
- Drawing classes start at $200 and go up based on requests
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Samanthaborchardart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samantha_b_art?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
