Today we’d like to introduce you to Samuel Smith
Hi Samuel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have always been interested in being an artist as a child, and my parents encouraged it and provided me with the tools and attitude to follow my dreams. After graduating high school in Simi Valley, I went to community college to get enough credits to transfer to Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. I put all my eggs into one basket as that was the only school I applied for, however I got in. After graduating with a Bachelors of fine Art in Illustration at the beginning of the pandemic in May of 2020, I struggled for a year to find a job in animation. I eventually got my first opportunity as a trainee at Netflix, where I trained under the Art Director on a show for 5 months. Since then it has been mostly freelance work or short term contracts on some shows. Since the strikes throughout various guilds in the last year, work has been scarce, so I have started creating work in the graphic design world as well, as the need to create art persists.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been an easy road, although the challenges end up becoming the best teachers. When I first graduated and started working I had a bad case of imposter’s syndrome, I didn’t feel like I was actually working the job I worked so hard in school for. But I enjoyed learning how the production of an animated series works, and those tools and lessons are still with me in my work today. In the time between gigs, it can be difficult because I miss the critique and feedback you get when working with a team. Posting on social media only gives you a certain amount of approval, but the discussion around art is what I miss. So it is important to look for and be a part of the community you want to be engaged with.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I graduated with a Bachelors in Illustration, which covers a vast amount of specifics. I focused on designing backgrounds for animated series or film when in school. The backgrounds are just as important as the characters, as it provides the setting and key elements to further tell the story and emotion. I have a credit as a background designer for the animated reboot for “Good Times” on Netflix, where I worked with a team of artists imagining the world that the main characters live in. That show used a wonky style that also blended photographic textures to create a cool effect, although in my personal work I love the almost realistic painterly style of anime and Studio Ghibli films.
What does success mean to you?
I used to think success was landing a steady job and working your way up as high as you could go. But I’ve learned that success can be achieved much more often when you set small, more accomplishable goals. I did an art market show where I sold 9 pieces of work, I didn’t sell out my entire inventory but the fact people were interested enough to purchase it is considered a success to for me. For me, creating artwork has become less about what I think will land me a job and more about the voice or message I am trying to convey. There is more satisfaction from letting your subconscious dictate what’s right, and not be swayed and convinced otherwise by outside forces. I consider it a success when I am satisfied with what I’ve created, regardless of how many likes it gets online.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sammonart.me
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammon__/?hl=en
Image Credits
All images are done by myself
