We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sam Wood Wilson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sam Wood below.

Sam Wood , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Years ago I took the risk to start my own business and pursue art as a full time endeavor. I had practiced as an architect for a good amount of time and felt the need to pursue my own journey rather than continue working for others creative desires. This led me to where I am today, working as an artist and architect, and continuing to build my career through my own means. This was not an easy choice, and the path has certainly been full of sacrifice. In fact it continues to be a struggle to be financially viable to continue on the path, but there is no other way to create work that I feel has an impact on the way we view art and architecture in contemporary society.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I studied architecture and have professional licensure in the discipline. This came before my pursuit of fine art, which more or less forged a new path forward in my life. Soon after finding painting and sculpture, I started my own business seeking to expand my abilities in both art and architecture. I pursued both in tandem, being extremely selective with what architecture projects I worked on in order to have the most creative freedom as possible.

By honing a more synthetic outlet for my creative desires I realized how I understood architectural space fundamentally shifted into a more sculptural realm. This relationship continues to inform both my fine art and design work, and offers a continual exploration within the practice.

I know that my understanding of both disciplines informs a more nuanced approach to architecture than most care to take, and I continue to develop a unique style. This same understanding translates to my fine art, which develops not in a parallel system but one intertwined. As I continue my path the scale of my fine art continues to grow, and my understanding of fabrication and coordination allows me to pursue large scale public work.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

If you are truly destined to be a creative, artist or other, there is no other path to take than the one that allows you to pursue the discipline. This seems abstract to those who do not understand or pursue the path, and they are always quick to dismiss the pursuit using money as a crutch. However, there is really no other path, and if you are a true creative with entrepreneurial spirit, you sacrifice to make the pursuit work.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

The focus of an artist has to be on the arc of a lifetime as a career, not the immediate monetary payoff (however nice financial stability is). We are pursuing a life based on questioning ourselves, existence, and human experience. This does not come easily. For most artists work does not fly off the shelves. This is the normal for the profession.

I cannot understate the frustration and trials those who pursue this life of questioning endure, for the thrill of understanding what it means to be human just a little more. There is no other way, you must enjoy the hardships and ecstasies of life for what they are : being human.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://samwoodwilson.com
• Instagram: sam_wood_wilson

Image Credits

Portrait by Ed Sozinho.