We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sam Morgan . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sam below.
Sam, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
In the spring of 2022 I visited Bend, Oregon for the first time to meet my husband’s extended family and embark on a road trip to the coast. During my stay, I had the pleasure of lodging with Janet, a talented quilter whose house was lovingly adorned with various pieces of her work. I learned that she first began quilting as a means of expressing her creativity and nourishing her soul and spirit. Over time, she discovered that quilting also served as a powerful medium to forge connections within her community.
At the time, she was preparing to showcase her own creations in the internationally renowned Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show in a neighboring town. One particular piece caught my eye—a vibrant orange fruit comprised of contrasting citrus colors and diverse patterns. This fruit would be a part of a larger quilt collaboratively crafted by local artists. The concept of individual talents converging to form a unified artwork fascinated me.
Inspired by Janet’s quilting stories, I felt compelled to share my string art hobby with her. I’d only ever made pieces to give to my family and friends as gifts, but she encouraged me to share my art with my community.
After learning about the profound joy and connection that art brought to Janet’s life, I knew that I wanted to be part of a similar experience in my own hometown. Six months after that memorable trip, I took the plunge and established my small art business, partnering with a local store to showcase my artwork alongside other creative individuals in Colorado.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am Sam, the artist behind Juniper & Thread. My journey into the world of string art began in 2015 when I started crafting these unique pieces as heartfelt gifts for my loved ones. Throughout the years, my repertoire has expanded to encompass an array of subjects, including musical instruments, trees, logos, animals, and so much more. However, my deepest passion lies in the creation of nature-themed artworks, and I am incredibly fortunate to find endless inspiration in the awe-inspiring natural beauty of my home state, Colorado.
The name Juniper & Thread is a fusion of various elements that hold personal significance to me. It combines the essence of my chosen medium, the cherished memory of my middle name, and my love for the natural world. June, being my middle name, carries a special familial legacy, having been passed down to the first-born daughters across multiple generations. As I was growing up, my stepfather affectionately bestowed upon me the nickname Juniper, which happens to be a shrub that grows in Colorado.
Ever since I was a kid, artistic hobbies have been a part of my life. I have dabbled in various forms of creativity, ranging from crafting paper flowers, shaping pottery, sketching comics, crocheting, embroidering, and creating vibrant sidewalk chalk drawings. String art has captivated my heart the most, becoming a beloved medium I have cherished for many years. My unique approach to string art involves skillfully weaving string around nails to form intricate designs on wooden canvases.
What distinguishes me as an artist is my eye for detail and the personalized touch I infuse into every handmade creation. My artistic process entails a series of intricate steps: handpicking wood to use as canvases, cutting, sanding, and staining each piece, sketching the design, nailing the design into the wood, weaving the string through the nails, and even formulating my own paint colors for the nail heads. I delight in experimenting with various elements such as nail density, harmonious color blends, intricate layering techniques, captivating weaving patterns, and precise thread separation counts. I also draw inspiration from other art forms and incorporate concepts from different mediums where I can. For example, I predominantly utilize embroidery floss and employ thread separation, an embroidery technique, to achieve unique color combinations and depth in my creations.
My area of expertise lies in capturing the beauty of nature, with a particular emphasis on drawing inspiration from my own backyard, which brims with vibrant wildlife and breathtaking foliage set against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. I take pride in my portrayals of mountain ranges, aspen trees, and the diverse bird species that grace the Colorado region. These are the types of pieces I create for my collaboration with Local Goods Colorado, a remarkable store that exclusively showcases the products of local Colorado artisans, makers, authors, creatives, farmers, and companies.
While my artistic passion revolves around nature-themed art, I am open to accepting custom commission requests as well. Balancing my creative endeavors with a full-time role as a software engineer limits my availability for commissions, but I thoroughly enjoy bringing my clients’ ideas to life and helping them realize their artistic visions.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
With my background in psychology, I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of flow. Flow, a term introduced by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, refers to a state of complete immersion and concentration in a task, where individuals experience a heightened sense of focus, deep engagement, and enjoyment.
A key element of flow is the lack of self-conscious rumination, enabling one to engross themselves in an activity free from distractions or worries. String art perfectly embodies this experience for me. By immersing myself in string art, I can enter a state where external events and concerns fade away, allowing me to lose time in the sheer joy of crafting something beautiful. In today’s fast-paced digital era, where urgency prevails, engaging in a tactile and leisurely pursuit like string art offers a soothing respite.
While I deeply appreciate when my art resonates with others, I find true happiness in the act of creation itself. Whether or not I sell another piece of art, the ultimate fulfillment lies in the personal satisfaction derived from the creative process.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I am currently in the midst of a business pivot, embarking on a new chapter in my artistic journey. My initial foray into selling my art began through a consignment partnership with Local Goods Colorado, a renowned store in my community that exclusively sells the creations of local Colorado artisans, makers, authors, creatives, farmers, and businesses. This collaboration has provided an invaluable first step in introducing my art to the world. However, as my contract with the store has a limited duration, I am now actively working towards transitioning into independent art sales through various avenues such as establishing an online storefront, collaborating with local coffee shops, and participating in local, in-person markets.
Although my ultimate goal is to fully transition to this new business model by mid-2024, there is still much to learn and prepare before I can execute this plan. I am currently immersing myself in the realms of marketing, content creation, social media management, forging brand partnerships, and understanding the intricacies of owning and operating an independent small business, predominantly in an online capacity.
Among all the upcoming opportunities, I am particularly excited about participating in local in-person art markets. This transition poses its own set of challenges compared to my consignment partnership. While my current model involves creating pieces and selling them individually through the Local Goods Colorado store, attending booth-based events at art markets necessitates large-scale planning and a significant inventory buildup. Striking the right balance between supplying pieces for my current store partnership and reserving works for future events has proven to be a complex task.
One of my life passions is learning, so I’m looking forward to the knowledge and growth that will come from working through these new challenges while I pivot my business model.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.juniperandthread.art
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juniper_and_thread/