We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sam Chappell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sam below.
Sam, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
While I’ve always been interested in the arts (I was an Art History major in college), I’ve never directly used my degree in any of the jobs I’ve had since graduating college. It seemed more like a passion and less of a realistic career to me at the time. In 2020, during the pandemic, I picked up some acrylic paints and supplies as a way to keep myself busy in my free time (which, as many of us found, I suddenly had a lot more of). It started first as a nightly painting practice- I would paint a small 5×7 landscape on paper, and the idea started off small. Could I maybe sell some of my paintings? I figured that it couldn’t hurt to try it out. I created an Instagram account to post my work in the hopes that it would keep me accountable and painting consistently. And I created an Etsy shop to post my 5×7 paintings. I didn’t tell anyone about it at first- I was little embarrassed and thought that it would be a better indicator if a stranger liked my work, versus a friend or family member. It took a few months to sell my first painting to a stranger, but by that point, I was hooked on the process of painting- and when that first sale came in, nothing could compare to that feeling! A stranger, who knew nothing about me, chose to buy something I made. For real?? I think that was the moment when I started to let myself imagine…what if I could sell more? What if one day, this could be my full time job? Setting up the Etsy shop, and bit by bit figuring out the basics of an art selling business, gave me a taste of what it’s like to be working for yourself. I began to understand the appeal of entrepreneurship. The specific motivation of working towards your own personal goal that makes all of the effort and overtime feel 100% worth it. I still have a full time day job, but over the past few years I’ve had a firm goal to work towards – the goal of one day running my painting business full-time. And every time I achieve one of the milestones I’ve set for myself, that goal begins to feel one step closer.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m an acrylic painter with a focus on the landscapes of the places I’ve lived and traveled. I’m currently living in Portland, Maine – having just relocated from Greenville, South Carolina. I’ve spent much of my life shuttling up and down the East Coast, growing up in Massachusetts, going to college in Pennsylvania, and living in both South Carolina and Boston after college.
In my painting practice, I typically produce a few collections a year of original paintings that I release directly through my website or through one of my partners like The Campbell Collective. I also offer commissioned paintings, which have been an amazing experience- getting to learn about a collector and having the privilege of capturing a place that has special meaning to them. Through this process, I’ve been able to work with collectors across the US. The third aspect of my art business is Fine Art prints, which are offered through The Crafted Prints online.
What do I think sets me apart from others? I think, like many artists, I’ve worked hard to develop my own painting style. It always feels like it’s evolving, but I’m proud of the unique perspective I’ve formed in my work – I am not trying to look like anyone else’s art when I create, I’m just trying to paint what I see and feel. And I think that comes across in my use of colors and movement- I’m always proud when someone tells me that they can immediately recognize one of my paintings. Also, there is nothing quite like hearing from a collector that they have fallen in love with a piece of mine- or from a client that is over the moon about the commissioned painting I’ve created for them.
What do I want potential followers or clients to know about me? I love art and painting, but I do not take myself too seriously! I love connecting with others, and I’m always here to answer questions, and I never pressure anyone to buy or work with me! Art is personal and art is an investment – so while I appreciate anyone who shows interest in my work, I know that not everyone is in the market to invest in a piece all the time. I also am always open to any other artists who reach out with questions about my process, the materials I use, or anything I’ve learned. I have had to teach myself a lot about running an art business (and I still have so much to learn), but I’ve also been lucky to connect with other artists who have shared their insights and knowledge with me – and I want to be able to pass that long to others!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I just love the process of creating something out of nothing! To think you can start with a blank canvas or piece of paper, and finish with a painting that can make you imagine and FEEL something. And in the process of creating, I never know exactly how it’s going to turn out. It’s like putting together a puzzle- trying out pieces and seeing where things fit. And the final reveal at the end? It’s addicting.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
I think it’s important for society to support and reinforce the value of the work of creatives. I love seeing cities or communities that clearly value art – from numerous public mural projects to frequent makers markets to other community opportunities to showcase and give visibility to the work of local artists and creatives. It’s sometimes hard for artists to establish pricing that truly allows for them to create work as a living – and the more that others can support the value of original artwork and the value of supporting local (versus buying mass-produced items that are frequently replaced), the more likely it is that a creative can continue to make a living through their art.
It’s also important for creatives to see other creatives as allies and collaborators. It’s easy to feel like you are competitors, but in reality, the more artists and creatives that have thriving businesses, the more society as a whole will recognize the value of the work, and the more opportunities it creates for others to make a living in that field,
Contact Info:
- Website: www.eastnorthstudio.com
- Instagram: @eastnorthstudio
- Facebook: eastnorthstudio
- Other: eastnorthstudio@gmail.com
Image Credits
Picture of me: credit goes to @AngelaZionPhoto Everything else, I have taken/created