Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sam Ken. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sam, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the toughest things about progressing in your creative career is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

Things were going really well for me in my art career, then I was hit by a car while riding my motorcycle in September 2022. What followed was a long road to recovery that continues to this day. My art was put on hold for several months to give my body  time to heal. Throughout my recovery, I’ve been blessed to have a wellspring of support from many artists and business owners in my community. It was that support from family, friends, and even strangers that motivated me to get back to creating art as soon as I could.

Sam, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a self-taught oil painter. I primarily paint portraits, figures, and still life. I earned a degree in graphic design, but I was always drawn to painting. I taught myself to paint through trial and error, approaching it with an adventurous spirit so that I could always learn something. Learning a new skill on your own can be challenging, but I used the foundations I had from graphic design and I exposed myself to as much art as I could. Art is about expression, communication, and connection, and that is why I chose to be an artist. I am proud that my hard work has been recognized and my art has been featured in various galleries in Colorado where my connections to fellow artists and people in the community continue to grow. When I am not painting, I am studying paintings online, in a museum or gallery, or in a book.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I got into my accident, I sustained a fractured fibula, torn LCL, sprained wrists, sprained shoulder, deep contusions, and a torn labrum in my shoulder that would ultimately require surgery. The accident also aggravated some older injuries that I had sustained in the past. It was tough, both physically and mentally, to recover from that incident, but I focused that pain into a new series of works that I am exhibiting at Kreuser Gallery in March of 2023. The gallery is located at 125 E Boulder St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Painting this series was very therapeutic and allowed me to focus. I look forward to sharing my work with people and the opportunity to connect with others who may have gone through something similar. My passion is unwavering and I am still constantly creating and exploring.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is connection. We all strive for connection, and art allows us to do that across various media. The art I create is for myself, so it feels great when something within a piece resonates with someone. It’s important for me to trust my process and continue to create art that I want, because it is all too easy to get wrapped up in what other people are doing and start getting competitive. Getting competitive or comparing myself to others is detrimental to the creative process, so I try to avoid it to continue enjoying what I do.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samkenart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamKenArt/
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SamKenArt https://ko-fi.com/samkenart

Image Credits
Main photo is me standing next to Claude Monet’s work at the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris, France.