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

Hi Samantha , thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I’ve always been a creative-minded person. Even when I was young, I’ve never felt like I was wired for math or science – it just wasn’t my thing. Every hobby or passtime I’ve ever had has revolved around some form of art or imagination. My parents 100% have always supported and encouraged my creative side, and for that I am grateful.

When I was in kindergarten, I used to pick out my own outfits. My mom had to talk to my teacher and let her know to expect some crazy ensembles, because I was determined to plan them by myself. I would mix prints, polka dots, and stripes – the crazier the better. Little me knew what I liked and wasn’t afraid to show it. Instead of picking for me, they just embraced my wild side and let me experiment, even if I got some crazy looks.

As I got older, my self-expression switched from the crazy outfits to constantly changing my hair and adding piercings or tattoos. Being bright and bold was something that helped me feel like *me,* and though they might have teased me or disagreed with some of the aesthetic choices I made, they never once made me feel out of place for it.

This attitude carried over into my passtimes as well. From enrolling me in creative camps and workshops as a kid to allowing me to participate in dance classes and extracurriculars as I got older, I really can’t think of a time they told me no to something I wanted to try. My mom taught me to sew when I wanted to run a fashion show in high school, and put in the time to help me succeed when she didn’t have much free time of her own. They both took time off work to attend my senior art show, and made sure to let me know how proud they were of what I had created. They didn’t question it when I decided to major in Art History, even though it wasn’t the most practical choice, it was what I was passionate about.

Even as an adult, they have supported my creative endeavors above and beyond what most parents would do. Not only have they encouraged me to continue to grow my shop and learn new things, but they’re there with me every step of the way. They attended my very first market, and continue to stop by and visit at them when they are able. They’ve let me borrow their car on the numerous occasions I couldn’t fit all my inventory in my Mini Cooper. They’ve helped out when I wasn’t sure I could get enough inventory done in time for a deadline. Never once have they made me feel like being an artist isn’t a real career choice, and have helped in every way imaginable, from encouragement to troubleshooting to just letting me know I’m doing a good job.

I am currently expecting my first child, a daughter due in February 2024. I hope that I can make her feel half as empowered and supported as my parents have throughout my life when it comes to my art and expression. We may not always see eye to eye on everything, but their support really made a positive impact on me and the creative person I’ve become and the business I run!

Samantha , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi! My name is Sam – I’m an artist and small business owner based in Baltimore, MD. I live here with my husband John and our pets, Riley and Luna. We are expecting our first child in February 2024, and couldn’t be more excited!

I started my shop, Samantha’s Doodles, in 2017 with three sticker designs on Etsy. Since then, I’ve grown my product line to over 150 different sticker designs and have added laser cut items to the catalog as well. I sell all sorts of items, from earrings and accessories to tumblers and large scale wall art. Most recently, I’ve been creating stained-glass inspired mosaic pieces out of acrylic and it has been so much fun! I am currently working on a 4 foot commission for a client and it’s been really cool to see it come to life. I also like to do various markets in the area and to get to interact with the local maker community.

I love creating, and regardless of whatever medium I’m working with, my art is always based around my drawings, or what I call my “doodles,” which is where my business got its name. I think this helps my work stand out among other makers, because you can look at something and see my cohesive art style across a variety of different designs, even if thematically they couldn’t be more different. I love learning new projects and materials, but I’ll always come back to drawing. It’s what I love most, and I am so grateful I get to share my creations with the world.

In addition to my retail shop, I also have a whole separate side of the business geared towards helping other small business owners. I offer templates for laser cut items so they don’t have to spend time designing their own, and currently have over 400 available. I run a file club with exclusive designs for members that can’t be found anywhere else. I have a collection with Craft Closet to create exclusive ColorBoard designs – laser safe materials for other makers – and it has been so much fun to watch their designs come to life. I also offer free tutorials on YouTube to help them troubleshoot and learn new techniques. Last but not least, I have paid courses teaching different programs and techniques in a more hands-on, in-depth manner. These have been really rewarding, because I love seeing my students grow and become empowered and confident in their work.

My most popular file templates are the ones featuring cartoon elements or flowers – these really helped me get my name out in the laser community, and I feel like it’s what is most recognizable as *my* work. I pride myself on creating easy to use, unique designs that can help other businessowners succeed. It’s been super neat to scroll on Facebook and see someone sharing a project made from one of my templates!

I’m not sure where the next few years will take my business, but for now, I’m enjoying the ride!

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

One of the most important (and simplest) things you can do to support artists and creatives is to share their work. Even if you are unable to financially support them, drop their name or their website when you can. If you’re scrolling through your feed and someone asks about getting a custom cake topper or a neon sign – direct them to the makers you know who sell those things! WIth social media algorithms always changing and evolving, word of mouth referrals are one of the most important things for creative businesses. If you are able to financially support a small business, leaving a positive review or posting a photo and tagging them is also appreciated beyond measure. These things might seem small to you, but they can really go a long way in helping us grow our audience and get the word out about our products.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

There are Facebook groups for EVERYTHING. I had no idea until I bought a laser and was looking for troubleshooting help and a friend in the community recommended I join some online forums. Oh my gosh, there is SO much information out there! And it’s free! You just need to know what to search for when looking for a group to join. Some are obviously more helpful than others, but there are so many incredible people across the globe that are putting time and energy in (for free!) to help other makers learn and grow their skills. I wish I had known about this back in college – I wouldn’t have known what to do with all the info!

Shameless plug here – I have a small group (Facebook.com/groups/SamsLittleGroup) where I share resources, drawing tutorials, and interact with other makers in the laser world. You don’t need a laser to join, but some of the content is definitely geared towards that niche. I’d love to have any and all creatives join us!

Contact Info:

• Website: samanthasdoodles.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/samanthasdoodles
• Facebook: facebook.com/groups/samslittlegroup
• Youtube: youtube.com/c/samanthasdoodles
• Other: samslittleshop.etsy.com

Image Credits
Captures by Justine