We were lucky to catch up with Samantha Sandbrook recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Samantha, thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
I’ve been working as a full-time, professional artist and designer for 22 years. After pursuing a B.F.A. degree majoring in painting at Queen’s University, I worked behind the scenes as an art director and art consultant at various art galleries. Through these work experiences, I learned a lot about creating portfolios, good presentation, curation, sales, and the importance of finding one’s niche in the art industry.
After six years of working at private galleries (and a diploma from OCAD), I felt ready to sell my own artwork. I applied to a local ad calling for artists’ submissions at a nearby gallery. Not only was I accepted, but I sold 16 paintings at my first solo show!
This exhibition gave me the confidence to send my portfolio to fairs and galleries across Canada. It would be another 12 years before I entered the American market with a brand new collection – my cylindrical sculptures.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am an artist and designer, formerly a figurative painter, who has branched out into sculptural design.
An avid lover of interior design, I started making decorative art objects for the wall about ten years ago. I collaborate mostly with designers and architects to create art installations in beautiful residential, hospitality or corporate settings. My ultimate joy is seeing my work incorporated into fabulous homes, hotels and offices alongside favorite decor and furniture designers.
My cylindrical sculptures are handmade and made-to-order. Versatile and unique, they can be customized for any project: color, finish, quantity and configuration are all based on a client’s decor and preferences. The cylinders can even be installed on a curved surface! I prepare multiple photoshopped mock ups showcasing different layouts (circular, scattered and grid formats) to provide visual suggestions for clients’ spaces.
My sculptures are not only beautiful but conceptual: the acrylic fronts feature screen printed imagery inspired by favorite literature, lyrics and historical references. For example, my “Ciel” collection – seemingly just a pattern of mismatched black lines – is based on Surrealist artists’ drawings of the unconscious.
My art installations can be viewed at several annual art and design fairs every year, and are included in collections across North America. Please visit my Instagram @samanthasandbrook to see works-in-progress and currents projects.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Being an artist is a very rewarding career. The restless, creative energy has a beautiful outlet. Each project varies, so it is constantly stimulating. Challenging yourself can create daily motivation. The more you work, the more immersed in it you become, and it can provide a wonderful escape.
But the most rewarding aspect of being creative is coming up with new ideas that captivate and resonate with both your audience and your own self.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
The most important resource I wish I had pursued at the beginning of my career is connecting with other artists. The support of a mentor in the arts would have been especially valuable, as business practices are completely unknowable for newcomers.
Questions like: “is this exhibition a good one to participate in?,” “what have you heard about this gallery?, “ or “where can I pay less for materials?” can be weighed and quickly answered when you are surrounded by knowledgeable people in your field.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.samanthasandbrook.com
- Instagram: @samanthasandbrook
- Facebook: Samantha Sandbrook
