Meet Sam Ken | Oil Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sam Ken and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sam, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?

I was interested in art at an early age. I was always drawing my favorite superheroes on any scrap piece of paper I could find. My mom bought me basic “How to Draw” books that helped me figure out how to create various things. My appreciation of animated movies was always based on how I well I thought the characters were drawn. I was never much of a reader, but was drawn towards books that included cool drawings or paintings. I took art classes all the way up to high school, learning to draw and paint better along the way.

I joined the Marine Corps after high school and took a break from art for about a decade. After getting out of the military I went back to school but I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to study. I couldn’t find anything that would stick and I was becoming miserable. I tried computer programming but I absolutely hated it. My wife then suggested that I should just do what makes me happy. Based on that advice, I switched gears and earned my degree in graphic design. The classes I took reignited my love and passion for art. I took drawing classes, studied art history, and learned how to create art from scratch in various mediums. Soon after that I got back into drawing and painting on a regular basis.

The ability to create brings me an immense amount of joy. The ability to be me, as weird and nerdy as I want, is liberating. I love painting full-time, and learning more about the craft each day. Painting is meditative for me: the ability to make mistakes and the pursuit of getting better mirrors much of everyday life. Sharing that with people is amazing and it’s also amazing to connect with other inspiring artists. The pursuit of an artistic career was an act of embracing myself, and I am grateful I am able to share that.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I am currently an oil painter specializing in pet portraits and human portraits. I chose this specialization because there is so much interest and nuance in the faces of people and animals. I got started learning on my own, but natural skill alone could only get me so far. I have taken a couple of classes from artists I respect and admire to help hone my skills. Every day of painting is both a joy and a challenge, and it is a lifelong challenge that I embrace. I hope to move onto different styles of paintings once I feel I have a good mastery of what I am studying currently.

Along the way, I have learned that it is okay to make mistakes and that everything I create does not have to be a “masterpiece.” There is pressure and a feeling of vulnerability when sharing art with the world, especially when I have invested so much of myself in a piece. Learning to not be consumed with the reception of a piece, including the amount of comments and likes, is something I am working on, but it does feel good to have my work praised from time to time.

I do only the occasional graphic design project nowadays because I am passionate about oil painting. Aside from the original paintings I create, I take commissions through my Etsy store to paint pets and family members. I take great joy in that.

It wasn’t easy taking the first step into becoming a professional painter, but I am glad I did it. If you are afraid of taking that first step, know that you are not alone. You should follow your passion in some way. Anyone has the ability to deem art “good” or “bad,” but art is a beautiful form of expression. No one should dissuade anyone else from doing it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m still relatively new to Colorado. My wife is active duty military so we move around a lot. But there are so many cool place to go and visit. My recent favorite place to visit was out west in Grand Junction, Colorado. I’m all about food and there were some exquisite places to eat in Grand Junction, as well as many outstanding wineries to visit if you enjoy that (Mesa Park Vineyards was one of my favorites). Colorado Springs has many good hikes, and Garden of the Gods is a must visit for all out of towners. Bear Creek Dog Park is a great place to take your dog. Old City Colorado has many great restaurants like Pizza Rustica (that place reminds me of Italy and has the best pizza I have had in Colorado so far!) I love the art community in Colorado. Denver offers many museums and exhibits to visit. The Denver Art Museum is amazing. Downtown Colorado Springs holds “First Friday Downtown” every month with events that feature art, music, and special events from local retailers. It’s pretty easy to find something cool to do around here.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate this shoutout to my wife. She is my number one supporter and best partner in the world. She pushes me to be better and supports me when I stumble. I could not ask for a better partner in life and I owe all my success to her.

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SamKenArt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samkenart/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamKenArt

Other: https://sken.myportfolio.com/