Meet Samuel O. Dong Saul | Professor and Problem-Based Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Samuel O. Dong Saul and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Samuel O., why did you pursue a creative career?
Since I was a young child, my dream has been to be an inventor. Making and creating “things” was the only path I wanted to take. I started drawing my favorite cartoon characters in the 2nd grade, which led to learning about character design, perspective, color, and other illustration techniques from a young age. Because drawing was not enough, when I reached the age to attend college, I decided to study for a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design, where I learned about design thinking, user-centered design, and systemic design processes. My undergrad opened an entirely new area of thinking about design and how it can be made. After undergrad, I pursued a Master’s in Educational Technology and Instructional Design and a Master’s of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. School has been a great place to explore my passions as an artist and experiment with new media and art-making processes. This curiosity has been consistent for over 30 years; even today, I am teaching myself how to write code and use game development software while being a full-time faculty member at the University of Northern Colorado. The passion for learning about art and the various ways of making it is one of the only thoughts that brings meaning to life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

For many years, I was uncertain about what “type” of art I made, so I questioned what to call myself that made sense. I liked to draw and create illustrations; therefore, I began calling myself an illustrator. Then, I learned about photography and switched to using the photographer label. Then I became a product designer, a graphic designer, an artist, and then an educator. The list was getting a bit too long to use all the labels. Fortunately, during a critique with a professional artist during grad school, I commented on my existential crisis about what labels to use, and he responded quite candidly, “The answer is simple. It seems you’re a problem-based artist.” With that, years of self-doubt and impostor syndrome feelings started to dissipate.

Problem-based artists explore different mediums, materials, problems, and solutions. They are more interested in the problem and learning about it than continuing a grueling exploration of perfecting a craft. During my creative journey, I have illustrated a children’s book, designed brands and typefaces for various businesses, promotional posters for theatre seasons, functional and non-functional products, and small and large-scale sculptures using various art-making traditional and digital techniques.

Exploring and learning about arts and crafts is part of my artistic practice, and my job as an educator of future artists is to keep learning about what the world is making today. I feel tremendously proud of my capability to remain curious about new topics and constantly learn new technologies and methodologies to produce art with various intents in mind. I hope this curiosity becomes infectious to my students as it will guide them to explore ideas outside their comfort zone.

The journey to where I am today as a professional has been long, but I am merely in the early stages of the adventure. I have been fortunate that I’ve experienced hardships in life as they have given me the tools I’ve needed to succeed. However, my success is not my own. I have searched for those who believe in me and learned as much as possible from them. My success is a collective effort of all the great people I have met who have influenced my life and artistic practice.

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 like a few spots in Colorado, and they depend on the season. A trip to the Rocky Mountains and Estes Park is a great time in the spring. During the summer, hiking Horsetooth Reservoir in Fort Collins is lovely, or going on a rafting adventure in the Poudre River. Come wintertime, a trip to a ski resort is always a great new experience.

I am not picky about places to eat, but you will never go wrong with Krazy Karl’s Pizza, my favorite pizza ever. I live in Greeley and have found a few great places to eat. Pho Duy makes amazing pho, and a couple of taco trucks sell unparalleled birria tacos.

Visiting Denver is always fun, too. I usually plan an art day to visit the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Zoo, or the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Unfortunately, I don’t know the city well, but I always go to my favorite restaurant in town, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. I love to eat their chicken-fried chicken waffles!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This shout-out goes to all the young artists who are unsure whether they can pursue a career in the arts. Know that creativity is a journey, not a result. It takes years of practice, dedication, networking, and constant exploration to reach a level at which you start to believe in your work. There are people who believe in you; find them and learn as much as you can from them. And if you ever get to a point where you can return the favor, remember you once were a novice, and someone believed in you.

Instagram: samuel.o.dongsaul

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-dong-saul/