Featured Artist
The Artist
I am the artist behind Artwork By Sammy. I have been drawing since I was a kid and after learning several different mediums in high school, I mainly do acrylic paintings on canvas now. My art career was always a side business for me. After some unforseen life changes though, I was able to spend the summer, 2021 traveling all over WNY. I wen't to any and every fair I could to show my art to anyone that wanted to see. I wasn't making a living off of it, but I meet so many awesome people with amazing feedback and it was just the push I've been needing all along. God gave me an amazing talent and for that there is a purpose. To everything there is a season and time marches on.
Self-taught Artist
I never went to college for art but I did learn a lot in high school. They say that self-taught artists are the best kinds because they weren't taught "the rules". I had a job working third shift, after high school, and there wasn't much to do, but I had to be there. My coworkers used to let me sit in the back and draw. Years of doodling is how I developed my style.
A Little History
I have been selling paintings for around 20 years now. I gained a great following through a career I held for many years. For the last few years my art has been my primary career. I've been apart of the Springville NY Art crawl for the last two years. I have entered into the 6"×6" fundraiser with the Rochester NY Contemporary Arts Center for two years. I have taught several classes through the Tri-County Arts Council in Olean NY and was apart of their small works show in 2022. I am a new member of The North Shore Arts Alliance out of Chautauqua County NY. I have had three different Galleries set up in the Olean Public Library. I've also done dozens of outdoor and indoor vendor events throughout Western NY including the Grapes and Hops festival in Jamestown in 2023.
In my Future
Being an artist is a brave endeavor and I even attempted to give it up at one point. Many people are very creative and talented but they don't want the lifestyle of being a starving artist. I have learned that not pursuing my dream makes me sad. I don't make a living off of my art, but it is what keeps me living. Hopefully one day my hard work will pay off. Until then, I have to keep going, for me, even if it gets me nowhere.