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 met 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. I now do mostly landscape paintings. Some of my landscapes have a contemporary style. I like painting abstract looking grass, flower and butterflies.
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 three years in a row. 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 and 2024. 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. I was invited to be a vendor at the Allentown Arts Festival in Buffalo NY in 2024! I also had a tent set up at Chautauqua Institution in summer 2024!
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.