Life & Work with Sam Ken

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Ken.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a Marine Corps Veteran, oil painter, and ink artist. I started drawing when I was young. I would grab a pencil and doodle on whatever piece of paper I could find. I drew various pictures for the elementary school newspaper, and I was even once called upon to draw something as a going away gift for a retiring janitor. I loved animated movies and shows, and I always thought it would be cool to create art for a living. I took basic art classes in middle school and high school, where I learned I had a knack for art. I didn’t know how viable an option that was as a profession, so I joined the Marine Corps after high school ended. Fast forward many years and many deployments later, I found myself lost on what I should do after my service ended. After a degree change, I decided to pursue graphic design, and it was in some of those classes where my love for art and creating was reignited, and I would later find myself as a freelance graphic designer, and eventually full-time oil painter and sketch artist.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Every road has its struggles. I know every creative deals with some level of imposter syndrome, so we have to have to the courage to do what we do regardless of what others may say, and even despite what our conscious may say. My wife is my biggest cheerleader and I often need her verbal support and encouragement when things don’t seem to be working in my creative space. Sharing your work is sharing a part of yourself, and I think you have to be picky sometimes with whom you share your ideas with. That fear can sometimes be crippling, so it’s good to surround yourself with people you trust and whose opinion you value.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am currently a full-time oil painter and ink artist. I specialize in portraits (human and pets) and figures, but I also like to paint anything and everything I think might look cool. I generally stay with faces when I am creating something in ink, but I feel more freedom to explore with paint because it can so much more unpredictable comparatively. The thing that I am most proud of that the past few months have awarded me so many opportunities to share my art. I have been in various galleries, I have been on local television, and I have more gallery opportunities to come. I am looking forward to sharing my unique art with more people. What sets my art apart is the story I try to tell, and everyone has their own story. Some of my paintings and drawings can look pretty standard and show off my inspirations, but others are weird and quirky and that is uniquely me because who I am and the experiences I have had.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
The best part about Colorado Springs are its people and the art community. You don’t have to look far to find an art gallery, and finding a kind person within any establishment is even easier. The longer I live here, the more meaningful relationships I build, and that is a great feeling. The artists here have been kind and helpful, and I would like to think that that kindness is reciprocated throughout, so the community grows as one. Hard to say what I like least about the city, guess I have more exploring to do!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://samkenart.wixsite.com/samkenart
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samkenart
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SamKenArt