Art & Life with Samantha Cassity

Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Cassity.

Samantha, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I have been drawing since I was very young. I used to sit and simply sketch the room I was sitting in, or members of my family. Additionally, I had fun recreating covers of children’s books that I enjoyed reading. I believe that my interest in art and constant practice as a child kick-started my hobby into a lifestyle.

I starting taking my art seriously around seventh grade when I began gathering higher quality art supplies. Once I felt that I had adequate materials, I really started to push my artistic limits. Realizing that I could look at an object or think of an image and accurately recreate it was a beautiful revelation. Art had always been about how I could improve my technique and wind down after stressful days. The fact that my brain and my hands could work together to make an image was something I took pride in. Soon, I discovered that my art could be used as a source of income. When I was a freshman in high school, I started to sell my creations. I have continued to complete multiple commissions and sell prints of my work since then. God has blessed me with artistic talent and I will forever be grateful to Him.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My favorite medium has always been pencils, or any variation of pencil art. I own graphite, colored, charcoal, and white charcoal pencils. Some of my most popular works are white charcoal pieces atop black paper. However, I also occasionally work with pens and markers. I typically use materials and supplies that I can finely control. As a scrupulous person, details are extremely important to me and my artwork. I mostly enjoy creating desert scenes, because it requires attention to detail, and Arizonan wildlife is extremely beautiful. Other things that I like to draw are people and facial features.

Beauty inspires me. I see the world around me, and the people that live in it, and I use my appreciation for God’s creation to make art. If I can capture even a sliver of beauty that the world has to offer in my art, then I am content. I hope that my art helps others experience beauty in a new way. We should all be grateful for what we have, and take advantage of our privileges to enhance and fine-tune our skills and talents.

How do you think about success, as an artist, and what do quality do you feel is most helpful?
Success is subjective. To me, success stems from how much time I’ve put in to my art, and the impression I have on others. If I am a great artist, but fail to reach out to other artists and potential customers, then am I truly successful? If I have impeccable social skills, but fail to practice and create new works of art, will I obtain success? When I invest many more hours in creating art, and when I am able to connect to multiple people on a personal level, not only will I make more money, but I will have reached my first personal tier of success.

The characteristics most essential to the process of acquiring success are grit and determination. Most times, I have to force myself to sit down at my art table and make something, even when I’m not in the mood or I don’t feel inspired. You have to commit to creating a commission, and finish it before the deadline. You have to constantly be preparing for your future and act accordingly. Laziness is not an option. Without grit and determination, your goals will never be reached.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can check out my creations on Instagram: @samspencilart or you can visit my website: artbysam.org. You can see me at the annual Hidden in the Hills art show where I will be selling prints, doing live drawings, and taking commission requests. I am also a part of the Teen Artist Guild (TAG) where we display art pieces at our First Friday booth downtown, and festivals hosted by Phoenix Center for the Arts.

Contact Info:

• Website: artbysam.org
• Phone: 602-456-0047
• Email: samcassityart@gmail.com
• Instagram: @samspencilart
• Twitter: @smileysamma

Image Credit:
Samantha Cassity

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