AN ARTY EXISTENCE
Self taught Norfolk artist Samuel Thomas uses a plethora of unusual materials.
Artist Samuel Thomas has been painting for 16 years now. He is now a full time professional artist living in Norwich and selling his artwork worldwide. However, success for him was a long and winding process, and he has always been determined to make it. In the beginnings of his career he would use a multitude of materials to paint on - to create really unique pieces…..
Samuel Thomas shares his story to inspire you to also take action on the things you may wish to pursue in your lives (creative or otherwise). There is always an excuse we can tell ourselves to justify not starting - but when it comes down to it, it’s only ourselves standing in the way of our own success. Cromer born and raised artist Samuel Thomas shares his story below.
I was 22 when I decided that I wanted to become a full time contemporary artist. And I had left university early with only experience of working in hospitality jobs. But I believe that if you have strong enough determination and conviction, I believe you can forge success along the way.
From 22 to 37……. Time flies when you’re painting EVERYTHING you can get your hands on!
In my early days I would finish my shift at my full time bar job, and then go home to carry on painting in the studio. I didn’t have much money for artist materials, but I had a big imagination - and therefore I used lots of unconventional materials to create some of my artworks. It was BECAUSE I was self taught that meant I was open to new ideas and new ways of working - that is proof that you can turn a disadvantage into a unique strength if you persist.
So for example, one morning I found dried up coffee in my cup - and decided to use coffee to paint with - resulting in a Cromer sunset painting that later sold and made its way to Germany.
Walking the beach I once found an old broken surfboard - which I then took home and painted a Cromer panoramic on it. It later sold to a customer in London. Over the years my audience has expanded over the years, where I now regularly ship artwork to clients worldwide.
The old floorboards from the Cromer studio had been put in the skip by the builders. I then pulled them out and created a series of paintings using the wood grain as the key pattern on landscapes including the Norfolk Broads as shown below:
I once found an old life ring washed up on Cromer beach after the 2013 tidal surge that had destroyed all of the Cromer beach huts in Norfolk. I decided to use the piece as a 3D artwork to commemorate how we can pick ourselves up and rebuild our lives in the face of adversity.
I once used sand on my paintings to create a snow type texture. I also used old playing cards on my depiction of Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament as shown in this London painting below:
In later years the materials I found got bigger and more complex; for example I painted 3D dragon sculptures for Norwich’s art trail. And more recently I painted a real beach hut using that as the canvas - of which I return this summer to re-paint a new design on it.
So to summarise, don’t use excuses to talk yourself out of starting something that you really want to pursue. Whether it’s a hobby or an ambitious full time venture, remember that it’s only your own limiting beliefs that hold you back. A little trick is to tell yourself ‘I will” replacing the habit you may have of saying ‘I can’t because of…..x, y or z’.
I hope that inspires you to start your new venture.