High Artist Spotlight: Sam Violet

Sam Violet is a mixed media artist who mainly works in pen and ink, watercolor, and digital mediums. She is a college student studying illustration design and is based in Los Angeles, California. They enjoy portraiture and are inspired by horror, Halloween, cartoons, and video games. Violet often features monsters, fantasy, and other supernatural elements in her work. She enjoys drawing women, flowers, fashion, and using bright colors in their work, as well as creating visual narratives about the characters in her illustrations.
We recently caught up with Sam after High Art 2023 to learn more about her most recent inspirations:
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Where do you find your creative inspiration?

I find a lot of creative inspiration in entertainment media such as video games, cartoons, and movies.

Why do you do what you do?

It's a compulsion to make art. I love everything about the process of creating.

What art/artist do you most identify with?

An artist I identify with is Anatola Howard. I love her style and the themes she pursues in her work.

What themes do you pursue the most?

Putting the mundanity in the monstrous, hallowed in the hollow, and making the scary more approachable.

What role does an artist have in society?

As I once heard from a meme somewhere online, "Artists are the architects of humanity's soul."

What is your artistic outlook on life?

I've honestly never thought about this before. My artistic outlook is... make cool stuff, I guess?

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Be more gentle with yourself and try not to worry so much about what other people think.

Do you listen to music while you are creating? If yes, share the song and artist that you listen to while creating art.

I often switch back and forth between listening to podcasts and listening to playlists with a mix of lo-fi, indie, and pop music.

What's the best thing about being an artist?

You can make whatever you want!

What is your dream project?

Probably making some designs for a fun horror/comedy animated series. ​