One to Watch

Sam Tudyk

Sam Tudyk  is an emerging artist based in Portland, Oregon. She holds a BFA both in Illustration and in Graphic Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design (2001). She also attended The Illustration Academy hosted at Ringling College of Art and Design in 2009. Inspired by her experience working in advertising design, illustration, and letterpress, she has developed a passion for symbols of communication, which she transfers into her artwork.

She is currently exploring two series, Land Marks and Paper Marks. In her Land Marks series, she explores the concept of time through quiet landscapes littered with deteriorating structures; she hopes that her compositions encourage the viewer to slow down and contemplate the character of a space from another time. In her Paper Marks series, she focuses on the abstraction of the recognizable patterns of handwriting in the form of lists and mail correspondence. Sam exhibits extensively in the US, as well as Japan.

What are the major themes you pursue in your work?
The themes of my work typically relate to symbols of communication, and often incorporate time as a component. One current body of work explores the deteriorating structures of urban landscapes. Another theme focuses on the abstraction of recognizable patterns of expression once commonly found in personally handwritten lists and correspondence.

What was the best advice given to you as an artist?
Make goals to work towards. Visualize what you want and believe it will happen.

Prefer to work with music or in silence?
Depending on what stage my work is in and what mood I am in, I either listen to music (sometimes instrumental) or occasionally NPR podcasts.

If you could only have one piece of art in your life, what would it be?
Alex Kanevsky’s palette.

Who are your favorite writers?
My favorite writers are my dear penpals.