Sam Rodriguez

Tell us a bit about yourself - our readers would like to get to know you!

My name is Sammy Rodriguez, and I am an illustrator. I specialize in portraiture, and work across digital and analog mediums depending on the project requirement, or my preference. My career has allowed me the opportunity to work across several platforms such as public art, museums, corporations, galleries, and media publications.

What got you into illustrating?

I chose to be an illustrator because it exists between Fine Art, Public, and Commercial Usage. It is a pragmatic art profession for someone like myself who has a family to raise. As an illustrator, I am able to contribute something positive to the world!

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What do you aim to say through your style of portrait illustrations?

I aim to remind people that we are all of mixed identity which spans across many layers of influence throughout history. However, I hope that through my illustrations that I do more observing, and less saying.

What work are you particularly proud of and why?

I cannot say, because each piece is like a child of mine. True, some are not as good as others, but they all are essential to my growth and journey to become a better artist.

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Congratulations on your stunning mural projects like LinkedIn San Fransisco and Public Art Project San Jose! Tell us a bit about how this came about, and the response you received.

Thank you! Some of these projects came about through interpersonal relationships, and others through clients discovering my work online through my website and social media. The response was great on these projects. Particularly, I was surprised to receive a commemoration award from a Political Council member in San Jose. I am grateful to be able to make work for the community and also for large companies, while maintaining my artistic voice. I appreciate these opportunities.

Being able to mix your art methods of drawing between hand & digital is interesting. Which one would you say you prefer and why?

At the moment I prefer digital. I spent many years making hand paintings and murals, so maybe I am just excited about the digital work at the moment. However, I have dabbled in digital in the past but with the recent release of user friendly apps such as Procreate and Ipad Pro - it is very fun to work with! I also like how on digital, I can make more work in less time which is great because I can share more ideas. Lastly, digital is convenient with my lifestyle. I see the concept as the most important component of any visual art. So whether it is handmade or digital, it is in my opinion just a means to an end.

What is your design process, and what tools do you use for your work?

I am constantly collecting images that get my attention. This means snapping photos of things I see while i'm out, or grabbing them from online and magazines. I use several sources for image inspiration. Fashion, Shoes, Portraiture, Typography, Art, and more. Sometimes, I have a specific assignment, so I will search accordingly, but most often, I collect images and then use them later.

Tools I use for Digital:

• iPad Pro
• ProCreate App
• MacBook Pro
• Photoshop

Tools I use for Hand Painting

• Flat Brushes
• Round Brushes
• Gesso
• Acrylic Gouache
• Exterior Acrylic Paint
• Water

Tools I use for Drawings are Mechanical Pencil and Smudge Tool

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Do you have setup or workspace ideas you can share?

Sure, here is what my studio looks like. It is a humble place, very calm, and bright.

Would you like to plug something in for the readers?

Yes, please visit my profile on Domestika.

https://www.domestika.org/en/samrodriguezart

I will soon be releasing an extensive course on making a digital portrait on Procreate App.

Also please visit my instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/samrodriguezart/

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