May 9, 2012
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megzilla87 asked: As a newbie to tumblr I'm so glad I stumbled across your blog. First of all fantastic work, my question is more of a request to see more work-in-progresses or step-by-steps! You do a fantastic job of achieving a "traditional look" digitally through Photoshop. What I'd love to see would be how you develop once you're in the painting process. Do you use clipping masks? Do you start with flats and keep everything separated on different layers or do you paint all in one level? Thanks!!

Hi there! Thank you so much for all your kind words about my work! I really appreciate it! I get this request a lot actually, and I know I’ve been terribly remiss in actually posting process work. The reason for this is mainly because the majority of the actual painting painting that I’ve been doing has been for work, and I’m not allowed to share it online. Many times what I post on the blog are just doodles, done really fast and without a whole lot of thought, so there isn’t really process to show. For my next personal painting I will definitely try to record my process, though when I’ll have time for a personal painting is anyone’s guess. I will tell you this, my painting process is not terribly interesting. Once I’ve nailed down the layout sketch and have a color key… it’s more like filling in the numbers. There is some finesse to painting in the textures, but that is just born of practice. I don’t use clipping masks - really the only tool I use is the brush tool (I’m not terribly efficient) - but I do use layers. A lot. I think my last painting for work at 70+ layers. I have different layers for different objects, and also for foreground, middleground, background and I have layers for different textures. For the “traditional look” …part of that is just my technique in painting which simulates traditional textures, and part of that is that I have created several textures (by spilling coffee on crumpled construction paper, scanning in paper I’ve rubbed in the dirt etc.) or textures I got online that I place over the image as an “overlay” or “multiply” layers. These textures can be found fairly easily online through a google search. 

If you’re looking for process blog posts, I would like to recommend you check out a very talented illustrator named Kali Ciesemier. She posts process posts on her blog all the time and they are very helpful: http://kalidraws.blogspot.com/

May 3, 2012
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keke0406 asked: Are you able to draw real people?

Yes.

Apr 21, 2012
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bethanyradloff asked: Hello Sam, I messaged you once last year, but now I have a new question. I'm an illustration student, hoping to spend the summer out in Los Angeles and honestly I'm scared to go. I haven't heard back from the (20+) internships I've applied to which gives me little to no security going out there. I was hoping you could share your experience moving to that area. What did you find challenging, what made you want to go to LA, and maybe what you wish you had known beforehand? Thank you

Hi!

Honestly, I don’t think I’m the right person to be asking this question of. Even though I was born in New Jersey, my family moved to LA when I was 1 or 2 years old. I grew up here, my entire extended family is here, and so I wouldn’t really be able to give you advice as an LA transplant.

Having said that, I would like to urge you not to be scared to move to Los Angeles. I’m a bit biased, but I think it’s a fantastic place to live; and honestly, I never want to live anywhere else. It is different from other cities in that the public transportation system leaves A LOT to be desired… I really feel like you NEED a car to get around. Also, Los Angeles is incredibly sprawling; it’s not a “walking city”, which can make it hard to stumble on good places or meet new people. Each area of LA has it’s own distinct personality… kind of like the boroughs of NY, so your experience of LA will differ greatly depending on where you live/spend your time.

People here are generally very nice, with the exception of the high prevalence of road rage; but for the most part, if you say you’re new, people will be more than willing to help you acclimate.

I’m sorry I can’t give you a more detailed answer… if you have any specific LA questions though, you can feel free to e-mail me! Good luck with your internships!

Mar 29, 2012
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damarco asked: What is the "cool new brush" you are using for The Satorialist drawings? It definitely looks cool.

Hi! The person who made the brush gave it to me on the condition that I not share it! Sorry! However, I think this site: http://stumpypencil.blogspot.com/2009/11/return-of-stumpy-pencil.html has brushes of similar quality and you can download them for free. :)

Mar 24, 2012
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whatthecurtains asked: Hi, I was just wondering you feel about Big Cartel for selling art? Is it (and paypal) reliable?

Hi there! So far I’ve been very satisfied with Big Cartel. I know they had a problem a while back with outages and downtime, but that’s only what I’ve heard through the grapevine, I haven’t actually experienced any outages. Or at least, I don’t think my sales have been affected by it. The same is true with PayPal - I’ve never had any problems with them and no one has complained to me yet. I think PayPal is fairly secure, and Big Cartel doesn’t record any of your information when you pay… it’s all through PayPal.

Long and short of it: I like Big Cartel because the site is easy to use, has a clean layout, is easy to set up, they offer free accounts, and they don’t charge you a percentage on your merchandise nor is there a fee to keep items up in the store (like with Etsy). Pretty much any outlet to sell stuff uses PayPal, so I don’t see a way around that, and I’ve been satisfied with their service so far.  

Feb 7, 2012
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boxsailor asked: What advice do you have for an about-to-graduate visual communication design major who's looking to get into more into the animation/storytelling side of things? I focused in Illustration, so there's that, but I don't have experience in animation, aside from aftereffects.

Hmmm… I’m not sure exactly what kind of advice I can give you. It depends on what aspect of the animation industry you’re interested in. I suppose I would say, find people who you admire, who are doing the things you want to be doing, and ask them how they “broke in” to the field. One of the things I still do, is I e-mail artists I admire and ask them if they wouldn’t mind taking a look at my portfolio and giving me a critique. So I guess my advice is, keep making friends, keep talking to people whose work you like, keep putting yourself out there, and keep applying for jobs. If you see a gap in your knowledge, perhaps some more training is required? In which case there are a ton of classes to supplement your degree. It’s hard for me to really point you in the right direction without seeing your portfolio, and also because I’m not exactly sure what goes on in “visual communication design.”

But a very general piece of advice that I would give anyone who wants to get into the animation industry (and this is advice that was also recently given to me), is that sometimes you can’t approach it head on. Sometimes you have to try to approach it from the side. Maybe your first job is not going to be exactly your dream job, or even in the same vein as your dream job. The way into your dream job in animated movies might be through game design, commercials, TV, children’s book… keep your eyes open, don’t turn your nose up at any opportunity, and eventually you’ll find your way to a job you love.  

Jan 6, 2012
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catswithfisheyes asked: Hi! I've asked you about illustration before, and now I have another question! I am planning on applying to schools very soon, but I have no idea what to put into a portfolio.. What are some things that I should include?

To be honest, this is not a question I can answer. Each school is looking for something different in a portfolio, and furthermore, so is each major within each school. Also, the portfolio that I used to get into Art Center would probably not be accepted today - the standards have changed, and the major I applied to has evolved to desire different things. I can tell you in a broad way, only put in your best work, I would include some life drawing or things that show your skills as a draftsman, don’t put too many pieces in (I think under 20 is the usual, but I could be wrong), and present your portfolio professionally, neatly, and with care.

Here is my BEST advice for people applying to art school though: contact the admissions counselors at the school and make an appointment for them to review your portfolio before you submit it. This is their job, so don’t be afraid to use them. They know better than anyone what their school is looking for, and they can steer you in the right direction. If you don’t live near the school, I’m sure they will look at online portfolios. Also, there is this awesome thing called National Portfolio Day (http://portfolioday.net/) - where the schools will send representatives almost anywhere in the country on a specific day to look at portfolios. You go there and they look at everyone’s portfolios. You can even stand over their shoulder and listen to them give other people critiques, and see what your competition looks like. It’s such a useful tool, I don’t know why more people don’t go to National Portfolio Day. Check out their website, they have tons of awesome resources for people applying to art schools.

Good luck!

Jan 6, 2012
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mercworks asked: Your work is incredible! Can you recommend any books that would help level up my skills?

First off, thank you! Secondly… books are difficult for me to recommend, and it depends what skills you want to “level up” on. If you’re having trouble with anatomy, then there is no substitute for life drawing classes with a live model. I’ve listed some reference books for anatomy here… http://asksamsketch.tumblr.com/post/6074689985/im-having-a-hard-time-with-faces-and-heads-i-believe, but really drawing from a live subject, even if it’s just spying on people in a coffee shop, is the best practice. Otherwise, I love looking at the “art of” books the studios make, graphic novels, and sketchbooks other artists produce. To be honest though, I really don’t think books can teach you anything observation can’t teach you better.

Nov 24, 2011
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splendoodle asked: I've been wondering for ages how artists make their own prints, and after seeing your lovely prints, my curiosity was aroused. How do you do it!

Hi there! After much experimentation with paper etc., I have figured out a system that works for me. I have an Epson R2400 printer, and I print on Epson Watercolor Paper Radiant White with all the setting on “best.” That’s it! Secrets revealed!

Nov 6, 2011
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rosekgraff asked: very nice drawings and great thoughts on the work for free debate, just wanted to say that

Thank you!

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