Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Davis.
Hi Samantha, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Well, I’ve always been a creative person. I’d spend hours in my room imagining and drawing whatever creature or world I’d built in my head that day. My inspiration often came from animated shows or video games. That love of drawing stayed with me, even when I traded my pencil for a mouse and monitor.
Fast forward to young adulthood, and I’m a fresh designer making custom aircraft liveries. Pretty cool gig, but the airshows we go to have some dull moments in the booth. I scored a free iPad with my phone upgrade and was doodling when a customer approached me. He watched for a moment and challenged me to draw his plane. “Easy!” I said. In a few hours, we’d come up with a complete drawing and a plan to make stickers. This was the first of many requests from friends, which led to multiple collaborations and a lot of fun. That said, those projects ran their course, and I felt the pull of the paintbrush, so I took to it. I’ve been painting since! All in all, my work encompasses many mediums, styles, and subject matter. From digital to painting, airplanes to portraits, they all have something to work on exploring.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has ebbs and flows like anything else worth pursuing in life, though the lows can take their toll. The positives have been the international reach and community through social media. Another positive would be the opportunities that came from putting my work out there. The struggles have been a combination of mental, logistical, and practical. Emotionally, doing work others wanted rather than what I wanted became too much like a job. It was taxing to design during the day and then try and feel motivated to work with clients afterward. Logistically, it isn’t easy to offer products that people want without capital, but there are ways. Those avenues have downsides, and the negatives are not always worth the flexibility. Practically, we know that a big part of being successful with art is doing office work and marketing. Marketing! With big shifts in social media platforms and life things, it can be tough to stay consistent and stick with a vision. That’s part of the process, though.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Multidisciplinary artist. I work during the day as a senior Designer for Evoke Aviation, which is probably where I am best known. As a pilot-in-training and member of the online aviation community, I have a lot of friends and clients in the industry. My digital aviation illustrations were trendy for a while, and I have people who tell me they still wear products with my illustrations that they love. Most of my collaborations/ commissions are also in that space. As for my more personal work, it’s bound to traditional media. My paintings are displayed in two galleries in St. Augustine, Art Box, and First Look Artisan’s Market. There you’ll see traditional paintings and mixed media work. My latest series, which is featured in both, are portraits in acrylic and oil.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I last visited this area a while ago, but Jacksonville has been good to me so far. The local art scene is multifaceted and represents many voices and perspectives, which I love. Some of the shops in West Jacksonville will host art markets with curated voices that historically would not be represented in galleries. The crowd here is friendly and fun, and I can’t wait to immerse myself more in what Jacksonville offers.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brushpilotsammy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brushpilotsammy/
