"I don't want to be a Sunday afternoon painter..."

Hmmm… that’s different !

By Ted Whisenhunt

The Gallery in Tucker Hall was filled with Students, Faculty and others on Monday, September 20th for the opening art exhibition of Clint Samples. Elegant music, great refreshments and good conversation could all be found. There was plenty of atmosphere and culture for the Judson students to soak up. Mr. Samples interacted with students by entertaining questions about his watercolors and prints. Most viewers found the work very interesting and full of content. The opening reception was a great success, and the exhibition will continue through November 13th.

When I think of watercolors, what comes to mind? Hmmm… usually granny paintings. I mean frilly, cutesy, boring landscapes with shades of blue and green that are so precious and pretty it makes you sick. Don’t get me wrong, I have seen good watercolor landscapes, and I don’t have anything against Granny’s who paint, but that is the misconception that most people have about watercolor paintings. That’s what I thought too, until I met Clint Samples. He had a fresh and unique way of using watercolors.

The subjects that Clint chooses are also different from the norm. He mixes abstract shapes, bright colors and animal imagery with everything from mousetraps to quilts. His paintings are full of surprises. If you look close enough you might find a hidden message written backwards or a snake hidden in a tree. His use of color and spatial organization are excellent. His control and expertise with watercolor is worth viewing.

I asked Clint several questions about his artwork and these were his responses:

How did you become interested in Art?

It is something that has always come easy to me and it has always been fun.

Why do you make art?

I get a lot of satisfaction from painting and I don’t want to waste my talents. I am always curious to find out what will come next.

Who is your favorite artist?

I like all the post impressionists, but my work habits came from my undergraduate professor Bruce Bobick. There is not one particular artist that has influenced me but I like Melissa Miller (contemporary oil painter from Texas) and Paula Rego (contemporary oil painter from Portugal).

Has painting always been easy for you?

Drawing has always come natural, but painting was a struggle. You need confidence, hard work and dedication to be successful with art.

Where do you get your ideas for your artwork?

Bible verses and surroundings play a role in my ideas, but I do not have a standard method for developing ideas. Many times my best ideas come out of the blue.

What advice would you have for beginning artists?

It won’t happen overnight, and you need to have the right attitude. People can learn art - it is not all God given talent.

Clint Samples is originally from Carrollton, Georgia. He graduated from The State University of West Georgia in 1996 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (specializing in watercolor) and a Bachelor of Arts (Art Education). Clint furthered his studies at Florida State University where he earned a Master of Fine Arts Degree. Presently, Clint is a design artist for Milliken & Company in LaGrange, Georgia.

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