Sam describes his art as “Ren and Stimpy meets Mambo”, but no matter the description - it’s clear his work explodes off the page with
humour, life and colour! Currently working on putting together his first book, Sam’s creativity is always buzzing!
i Sam. It's been a while since we spoke! What's new in your world these days - are you still based in the Great Lakes area? Time sure flies when you're illustrating ridiculous characters! Yes I'm still loving our beautiful area while working at Dynamic Gift, and trying to make the most of what's on offer in my spare time that usually involves water or some kind of sand … If I'm lucky enough for the sun to come out on weekends, of course! How do you feel your art has changed/ progressed over the past year or so? I've still kept my zany style (think Ren and Stimpy meets Mambo) but I'm working a lot more with pop culture and pop art - turning famous characters into my own style, with a couple of ridiculous series under my belt this year like Disney on Ice, a look at life before and after hard drugs, or Caffeine Junkies, where I depict famous characters before their morning coffee. It's been a wildly productive year, where I've locked myself away in my studio and have tried to scratch out a finished illustration each day (not counting Sundays, as there is a high chance I might be hungover from the night before!) in between working on commissioned work.
You're always busy, working on multiple easily associate with. I find it makes a great projects at once. One of these projects is a vehicle to communicate to an audience with. book you've been putting together ... Tell I want people to look at my art and us a little bit about it! recognise some of the characters, with the I definitely have some kind of punchline being that they are taken way a prescribable problem with out of their usual environment having far too many ideas and thrown in to an irreverent and not enough time, setting, which will hopefully I’D LIKE TO HAVE but my recent works make people laugh - that's ANOTHER SERIES that I've been doing the main goal. THE BOOK UNDERWAY FOR are going to end up in Where did you gather LY RELEASE, PROBAB LIKE a beautiful little book inspiration for this KY SOMETHING WAC NS AS that's currently book? OO RT “AMERICAN CA NG looking somewhere A couple of artists HI ET M SO AUSSIES”, OR around 60 - 80 pages. that I've been following VE LO I . LIKE THAT It will be self funded and supporting for a while ” A. AN LI RA AUST and published, so I'll be have released an anthology starting a crowdfunding of their work, and it gave me campaign when I'm ready a kick up the butt, because most to roll and get some preorders in of my art these days is digital and I from friends and family and anyone who is don't like the idea of pushing my art too much interested in spicing up their bookshelf or onto people through prints etc - I thought a coffee table with some art. book was the perfect way for my art to enter Your book is based loosely around the the homes of people and be on display, while concept of "pop culture". You no doubt also being a bit of a collector's item to flip have your own unique twist on how you through on a rainy day with a coffee! view pop culture - but what does this term When do you hope to have the book mean to you? completed, and where can people purchase I'm just super pumped to share my own a copy? version of characters that have inspired me I'm aiming to have it completed and the while I was growing up, or that people can campaign to start during July, so that gives
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me almost two months to get things sorted and choose which series to throw in the book. Fingers crossed. What other ideas do you have bubbling away for future projects? I go past the Salvos on Little Street every day on my drive to work, and each time I see the “staff parking” sign on the wall, it makes me want to do a really cool mural for them, rather than just the current letters. If someone's reading from there, let's hook it up! I'm in the process of finding a site for a mural submission for the council; I've been in talks with them, and they seem pretty keen on that idea - which is great. For my illustrations I'd like to have another series underway for the book release, probably something wacky like American Cartoons as Aussies, or something like that. I love Australiana. Where can readers go to see more samples of your work, or find out more about you? Find my page on Facebook “sam milham art” or drop by my website www.samuelmilham. com - my email is sam@samuelmilham.com The Visitors Info Centre in Forster also stock some of my Forster/Tuncurry bumper stickers, so swing by if you want to slap some local colour onto your car. I can't wait to hear from you! And remember guys ... Keep it real. Thanks Sam. manning-great lakes focus.
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