Friday 14, 11.2014

Monsters doodle art and handmade illustrated wearables with Samnuts (Interview)

I couldn’t get more excited when I find artists who doodle AND sell objects with their art printed, or hand-drawn on them. So here’s today’s interview, with one of those special artists!

Monsters doodle art and handmade illustrated wearables with Samnuts (Interview) Samnuts, or Samantha Fois (her real name), is a 27 year-old freelance graphic designer living in Montpellier, France. She has two degrees in graphic design and is specialised in 3D, web and multimedia.

Her art is lots of fun and consists mainly in creative doodles with little monsters in them. She likes to “mix and match” when it comes to the hand-illustrated objects she sells – and she does just that, selling stuff from skateboards to sunglasses or shoes. I found that particularly interesting, so I wanted to know more about how she does it 🙂

I’m inspired by street art, board culture and art, in general

I have an idea about where your nickname, Samnuts, comes from, but why don’t you tell me?

Haha! The first part is a diminutive of my name, Samantha, and the second part is because I’m kinda nuts.

Monsters doodle art and handmade illustrated wearables with Samnuts (Interview)

Your art style is awesome, you have a lot of monsters doodles in your illustrations. How did you develop this style?

Thanks! I draw since I knew how to hold a pen, but I developed my style with the internet, what I saw everywhere.

What (or who) inspires you for your works?

Street art, board culture and all the news on art culture I can find.

I sell everything! Ukuleles, shoes, “the monster box”, some screen printing like bags/tees, phone cases…

What kind of projects (commissioned projects) do you usually work on?

I can work on everything but usually I like to work on paper, canvas, boards, sun glasses, shoes… You can order any customized objects from me (guitars, tables, wallpaper). I like to change my supports.

Monsters doodle art and handmade illustrated wearables with Samnuts (Interview)

You sell a lot of products with your doodles. Tell me a little bit about that.

I started 2 or 3 years ago. I sell everything!  Ukuleles, shoes, “the monster box”, some screen printing like bags/tees, phone cases… I get my supplies in the art store in my city.

I start with an idea and I try to work on it. When I’m satisfied I start with a pencil then with posca. Sometimes I start direct with the posca. Finally I varnished my customs.

I don’t have any partnerships but as a freelancer I have some good prices

You use many materials, are the varnishes different too (from plastic, to wood, to textile)?

I live in a small flat so I only use industrial spray can varnishes for now. It works on quasi all solid support. For the shoes I use a waterproof spray and the t-shirt are screen printing homemade!

How does posca work? Is it permanent, or is it easy to erase?

It’s not permanant but it’s adapted to all supports and it’s waterproof. Posca is water based paint, it covers well.

Art, first of all, is a passion! It is very hard to live from it, but not impossible

What tools do you use in your work?

I use pen, paper, posca, touch pen, spray can. Digitally, I use photoshop and illustrator a lot!

Monsters doodle art and handmade illustrated wearables with Samnuts (Interview)

What is your best-selling product?

The sunglasses! They all are unique, the’re small, fun, you can take them anywhere and they fall within the budget of most people.

Would you say that selling your art is profitable, for illustrators? Is it, for you?

No I think it’s a passion first! It is very hard to live from art but not impossible. Like a lot of illustrators, I’ll take it step by step.

There are a lot of talented street artists in France, the art scene grows more and more

How would you define the (street) art industry in France? Is it super developed, are there many talented artists, is this skill wanted?

It’s a hard question, there are a lot of talented street artists in France. But street art is worldwilde, and so are a lot of artists. But I think street art in France grows more and more, I see a lot of new original art events.

What is your biggest challenge, professionally?

To be able to live from art is already a big challenge!

What would you like to do, in the future, in your career, that you haven’t done yet?

I’d like to work in co-branding with board culture brand or others. I’m open to everything, any collab.

See more of Sam’s awesome stuff on her: website | behance | facebook

About Miruna

Hi, my name is Miruna Sfia. I'm 28 and I'm a self-employed graphic designer and illustrator living in Bucharest, Romania. I created Friday Illustrated because I wanted to be able to learn from some of the best people in my industry.

If you want to know more about the things I work on, feel free to follow me via Facebook , Twitter or Google+