Artist Spotlight: Sam Pogue
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
We are so honored to welcome artist, Sam Pogue to the Midtown Art Wall! Sam's vibrant series captures the adventurous spirit of Alaskans. Each piece is an inspired invitation for exploration of the natural world around us and a peek into Sam's personal expeditions! This month and next, come down to the scoop shop to oooh and ahhh at his stellar work! Also, stop in on Friday, March 6th from 6-9p for a First Friday event with Sam!
Inspiration behind the pieces on display:
Sam Pogue is a self-proclaimed “huge fan of Wild Scoops” and a “super-fan” according to his friends (he even showed up to his install with his Sunshine Club tee and cone socks to prove it)! When he saw that the Midtown Scoop shop hosted local artists on their walls, he started designing this series in hopes of being featured. Sam says the pieces in this Alaska Series are meant to “enhance the landscapes a lot of us love here” and to spotlight the recreational activities many of us engage with already. In this series he features many unknown subjects from behind as a way to invite the viewers to insert themselves into the scene and become the adventurer themselves! Many of these pieces are based on his own adventures through this great state and are his way of capturing memories and sharing them with his audience.
The medium of this collection:
All the pieces in this collection are oil paintings! Though Sam also dabbles in watercolor and marker/color pencils, he prefers using oil paints due to their ability to be reworked, layered for unique texture, and mixed to create vibrant colors in his work.
A bit about Sam as an artist:
Sam has always been an artist at heart and started painting when he was 12 years old. He says “painting is one of the only things that can relax [him]” when life gets busy! A struggle for most, Sam has found a safe space and a way to cope when the noise gets too loud. He is often inspired by the weather and his love for decompressing in nature drives him.
More about Sam's process:
Sam loves practicing painting in plen air! A french phrase meaning “open air” and popularized by impressionist painters, this practice is characterized by painting landscapes directly on-site to capture the effects of the lighting, atmosphere, and– for lack of better words– vibes of the scene he wishes to capture. He will often bring his gouache set with him and sit out and sketch when he feels especially inspired by the natural world around him! He will photograph the mountains and landscapes when the desaturated colors speak to him. Sam claims he “isn’t the best photographer,” but when he resonates with a scene, he uses his art to enhance the photos and make them unique to his experience and craft.
Favorite Wild Scoops flavors:
Sam is lactose intolerant so is obviously partial to the diversity of vegan options here at Wild Scoops. His favorite being Ursa Major– a vegan black cup coffee scoop with double chocolate chunk cookies mixed in. Despite the dairy in the fluff topping, Sam says the Baked Alaska is a must-add!
Other fun facts:
Need more proof that Sam is a super-fan? Well, last year he organized a Wild Scoops triathlon with his friends! One night as he was drifting off to sleep, it hit him– 3 Wild Scoops locations… 3 legs in a triathlon– the stars aligned and the genius idea was born. Starting at the Midtown Scoop Shop the race went as such: first a scoop– obviously, then he and his friends went for a quick run over the Cone-Tainer to get their next frozen treat! Unfortunately, during the time of the race the E street location was closed, but that didn’t stop him and his crew from biking their second leg to little Campbell Creek for a quick swim to complete the race!
Where you can find Sam Pogue:
If you’re looking for more of his stellar art, want to buy prints of any of your favorite pieces, or wish to commission him for a project, Sam is best reached via instagram @SampyDawgz and FB at his website which you can check out here!