Sam Sidders

Sam's work reflects not only his Oklahoma country roots, but also his travels through out the USA and Europe. His interest in art developed at an early age, but he didn't pursue it until after his graduation from high school in 1963. While serving in the Armed Forces, during the late 1960's, he spent a couple of years living in what was then 'West' Germany. During that time, he took advantage of every opportunity to visit many parts of Western Europe, sketching and painting the people and landscapes of that part of the world. Many of his current works have been influenced by a recent return visit to Germany. After completion of his military service, Sam studied art at Southwestern Oklahoma State University where he received a degree in Art. Following graduation, Sam and his wife, Emma, owned and operated an art gallery in Oklahoma City. He also participated in numerous shows and exhibited his work in other galleries. When their oldest son approached school age, Sam and Emma returned to the 'non-art related' family business in the small town of Shattuck Oklahoma. At that time, he stopped doing artwork professionally, but continued to paint and draw for his own enjoyment. In 1994, at the encouragement of his 3 children, Sam again began to pursue his art. One of his many hobbies was collecting kaleidoscopes and he decided to add the making of them to his artistic endeavors. Since that time he has constructed hundreds of them using a variety of materials to achieve many different styles and types of kaleidoscopes. In 2002 Sam returned to the field of art as a primary occupation. He continues to create kaleidoscopes, but also dedicates much of his time to drawing and painting. Sam's Kaleidoscopes are displayed in galleries in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and Arkansas. His kaleidoscopes and two-dimensional work can be found in collections across the USA and several other countries.
Sam has worked with many different art forms and while working on his art degree, he selected three-dimensional art as his area of emphasis. He worked in sculpture, modeling, ceramics and jewelry design. However, he also studied drawing, painting and printmaking and has come to prefer working two-dimensionally. He has chosen the use of Pen and Ink for his drawings and Watercolor as his selected painting medium. The subjects and styles of Sam's two-dimensional work can best be described as 'Varied'. He has laughingly said that he is, 'confused and has yet to find his direction'. His three children, who are all fans of different styles of his work, tease him about having multiple personalities when it comes to his art. He enjoys painting and drawing landscapes of places that he is familiar with or has visited. Sam also enjoys doing character studies that are usually composite works inspired by people that he has known rather than being representative of a specific individual. He also likes to practice his skills in composition and design by doing works with absolutely no subject mater, working instead with only shapes and color. Sam refers to this form as his 'non-objective' style and says that it is the most difficult yet most rewarding style that he works in. Then there is the 'whimsical' side of his art that he calls, 'Esoteric Flummery'. This style is more evident in his drawings, but occasionally shows up in his paintings as well. The subjects for his whimsical works range from fantasy studies of nonexistent times and places to surrealistic objects or situations that can only be found in his mind. Viewers of Sam's 'Esoteric Flummery' have responded with both positive and negative comments to which Sam's usual response is, 'They are just for fun and that is what art is all about'.

Giclees of Sam's two-dimentsional work are available at his official website: www.seent.com

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