Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Angus Jackson.
Hi Sam Angus, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I am an artist based out of Austin, Texas. My father, Jack Jackson (JAXON), was an underground cartoonist and graphic novelist, and he schooled me on the finer points of pen work and the creation of narratives. It is to him that I owe my initial artistic inspiration. Over the years, I have nurtured this inspiration. It has grown to include many different forms- from writing to illustration to creating images using the power of concentrated sunlight. For the latter, which makes up much of my commission work, I use my father’s old magnifying glass as a laser to burn images into the wood with sunlight. This began after he passed away as a way of repurposing one of his tools to create my art, a tangible connection to, and a reminder of, my past.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I cannot complain or say that I’ve had it rough. Most, if not all, of us, can probably agree that each path has its trials. The biggest struggle has been that of any artist- the ebbs and flows that are the nature of the business. The lack of security, while occasionally exhilarating, can often be oppressive. Though it is sometimes a struggle to navigate the windfalls and dry spells of the business, that is a small enough price to pay to do what I love.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
As I mentioned in my story, much of my work is done in the fairly unique and little-practiced art form called solar pyrography. Using a lens to burn etchings into the wood, it harnesses the sun’s light. I’m in contact with a few people around the globe who practice the same medium. Though much of my business consists of realistic portraits, I am most drawn to surrealism and am personally most proud of my surrealistic work. Several years ago, I began doing art for a local restaurant called Uchiko. I have since done pastel chalk pieces for their company at multiple locations across Texas, as well as in Denver and Miami. This is some of the most fun work I’ve done, and it combines my love of surrealism and natural forms.
What makes you happy?
Time spent with family and friends and a good day of creative expression.
Contact Info:
- Website: angusjacksonart.com
- Instagram: @angusjacksonart
