A ceramist, a potter or a painter are names one would call Andrew Sampson but ‘Samo’ as he’s often called sees himself as an artist who can master all that he endeavours.
His work covers painting, ceramics and graphic design. Although Andrew has been doing art professionally for 12 years now, he remembers well the formative years that led him to where he is now.
“I’ve been drawing since nursery school and my nursery school teacher, Monette Lewong, would always say ‘Andrew you’re good at art, keep drawing.’ When my mother came to the school she’d tell her to keep encouraging me. Then when I attended Soesdyke Primary, during phonics the teacher would draw an object, a fruit or plant; any object before writing the name under it. Only seven years old at that time, I was tasked with drawing the objects,” Andrew said.
For the next few years he was a favourite and recalls designing the different blackboards for upcoming Christmas parties, with drawings of Christmas trees, candy canes, stars and Santa Claus among other seasonal things. His final two years in primary school boiled down to less art and more school work as he prepared for Common Entrance. However upon graduating primary school he was awarded ‘Best Art Student’.
He gained a place at Alleyne’s High School in Georgetown. “Attending Alleyne’s I don’t think I lived up to my potential there. It was challenging to recognize one’s potential. You didn’t have the materials or facilities. But Mr Brian Elcock was our art teacher at that time and he tried grooming five of us in the art department. …only one of us took up art. He was one of the first persons to encourage me to attend Burrowes School of Art,” Andrew said.
“Art to me is life. Art brings meaning to everything around you. Art is a way people can express themselves. Art tells your story. If a child is crying and you give that child a crayon and say put how you feel on this paper; they’d draw it. They’d also use colours that identify their emotions,” he added.
