BEHIND THE ARTIST

Sam Grantham is a surrealist folk painter using oils as his medium. His paintings stand as very vibrant portraits that have immersive backgrounds. He often uses several color schemes at once. He has paintings at various hip restaurants in the Winchester including Village Square Restaurant, Water Street Kitchen, and Sexi Mexi. Sometimes his paintings can be somewhat impressionistic and a more detailed neo-expressionism like one of his Idols Basquait. He is also influenced by elements of Pop art and most definitely Picasso. He takes what he likes about Picasso like contorted features, and discards the things he doesn't like, such as very simplistic portraits.  He summons what can only be compared to a 60's "happening" in his apartment painting and dancing to music. He is very inspired by music: Most notably Delta Blues, Bob Dylan, and Tom Waits.

                 HIs real prime in art started in military school where he was sent, because he was disillusioned with academics. He would do surrealist pen drawings for hours in study hall where he was sent for poor school performance. He was always more interested in art and socializing than doing what he was supposed to do. In later years he found that art would be intertwined with exercise.  Although the ink drawings heavily influenced how he would create oil paintings; Oil painting was a totally different animal. He found painting much more freeing and cathartic. 

                  Living with Schizophrenia over the last 15 years has been a rollercoaster ride for Sam. He was obsessed with painting before schizophrenia, but he was never as efficient and prolific as he has been these last years. You can visit his art website at samgrantham.com, contact him by email at samgranthamgrantham@gmail.com, or call him at 540-533-8490