[acx_slideshow name="Suitcase Creatives"]

This holiday season, Sam is selling her West Virginia inspired Christmas ornaments.

Meet Samantha Cormier, a Nashville painter with West Virginia roots. Sam has always been drawn to creating art and has an Art Minor from Glenville State College. She says her creative side took a backseat when she and her husband moved to Japan and South Korea to teach English from 2010-2014. Upon returning to the states, they moved to Nashville and Sam took off on her artistic journey and launched Suitcase Creatives. This holiday season, Sam is selling her West Virginia inspired Christmas ornaments. Learn more about Sam with our Q&A:

Describe your art.

I love all things florals or abstract. They seem on different ends of the spectrum but I just love doing both and that’s what you’ll see the most. I lean towards a chunky impressionist style, even with my travel landscapes, my pet portraits or my float frames. I love rich color!

What inspired you to specialize in paintings?

Painting is the one place I feel like I can slap a ton of thick color on something and it turn out to be beautiful in the end.

How do you describe your palette?

I use 99% acrylics. While I usually lean towards bold colors sometimes the pastels will sneak in there and I love them too.

What’s your greatest accomplishment?

I have had two separate commissions in the past few months that were floral paintings to honor deceased mothers, coincidentally both from cancer. It’s truly an honor that those people trusted me to create something so meaningful for their homes.

What obstacles do you need to overcome to find your creative space/muse?

My fear of not doing a good job on commissions specifically holds me back. I have to force myself to start sometimes!

How do you find your inspiration?

Nature, my travels, or my love for West Virginia.

What advice do you have for other artists?

Trust in your abilities.

What is your favorite piece(s) you’ve made and why?

I love one of the floral commissions I did for someone’s mother so much because she trusted me to let loose and really create something beautiful in the colors she gave me to work with. I’m also loving doing all these West Virginia inspired floral ornaments and other items this year, it’s been so much fun to create these things knowing they are going to other West Virginia lovers.

How can our readers purchase your art?

Visit suitcasecreatives.com

What is the best way for our readers to contact you?

You can use the email form on my website or DM me on @suitcasecreatives Instagram.

Do you have any upcoming events?

Yes…a sale for you! I’m offering anyone reading this publication a 10% off promo code to use towards the Christmas ornaments! Just use “hashtaglewisburg” at checkout. (ends 11/21.) I’ll also be offering prints of my paintings which is a great way to get signed, framed art into your home without the price tag of originals.

What would you like to share with our readers?

I have so much art to offer! From ornaments to fine art abstracts to West Virginia float frames, I know you can find something you will love.

– Hashtag Lewisburg City Paper. November 2020.

Related Article: WV Artist on Display: Mixing Colors on the Fly w/ Elyse Gerard.