Stuart Sampson is a painter based in Edmond, Oklahoma. In his practice, Stuart specializes in portrait painting, creating colourful, expressive portraits of various subjects. The faces of Native American people, as well as athletes and actors, factor prominently in Stuart’s portfolio. A proud member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, his work reflects his love for the culture taught to him by his grandfather. Stuart’s use of bright planes of colour and monochromatic backgrounds, emphasize the appearance of his figures. Stuart paints frequently on wood panels, allowing a hint of the wood texture to show through between brush marks, which I find adds another inviting element of interest to the works. I really appreciate the combination of bright colour for backgrounds and subdued gradients for facial details. The use of black, white, and grey allows Stuart to capture the faces of his subjects with great sensitivity and expression.