Meet Sammi Lee

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sammi Lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sammi, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I’m originally from Arizona and although I lived all over the state, the impactful years of high school – mid twenties were spent in Tucson. I grew up in a creative home with a musician father and writer/ dancer mother (as hobbies) who both always supported anything creative I wanted to pursue, which was initially music and dance. Once I was in college, I found myself deeply embedded in Tucson’s psychedelic music and art scene which inspired me to take my visual arts more seriously, leading me to pursuing my Associate’s in Fine Art. It was also around this time my love for the outdoors grew through hikes in the Sonoran desert. Since then, the mystical side of nature has always been one of the main sources of inspiration for my visual expression.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a multi-passionate creative that bounces between painting & illustration, tattooing, photography and digital design. I don’t believe the common narrative that we must “pick” something or do one thing in life to be successful. I believe there is a path for the polymaths and I love showing it’s possible through sharing my own journey.

As an artist, I love to paint and create illustrations as a personal form of expression and storytelling. My tattoo designs reflect my personal style as well, but I also love the additional collaborative aspect between the client and I.

As a photographer and digital designer, I generally work with clients through my studio- Anu Creative Co. I help bring their brands to life in many different ways depending on the project- branding, web design, print, video editing, and murals to name a few. I love how everyday is different and exciting from this path.

Getting to this point hasn’t been easy and it’s certainly not been overnight. It’s been a slow build of a decade’s worth of not giving up and figuring it out day by day (still am figuring it out to be honest haha).

After leaving Tucson in 2016, I ended up in Oregon working on a farm, which eventually led me back to school at 27 to finish my degree. In 2021, I graduated from the U of O with. Bachelor’s in Art & Tech. This degree showed me my love for all things digital and helped me improve my skills as an artist as well. I began freelancing in 2020 but wasn’t able to fully quit my bartending job until January of this year, which I thankfully was able to because of tattooing.

Choosing to be a full time creative is far from an easy path, but for me, it’s the only choice. Even though I’ve been on this journey for a decade, I really feel like I’m just getting started. I hope that my story helps people in their 20’s feel less pressure that you have to have it all figured out by the time you’re 30. It’s more fun to be a student of life and walk through doors as they open, allowing yourself to become a new version of you at any point you feel.

Next up in my journey is opening up my own creative & tattoo studio in Vancouver, Washington, just a couple blocks from the water. I hope to see you there!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As an apprentice, I didn’t have a car so I would ride the metro wherever I needed to go. I found some cool spots by having to walk everywhere. I would take my friend to the arts district in DTLA, get some tea at Shiloh’s, check out the MOCA, hop over to Little Tokyo and get some sushi. Then maybe take the metro over to K-town to go cafe hopping for matchas. I would then go to the Getty, and end the trip with some beach time in Venice or Santa Monica.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Choosing one person to shout out is so hard, because I’ve had so many amazing teachers, mentors, friends and family that have supported me! But I could day that my tattoo mentor, Justine Almaraz, has made the biggest impact over the last year. She has taught me a skill that has changed my life and she continues to be a mentor and ally in my business and life.

Website: https://Sammilee.com

Instagram: https://Instagram.com/sammi_._lee

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sammi_._leee

Other: https://anucreative.co