Sam Clifton, a man of resourcefulness, tenacity and great

Sam Clifton, a man of resourcefulness, tenacity and great energy, is the “eclectic artist” who will present the last of this year’s series of Artists’ Forum seminars Friday, Dec. 12.

The Artists’ Forum, sponsored by the Rappahannock Association For the Arts and the Community, grew out of a series of discussions last year on providing information and support to local artists. One of the needs expressed by artists was advice on making a living while creating art.

By any standards, Mr. Clifton is an expert on this subject. Since his days as a student in New York City, he’s held dozens of conventional jobs, some highly successful and demanding. He’s also tried to make it solely as an artist at least half a dozen times.

“My intention is simply to pass along what has worked for me,” said Mr. Clifton, who owns a local design and project management company. “Actually, I never planned my life this way. I just kept struggling with the two goals of making a living and producing the art I was interested in. But my experience may help someone else wrestling with the same problem.”

Mr. Clifton was trained as an industrial engineer and worked in this field, providing technical back-up for industrial designers. When he had the opportunity to design furniture

he became fascinated by fabric sculpture, and this is one of the art forms he’s pursued over the years.

His knowledge of engineering combined with a college job as a handyman led him to his own contracting business in New York City, renovating brownstones. This was a successful business venture — too successful, he said.

“Life was so hectic and I was so swamped that I didn’t enjoy the success,” he said. In 1973, he became convinced he needed a quieter life and this conviction led him to Rappahannock County. Since then, he’s alternated periods of art work with periods of renovating and constructing energy efficient homes.