By Brianna L. Bond

For Sam Dixon, three letters can make a world of difference. “I’m samdixon.org,” says the self-proclaimed American impressionist from Wichita Falls, Texas. “He’s samdixon.com,” referring to the adult film star with whom he is sometimes confused.

This Sam Dixon is happiest with a good glass of wine and a clean canvas. Winner of countless awards – most the 2004 Gold Ink Award in Poster Design from the Publishing and Production Executive magazine-Dixon says he has always been “destined to be an artist.”

Dixon never made a conscious decision to be an artist; art seemed to him. Drawing at three years old? That was him. Painting on the walls during kindergarten? Him too.

After graduating form Suitland Senior High School, Dixon moved on to Prince George’s County College, where he honed his skills as an artist. He worked with Maryland artists Joe Mayer and Michael Carr, taking every art class he could. Though his art education was rich, he wishes that the university had offered a class on the business of art.

Last year he signed a contract granting exclusive poster-printing rights to Image Conscious, a San Francisco publishing company. The company will take eight new poster images to the Art Expo in New York City in the first week in March.

Main Street Gallery in Annapolis, Bendann Gallery in Towson, Canton Gallery in Baltimore, Maryland, Broadway Gallery in Fairfax, Virginia and Weatherburn Gallery in Naples, Florida carry Dixon’s work year round.

Dixon is captivated by French Impressionism, and looks to the European masters such as Monet, Van Gogh, and Cezanne for inspiration..

“The French approach to painting is very passionate,” Dixon says.

Though he’s a self-proclaimed impressionist, lately he’s stepped outside the box for several projects. “ Art Uncorked,” Wolf Trap’s second annual art auction and wine celebration, will feature seven of Dixon’s 25-piece contemporary watercolor series of wine bottle. The series is Dixon’s attempt to document the moment.”

March 2005, Silver Spring Voice