Sam Grudge
American painter. Belgian workshop. Patented inventor. Thirty years of building imaginative things at places like LEGO, Disney, Bang & Olufsen, and Blizzard — then one day he traded the corner office for canvas, oil paint, and a red pair of coveralls.
Sam is a self-taught artist whose signature hearts appear in every painting he makes. Some are bold and unmissable. Others you have to look for. That’s the point — love is always there if you’re willing to see it.
The Story
Before there were canvases and brushes, there were circuit boards and pixels. Sam spent three decades as a creative technologist — designing toys at LEGO, imagining worlds at Disney, shaping audio experiences at Bang & Olufsen, and building game universes at Blizzard. He holds patents. He’s led teams across continents. He’s the kind of person who can’t stop making things.
But somewhere along the way, anxiety took hold. The corporate ladder became a treadmill. “I hated what anxiety did to me,” Sam says. “I hated who it made me become. And while I can’t undo the past, I can sure as hell dedicate the rest of my life to breaking this chain for others.”
So he picked up a brush. Not because the world needed another painter, but because he needed to paint the world he wanted to feel — one with direction, purpose, and hope. What came out were hearts. Hundreds of them. Bold, vivid, impossible to ignore.
The Art
Sam’s work sits at the intersection of abstract art, contemporary art, Symbolism, and Pop Art. His canvases are colorful, joyful, and bold — painting the emotional truth of a moment rather than its literal appearance.
Hearts are featured on or hidden in just about every piece. They are Sam’s visual signature and his message: that love, care, and respect are the foundation of everything worth building.
He works primarily in oil on canvas, but also in acrylic and mixed media. His subjects range from intimate 20×20cm studies to large-scale canvases that fill a wall with color and feeling.
The Craft
Sam is also an accomplished woodworker. He hand-crafts the frames for his paintings using prime hardwoods — oak, walnut, and maple — often decorated with additional wood species for contrast and detail. Every frame is made to complement the painting it holds, because for Sam, a painting isn't complete until the frame is part of the story.
This commitment to craft extends to every part of the business. Prints are produced on acid-free, archival-quality paper by professional print partners in Europe and the US. Accessories are chosen for durability and feel. Nothing ships unless it meets the standard Sam would set for his own home.
Hearts & Colors
Hearts & Colors is Sam's art company — the vessel for everything he creates and the platform through which his work reaches the world. We sell original paintings, fine art prints, and a growing collection of objects that carry Sam's designs into everyday life.
Original artwork and custom frames are handmade in Sam's Belgian workshop. Prints and accessories are produced locally — in Europe or in the United States — depending on where the customer is, and shipped directly.
Our mission is simple: a heart from Sam in every house in the world. Not as decoration — as a reminder. That we are better when we love, care, and respect each other. That the world is worth fighting for.
We are stewards of the Four Agreements: Be impeccable with your word. Don't take anything personally. Don't make assumptions. Always do your best.
One More Day
The “One More Day” campaign is deeply personal to Sam. In Belgium, five people die by suicide every day. Rather than look away, Sam created a dedicated collection where 100% of profits go to suicide prevention and mental health care.
Sam is open about his own experiences with anxiety and depression. He chose to paint not his struggles — which could have led to darker images — but the world he wants his heart to feel. Hopeful. Connected. Worth getting up for.
Every purchase from the One More Day collection helps someone stay.
Get in Touch
Sam's studio is in Tervuren, Belgium — just outside Brussels. We ship originals and prints to Belgium, across Europe, and to the United States. Whether you're interested in commissioning a piece, stocking prints in your gallery, or just want to talk about art and life, reach out.
Email: sam@hearts-colors.com
Location: Tervuren 3080, Belgium
Instagram: @samgrudge