2008 Surfacing
After a long absence from painting, I decide to begin creating again. This time however, I am intent on doing it my way: No easels, no paint brushes, no color wheels, and no preconceived ideas.
"Blank canvas flat on the floor. We stare at each other. I touch you. Run my hands over the tight stretched cotton. I smile. I kiss you and say thanks. I squeeze paint onto the canvas. I use a paint roller to move the paint around, blend colours, create lines and shapes. Texture is created by adding plaster, sawdust, sand, newspaper, ink and rubbing alcohol to the painted surface. Water is an intrinsic part of my process. Straight from the tube, acrylic paint is tight, rigid. With the addition of water, the paint relaxes, takes a long, deep breath, begins to move and dance across the canvas. I tilt and manipulate the canvas so that shapes begin to form. I respond to these shapes intuitively. For this reason, my work is never preconceived. I prefer to have the work direct me instead. "Fearless" abstract painting is a process of adding and subtracting to create balance and harmony on the canvas. My work is a celebration. Once, I identified myself as a victim. Broken, deficient, lacking. Today I am empowered, grateful, anew. Through my work, I attempt to illustrate the redemptive power of choice." Samantha da Silva
"Blank canvas flat on the floor. We stare at each other. I touch you. Run my hands over the tight stretched cotton. I smile. I kiss you and say thanks. I squeeze paint onto the canvas. I use a paint roller to move the paint around, blend colours, create lines and shapes. Texture is created by adding plaster, sawdust, sand, newspaper, ink and rubbing alcohol to the painted surface. Water is an intrinsic part of my process. Straight from the tube, acrylic paint is tight, rigid. With the addition of water, the paint relaxes, takes a long, deep breath, begins to move and dance across the canvas. I tilt and manipulate the canvas so that shapes begin to form. I respond to these shapes intuitively. For this reason, my work is never preconceived. I prefer to have the work direct me instead. "Fearless" abstract painting is a process of adding and subtracting to create balance and harmony on the canvas. My work is a celebration. Once, I identified myself as a victim. Broken, deficient, lacking. Today I am empowered, grateful, anew. Through my work, I attempt to illustrate the redemptive power of choice." Samantha da Silva