 Just before Christmas, I had the privilege and the opportunity to finish a very large commission painting (8 feet x 5 feet) for a very special family in Park City, Utah. Since we've just moved to the city, I did not have enough time to procure a new studio space. Rather than admit defeat, I decided to turn one of the rooms in our home into a makeshift studio. Dexter would have been proud. ;)
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 Announcing my first workshop of 2019: Fearless Abstract Painting in Salt Lake City, Utah!! Register before January 1, 2019 and SAVE $100Date: Saturday, February 9 & Sunday, February 10, 2019 Time: 10 AM - 4 PM (12 hours) Cost: $295.00 Early Bird Registration $195.00 Location: Portia Snow Studio, Salt Lake City, Utah For more information & to register: https://www.samanthadasilva.com/store/p78/Fearless_Abstract_Painting_SLC.html  Remember that time we moved to Hawaii to build a tiny house and the volcano erupted? This is how it began: Here we are sitting on top of our first lumber purchase to build what would eventually become our tiny home. A home in which, we would never have the opportunity to live in.  Since the beginning of my professional painting career (nearly 11 years ago!), I have always dated my paintings. I did this for two reasons:  It’s time to bundle up again! My feet have barely seen the inside of shoes in the last 2 years. These days they are constantly wrapped in a layer of wool socks and boots. It feels strange to wear my old clothes again. I can’t help but feel like I am stepping into a costume of sorts. Who is this woman in long sweaters, scarves, hats and thermal underwear? I find myself acclimating to Utah’s desert cold climate, physically just as much as mentally.  Typically, my students tell me that my workshops were a transformative experience, because they were able to approach the blank canvas without fear for the first time in their lives. As a result, they were able to paint freely, intuitively, enjoying the process along the way.  We arrived in Salt Lake City on Tuesday. I barely had time to unpack my bags. I boarded a plane to Atlanta on Friday. I forgot to bring my apron, my spray bottle, paper towels, Saran wrap, and music. Usually I am not this forgetful. But in the midst of a major move, this is the best I could do.  This ain't the Mainland! My first Fearless Abstract Painting party where some of the participants actually wore their bathing suits! What's not to love?! Our paintings took a heck of a long time to dry due to the humidity, but at the end of the night (and an amazing meal), we enjoyed an "art walk" featuring our works, using our phones as flashlights. I love painting in Hawaii. I think the dogs had a good time also... They just couldn't resist leaving their paw prints on the canvasses!  Painting on Maui is an incredible experience. I am grateful for every moment I get to do what I love in this stunning place. The humidity extends the drying time of my paints, enabling me to manipulate the colors and shapes for much longer than I am used to. When I am finally ready to step back and place my paintings in the sun, the Lahaina heat acts like a giant blow dryer, drying my paintings at record speeds. Everywhere I look, I am inspired by this tiny, impossible island, floating in the middle of the Pacific, brimming full of the kind of beauty I always knew existed, but never experienced until now.  What kind of paints do you want us to bring? Can I bring different colors than the ones suggested on your supply list? Do we get a lunch break? What should I wear? 20 frequently asked questions & answers now available on my website: https://www.samanthadasilva.com/faqs.html |