|
Being a resident artist & art instructor at Workshop SLC has been a huge contributing factor to my development and success as an artist. I am honored to add my unique voice to the advancement of this amazing institution. "As soon as I found this place, I knew I was home". It's hard to believe that was over 2 years ago! "I believe that art-making is a catalyst for transformation & personal growth. Beginning is a really important step. Any sort of movement that we can put towards the direction of where we want to head is positive." Join me for my upcoming classes & workshops: Abstract Painting BASICS Starting May 6 Fearless Abstract Painting w/ Metallics August 21 & 22  How do you change the world for the better? You begin with yourself. "If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it." John Irving A special night for a special cause: An art show & fundraiser for The Children's Center courtesy of It's Not A Gallery. Many thanks to all of the artists, friends and family who contributed to make this event a resounding success. 
The pandemic has brought many things into focus. One of them is the precious commodity we call home. No longer just a pit stop in between life’s activities, people are digging deep to make their homes exactly what they want them to be. Introducing an original painting into a home brings a "depth" and "soul" to the space that can be felt by those who experience it. "Peeling back the layers. Seeing deeper into ourselves. Sculptural paintings made with plaster, newspaper and repurposed paint by Brazilian-born artist Samantha daSilva. If home is where the heart is, then by its simplest definition, home is where we are. Each canvas is imbued with a healing mantra for balance, harmony & peace." A new group show curated by Susan Bonosconi at Alpine Art & Frame, SLC, UT.  Large-Scale Commission Painting Success! I am so pleased to announce the completion of my latest Commission Painting: "Dreaming Out Loud", 72"w x 60"h. This textured, metallic beauty is on route to Cleveland, OH and I can't wait to share the installation photos with you once it's hanging in its new home dining room.  Hello Calgary! Many of you have noticed that I've had 2 Canadian workshops CANCELLED on account of COVID this summer. Although I am disappointed by this, I refuse to stay in that feeling for long. There are still many ways for us to connect! With my Canadian friends in mind, and on account of the many messages I have received on this subject, I have decided to offer a special 2-day workshop on Saturday, July 24 & Sunday, July 25, 2021. I sincerely hope you will join me! I must admit, I was extremely hesitant to teach though Zoom - I just didn't feel like I would be able to connect with my students. This just isn't true! I've taught 2 extremely successful Zoom workshops so far and the results have been amazing. "The art of life is a constant readjustment to our surroundings." Kakuzo Okakaura For more information & to register: https://www.samanthadasilva.com/store/p251/FEARLESS_ABSTRACT_PAINTING.html  This is cause for celebration: My first SOLD OUT in-person workshop at the University of Utah's Lifelong Learning Program in over one year! The world has changed. We are all slowly adapting to a new normal. What hasn't changed is that there is a special kind of "magic" in connecting as a community of artists, and I am so incredibly grateful to serve my community in this capacity. Check out my next DIY Acrylic Mediums & Texture Workshop on June 26, 2021  No Mud, No Lotus. Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hahn (one of my favorite teacher & mentor) says that suffering and joy are intrinsically connected and one cannot exist without the other. The beauty of the lotus is found in its determination to rise out of the mud to meet the sun, transformed  Your painting is your message. I didn’t always know this, I didn’t always believe this, but I have found this to be true.  There are many ways to begin a painting. A thought, an idea, a feeling, a color, a texture, a memory, or a song just to name a few. Often, my artistic process often begins with a question. I loved to ask & answer questions. But I am not limited to a verbal exchange of questions and answers. My answers take shape in the form of paintings.
Questions set my intention, concentrate my focus and guide my process to make sure I stay on the right track. It's easy to get lost along the way if you're not vigilant. This is a compilation of 52 of my favorite questions. It is my sincere hope that these questions help to calibrate your creative compass and guide your creative process just as they have aided mine. The Process: 52 questions, 52 answers The Timeline: 52 weeks, one year The Reward: One year of fresh, magnetic, interesting, intentional, passionate sustainable paintings as original and as unique as you are. |
