Spotlight Interview with Samantha daSilva, Workshop SLC Artist in Residence and acclaimed Abstract Painter
Today we sit down with Samantha daSilva, a professional abstract artist and educator living and working in Salt Lake City, Utah.
We are so proud to have her as one of the Artists in Residence at Workshop SLC since 2019. Samantha will be teaching three abstract painting workshops at our facility this year so we decided to sit down with her for a conversation about her art journey, her extensive travel experiences, and where she draws inspiration from.
Our interview with her is below and you can sign up for her upcoming workshops here.
Sam, thanks for sitting down with us! Can you tell us about your earliest memories of creating art? Did you always dream of becoming a professional artist?
I recall tracing shadows with chalk on the pavement in my hometown of Brazil. I think I was around 8 years old. I remember feeling extremely excited that I had stumbled upon such a fabulous discovery, and I couldn't believe none of my neighbourhood friends had the eyes to see it!
You are a third-generation artist. It sounds like you were around artists of all styles and mediums. Do you feel they influenced you to work with various materials and elements?
Absolutely. I was introduced to all kinds of art making materials and ideas as far back as I can remember. I can't recall a time in my life when art wasn't a part of my life.
Life pulled you in all sorts of directions but you came back to art. What advice would you give our readers who want to pursue art as a career or want to be more creative?
Give in to your creative urges. Indulge them. Don't be afraid. We all have an internal compass that points us in the right direction. The more you trust your intuition, the stronger it becomes. Eventually, it becomes so strong you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. My biggest advice for anyone thinking about pursuing art as a career is to spend as much time as possible doing the work. This is the only way you'll develop your own artistic signature and voice.
Samantha, it is incredible that you incorporate natural elements into your work! What inspired you to bring the world into your paintings? What was your first experience doing so? Is there an element that is difficult to use? If so, what was it?
I began incorporating my environment into my work because quite honestly, I was too broke to shop at the art store. When I quit my job at a law firm to become a full-time artist, I had $600 in my bank account. Finding cost-effective alternatives to create texture was imperative. Today, I can afford to shop at the art store, but I've come to prefer my homemade textures & mediums. I infuse the environment into my work to feel like I belong to where I am, and to tell a story about a place.
Some of my first experiments were made by using household materials like herbs & spices and house cleaning products. One of these early experiments was made on a huge canvas using house paint and a large container of my mom's cinnamon. I didn't feel right about selling the painting because I didn't know how the cinnamon would react over time, so I gave it to my brother as a wedding present. For the next 2 years, everyone that came over to visit his home would ask him if he was baking cookies!
Other experiments created toxic fumes that sent my entire family running out of the house for fresh air. The more rules you seek, the more rules you'll find. When you open yourself up to the infinite amount of possibilities, the world becomes your art store. It's an incredible feeling.
What inspires you? Why do you paint abstract paintings? What might someone get out of creating abstract paintings vs. other styles?
For me, abstract painting is synonymous with freedom. There are enough opportunities in life to play by the rules, color within the lines or recreate what Mother Nature has already done in the most perfect way. I am inspired by using the art-making process as a tool for awakening, transformation and personal empowerment. The way I paint my canvas is the way I live my life. And vice versa. If I can be fearless on the canvas, I can be fearless in life. The more I can transcend fear in life, the more I will be able to paint fearless on the canvas. The canvas is my mirror.
You have traveled extensively! Does travel influence your work? What place has inspired you the most? What advice would you give to an artist who is seeking inspiration but might not be able to travel?
Traveling and movement inspire my work immensely. Each painting becomes a "journal entry" because they each contain natural elements from that place. For example: Black and green sand on Hawaii, Parisian newspaper in Paris, and exposing canvases to freezing cold temperatures in Canada to name a few. That said, I believe the best story you can tell is the story about where you are. You don't need to look further than your own backyard for inspiration. Here in Utah, I infuse iron-rich Utah dirt, salt from The Great Salt Lake and foraged sawdust into my work.
Do you experience creative blocks? What do you do to overcome them?
I don't ascribe to painting only when I feel inspired. I believe inspiration finds you when you are working. I've made a strong habit of working through my creative blocks. As a result, I don't experience them very often. There are different ways I overcome my fears: identifying and remembering my purpose for being here, surrounding myself with like-minded individuals, and not reading comments on my Instagram or YouTube too often. I don't have very thick skin, so I have to insulate myself to a certain extent or else I get blocked and discouraged.
Do you dream in the abstract?
Often! I dream of flying through pools of color in space, or else I dream I am a color. Weird right?!
What do you feel is the color of your aura?
Brilliant white: A combination of all colors in the color spectrum.
How was it to partner with progressive institutions such as The Imiloa Institute and the Donkey Mill Art Center? What is one of your most memorable moments while teaching?
I know and understand my purpose. I care about making a difference in the world. I care about providing great value for people. The flames of passion burn deeply within me. It fuels my actions and pulls me towards my goals. I am intentional about the work I create and who I align myself with.
I feel a great sense of responsibility for making the most out of my life. My parents were immigrants to two countries and they made incredible sacrifices to give me opportunities they never had. I share my philosophy, techniques and tools with others because I know that the art-making process is a catalyst for empowerment and transformation. I have experienced this in my own life. I am inspired by the pursuit of an evolved self and hopes for a more enlightened humanity.
What is your greatest hope for students who take your workshop?
To transcend fear. Fear of the blank canvas, fear to call yourself an artist, fear to allow the process to evolve into ideas, fear to begin, and fear to finish a painting.
What work can we hope to see from you in the future?
I have 2 upcoming shows in the earlier part of this year: Diptych, A Two-part Work of Art at Alpine Art & Frame, SLC, UT & Dream States Group Exhibition at Finch Lane Gallery, SLC, UT.
Also, I've been awarded placement in 2 Artist Residencies this year in Mexico & Brazil. I look forward to bringing back what I learn to share in my upcoming workshops.
Is there an artist that you admire and follow that you would like to share with our community?
My mother is an extremely talented artist. In fact, I joke and call her "the real artist" because she actually went to art school, whereas I dropped out! She's been a source of inspiration and encouragement my entire life. She had a huge part in who I've become. She paints byzantine icons on canvas. You can see her work at giseledasilvafineart.weebly.com
Sam, thank you so much for your time! We’re so excited to host you and your students this year.
Where can our readers learn more about you?
Email: sam@samanthadasilva.com
Website: www.samanthadasilva.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthadasilvafineart/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Samantha-daSilva-Fine-Art-251059541595670/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG7M1HuBOFo