Memorial Paintings by Samantha daSilva
Close By Me is proud to announce a partnership with Samantha daSilva, an artist with a tremendous amount of talent and passion. She creates memorial paintings that incorporate the ashes or other personal materials of your loved one into a beautiful work of art that is truly one-of-a-kind. She has an innate gift for channeling emotion and depth into all of her creative endeavors, and she treats every single person she meets with immense kindness, empathy, and genuineness. We conducted the following Q&A with her so that you could a get a sense of who she is, what she creates, and how to work with her.
1. How long have you been painting, and how did you first get into it?
I was born in Brazil into a family of artists. My mother, grandparents, aunts, great aunts & uncles were all artists. After graduating High School, I resisted becoming an artist because I was afraid of the cliche that "artists were poor and starving". But life has a way of putting you back on your own unique path (sometimes gently, sometimes not!). I've been a full-time professional artist for the past 14 years.
2. Where do you draw inspiration from for your art?
Mostly, I am inspired by Mother Nature (I call her the ultimate color wheel), the sky (an ever changing abstract painting), the ground we stand upon (I love to infuse the environment into my work for texture namely: salt, sand & sawdust), water (I use copious amounts of water to create my work) and finally, but perhaps most importantly, alignment with Source.
3. How and when did you come up with the idea for Memorial Paintings, and what is it about Memorial Paintings that made you want to pursue them further?
Sometimes the work chooses you. Making the decision to create Memorial Paintings with cremation ashes feels like the work I was always intended to do. Although I have thought about creating this kind of work for years, I resisted the call. It wasn't until my father's sudden and unexpected death in 2020 that I became aligned with this purpose completely.
Painting is incredible, but Memorial Paintings are on a different level - Memorial Paintings feel "alive". They exclude a powerful, palpable energy that is unlike the rest of my work. When a dear friend asked me to create a painting for her with her late husband's ashes, the experience was transformative for both of us. I knew I was on the right track.
4. Can you incorporate materials besides ashes into the Memorial Paintings?
Absolutely! In fact, working with unusual materials is not only my expertise, it is my passion. The list of things I have incorporated into my paintings is too long to name here, but here are a few: clothing, dried flowers, hair, jewelry, journal entries, maps, music sheets, metallic powders, newspaper, photographs, rainwater, semi-precious crystals and sports jerseys.
5. What is the best way to begin the process of having a Memorial Painting made?
Contact me! I'd love to chat, brainstorm and hear more about creating a painting that honours, respects and celebrates the life of your loved one. It is my heartfelt intention for you to receive a painting that deeply honors the memory of the one you love for years to come. My website is www.samanthadasilva.com
6. What inspired you to work with Close By Me Jewelry?
Over the years, I've been asked to collaborate with hundreds of different companies but only a few have manifested. I am extremely picky about who I align my brand with. Close By Me jewelry felt like a harmonious partnership from the very beginning. The jewelry is something I can see myself and my clients wearing. It is clean, uncluttered, modern, sophisticated and light. These are the same adjectives I use to describe my work! But what really sealed the deal was a conversation with Gina. She exudes a kind, loving, generous energy. I feel honoured and grateful to work with her.
Explore Samantha's Website: www.samanthadasilva.com
Follow Samantha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthadasilvafineart/
