Samantha has had a love for art and drawing from a young age. An interest in design led to Graphic Design in her early education and working life. Itchy hands to create something tangible and not digital took Samantha back to studies and she undertook a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Monash University and completed an Honours year in 2010, majoring in Hot Glass. A new passion had begun with blown glass sculpture.
Samantha took time out to start a family in 2014 and has returned exploring both glass and painting in her artistic practice. Throughout her practice Samantha has worked with several mediums and techniques, such as, printmaking, ceramics, glass, drawing and painting.
Throughout all stages of Samantha’s artistic journey, she has been interested in the connection between mind and body. Whether that be through views of ourselves via the lens of Other or how the physical experiences of our bodies can impact our mental state. Samantha really sees the use of art as a vehicle for starting conversations, with a particular focus on mental health and the stigmas associated with women’s bodies, grief and breaking the burden of gender roles.
The Covid pandemic has shone light on the various silent forms mental health can take. Samantha’s recent works feature life figures, as they offer a vulnerable view of a person; with little space to hide. Facial expression, body language, posture and colour theory help convey a message of the mental state of the model, which is often conflicted.
“Not being able to produce work in my studio or blow glass really brought me back to my roots in drawing and painting. Due to lockdowns in Melbourne, I have been reminded that drawing and painting can be done anywhere, even at home with a young family. I found it a cathartic practice and hugely rewarding during an otherwise stressful time.”
Samantha particularly enjoys working with acrylic ink and loves the ability to use layers to build the form, as mental health and emotional wellbeing is complex and multi-layered.