Samantha Cortese

Somewhere in the space between imagining and remembering is where I find my inspiration. My abstract paintings are expressions of what my mind sees when I close my eyes: a flurry of shapes and colors billowing up from the blackness. By painting, I bring those concepts to life. For me, creative expression is the balance of an inspired idea and intuition. So that inspiration is the spark but I must always let go and allow my intuition take over.  

Everyday I'm scanning the world for inspiration and beauty in the world I encounter. I draw from those small daily moments as well as past travel memories to bring to life the emotion of those experiences. With each new piece I learn something new about art and myself. I hope that honesty and raw emotion of awe and wonder is what my audience connects with and can relate to. I paint from a place of joy and I want those positive feelings to bleed onto the canvas with each brushstroke. 

I believe artistic growth comes from fearlessly experimenting with colors, techniques and by using any tools at my disposal.  I typically paint on canvas with acrylics but I love to create on wood panels and utilize other mediums to create thick touchable texture or subtle collaged layers.

When I discovered my passion for painting, I also found my purpose. Despite being a creative, I never felt that I fit into the traditional artist's mold. Now I know that’s because I needed to find my own way; my own artistic process.  It was only when I picked up a paintbrush in the long, lonely winter of 2020 that my creativity found its path. As an abstract expressionist I am discovering the beauty of now and sharing that joy in the homes of my collectors.