Mindblown

Name
Samaya Glazier-Bae

Brain Tumor Type
Craniopharyngioma

Date of Diagnosis
October 2019

Participant Group
Brain Tumor Survivor / 12 and under

Category
Drawing/Painting/Printmaking/Chalk Art

Artist Statement (include type of art, techniques & materials used, what it means to you)
Mindblown
8x11
Acrylic, watercolor, watercolor markers, metallic pen, oil pastel, metallic acrylic and dried flowers on paper, Dec 2023.

In this semi abstract portrait of a woman I created different regions within her face, neck and head.

The base of the neck was inspired from a visit to Sedona, Arizona where I saw mountains and earth colors like that for the first time. The crease of the neck is based off constellations and gold in space. The hair is influenced by fire with darkness fading into it around the outline. The face is connected to the hair with the fire and the side of the face is connected to the base of the neck desert landscape. You can see dried flowers with a blend of white oil pastel and acrylic which represents water. That water has a gold outline around it.

The white flower on top where it drips down and acts as tears of emotion while the face still portrays a neutral expression. On top of the blue space there is a pink and white shape representing a sting ray of sweet and sour floating from a red ombre. You can see a red rose hanging from white silk strands into a background of blurred yellow and white. On the right, there is a purple wet on wet galaxy theme drip which is the cut off to that section. The last drip section reminds me of peacock feathers in a pastel form of color dripping into tiger stripes.

I had a fun time improvising with the drip effect. The piece feels very emotional to me and was my favorite piece I’ve done recently. I love the textures, colors, different regions and her expression. I hope you love it too!




Artist Bio: Tell Us Your Story
Samaya is a young passionate artist based in Brooklyn, New York (12 yrs old). She showed great enthusiasm and focus for art at an early age. Samaya would become immersed in her projects and always felt at home with her art.

As Samaya and her work has matured, she tends to gravitate toward portraits of people and animals. She loves to create her own art which is expressive with color. Her favorite mediums are watercolor and acrylic as well as multimedia projects.

Samaya is a survivor of Craniopharyngioma, a rare pituitary brain tumor. She is now in recovery with lingering medical challenges but has regained 100% of her sight and her “art spirit”. Art is an incredibly healing process for her. This is her fourth year participating in Raymond Wood’s Art of Surviving. She has won in her age group, for “People’s Choice” and “Judges Choice” in the past. She is honored to participate again with so many amazing artists and survivors.

She has shown her work and/or sold her work at Brooklyn arts events: Brooklyn Children’s Museum 2018, Artmageddon 2021-2023, DUMBO Arts Festival 2023 Mural Collaboration with the public, Summer Street Fair in Brooklyn, and Brooklyn Winter Fair 2023. She enjoys making commissions for friends, family, and fans that find her through her events and networks.

It is Samaya’s wish to pursue a creative life in the Arts. While her path has not been easy, art has helped to light her way. May her work bring some hope and color into your day. She is grateful to Creatively Wild and her primary teacher Sally Novak for teaching her and instilling in her confidence and love of the craft.

IG: @art.by.samaya
Website: artbysamaya.com