Samantha Salazar

Artist Statement:

My artwork explores the memories in skin and the stages of accepting old age. Each wrinkle and pore was a result of life experienced and memory gained; whether that be of joy or sorrow. No matter the case, our skin shows our life lived and is visually presentation of our past. Drawing realistic work allows me to understand the individual more because I isolate a single detail, study it, and translate to paper. My human eyes constantly edit, delete, rebuild, elaborate, enhance, reinvent, and exaggerate each feature as I draw. Once I finish the drawing, I am left understanding and learning about that person on a universal and personal scale.

It was important to me to focus on the women in my family because I am an impact to their lives as they are to mine.

What lays quietly in the back of my mind is which wrinkles did i give this person? I only hope to be embedded in the memories behind their smile lines.